One can't visit Native America without
encountering places, new and old, that display the creations
and hard work of Native American people. The trading posts
and trading companies are places that not only display and
sell the wonderful creations of native people, but they are
places where you can learn from the traders and the native
people. You don't have to purchase a thing from a
trading post in order to leave feeling richer in spirit
because you have learned something from the friendly traders
and from the native people who are so willing to take the
time, all the time that you want, to tell you about the
fabulous work and the people and techniques used in its
creation.
Native American Images is not a
commercial place...never will be. Yet we feel that we
would be remiss without sharing with you our very favorite
places for visiting and for learning about Native American
People and their creations. Places where you can smell
the fragrance of a strong cup of Arbuckle's coffee, and the
unique fragrance of a small, usually vaulted, rug
room.
There are many trading posts and trading
companies throughout Native America. And even some far
away from Native America. Here we would like to tell
you about and show you our favorite places, because they
represent the best that we have visited, and places where we
have met some of the nicest and most knowledgeable people
around.
Hubbell
Trading Post
The
Hubbell Trading Post, in Ganado, Arizona, is an absolute
classic. That is probably why it is a national monument
today. The place is as vibrant as it is old. You
will meet many Navajo weavers at the Hubbell Trading Post. And
if you hit it on the right weekend during the summer, you will
find yourself in the middle of a tremendous gathering of
Navajo, and other people, displaying their craft amid a blaze
of color and music.
River
Trading Post
River Trading Post has three of the
finest and frendliest places that we've seen. One is in Santa Fe,
another in Sco
ttsdale
and a third in the little river town, Dundee, Illinois. People make
a point to hit each of these places as they travel around the country, and
each is brimming with the color of contemporary and historic Native
American art, and is famous for offering visitors a cup of Arbuckle's
cowboy coffee.
Ray's
Indian Originals
Talk
about off the beaten path. Ray's Indian Originals is
just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Tucked behind a TV
repair shop that was run by Ray, right up until crossed to the other side. After you ring the
doorbell behind the TV shop, you enter a different world, and
you meet Peggy. You enter a world of the most classic
trading post to be found anywhere, with its dazzling exhibit
of fine, old, classic Native American creations. Peggy
and Ray have been trading for years, and we guess you could
call their place an "outpost." Ray had a line
of stories longer than any fish that we have ever seen, but
when you meet Peggy, you get an idea of who runs the
place. Great people!
The
Pueblo Cultural Center
The
Pueblo Cultural Center is a very special place in
Albuquerque. It is special because one can learn a great
deal from the museum, from the wonderful dances in the
beautiful plaza at the center, and from roaming through the
expansive display of creations that are presented from the
various Pueblos. This is not a classic "trading
post," but it is a magic place that is bound together by
Pueblo people in the area.
Prairie
Edge
You
can find Prairie Edge in Rapid City, South Dakota along with
the arts, crafts, jewelry and music of the Sioux, Cheyenne,
Crow, Blackfoot and Assiniboine. The spectacular re-creations
of another era are crafted using the same materials and
techniques used over the ages by The People. Prairie
Edge isn't a trading post at all, but it is one of our
favorites because it strives to preserve the spirit of the
Plains People, and it does it very well.
Bien Mur
Indian Market Center
Beneath
the shadows of the Sandia Mountains you will find the Bien Mur
Indian Market Center. Here you can purchase discounted
cigarettes, and even some items that look Native American, but
were produced in places beyond the seas. While Bien Mur caters
heavily to tourists in the Albuquerque area, we have included
it in on of our favorite spots because you can also find an
astounding array of unique and beautiful Pueblo crafts that we
have not seen anywhere else on our travels. During your
visit, you will also appreciate the sizable buffalo herd of
the Sandia people.
Twin
Rocks Trading Post
Beneath
two gigantic rocks in historic, off the beaten path town,
Bluff, Utah you will find Steve Simpson amid a glittering
array of Navajo and Pueblo art. Probably the most modern
trading post that we have seen, Steve takes all the time one
needs to tell you about his inventory and the special people
that created it. While you're visiting Steve's place you
get the bonus of ancient ruins, and a wonderful classic old
town that today has totally forgotten.
Tribal
Expressions
Arlington Heights, Illinois is not exactly
where you would expect to find a trading post. But then,
not everybody is like Rob and Jeri Brooke,
a couple of very special people that live the trading post
life in the midst of the bustle of a thriving community only
minutes from Chicago. And there is more to this place
than meets the critical eye that observes the outstanding
collection of Navajo textiles and Hopi basket work. A
share of the Brooke's revenue goes right back to supporting
Native art efforts. Rob and Jeri are really great people
with a super place to visit. Tribal Expressions is sort
of a Four Corners spot with glass and asphalt around it.
Traditional
Pueblo
Arts
For people who love the very best in
traditionally crafted Pueblo Pottery, this place is our favorite. No dusty
trails here, because Tradtional Pueblo Arts is in the heart of old time
Scottsdale, AZ. I f you want to 
dream
a little, this trading post helps you do that and
is run by a real live and super nice trader named Kathi
Ouellet. Kathi specializes in trading authentic hand-coiled
pottery made the old way. She has loved pottery ever
since her mom and dad took her to Mesa Verde on summer
vacation. She'll tell you "the clay spoke to me,
and I was hooked!" Kathi has an uncommon knowledge of
pottery, and of the Native Americans who are the creators.
