Traditions Gift Shop celebrates four years of empowering Native artists in Lewiston
News story by Reno Probert | FāVS News
LEWISTON, IDAHO — Native-owned Lewiston business, Traditions Gift Shop, recently celebrated its fourth anniversary.
Located in downtown Lewiston, Idaho, Traditions Gift Shop is part of Nez Perce Tourism, a company dedicated to providing tours and education about the Nez Perce Tribe, from the Nez Perce people themselves.
The gift shop features traditional art ranging from beaded clothing and jewelry to handmade soaps and floral medicine, all created by tribal members. Individual pairs of earrings are labeled with the Traditions logo, but also with the handwritten name of the artist who made them.
Over the past four years, the CEO and founder of Nez Perce Tourism, Stacia Morfin, has put great effort into creating a space for Native American artists to make a living and connect with their culture.
‘A way that pays their bills’
Morfin, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, said that Traditions has also allowed families who have been making traditional art for generations a means to continue that way of life in a way that pays their bills. This includes a family company Morfin invests in who make porcupine quill art, something members of the Nez Perce Tribe practiced before they had access to glass beads.
“We have now an outlet for material culture artists to continue to sell and live that way of life, and to create beautiful things,” Morfin said.
Nez Perce Tourism was founded four years ago in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite having to cancel tours and in-person shopping experiences due to health regulations, Morfin was able to pivot to an online shopping experience that proved successful.
Tribal government liaison for the U.S. Forest Service, Christine Bradbury, who has collaborated with Nez Perce Tourism on a variety of projects, said that while other businesses were crashing and burning, Traditions Gift Shop was able to blossom.
Bradbury credited this success to Morfin’s ability to pivot her business in the face of COVID-19 but also to Traditions filling a niche that was completely lacking in the local area.
“People come through this area all the time, come into our offices, drop by the chamber of commerce like, ‘Hey, where can I buy some local native art or jewelry?’ and there was no place,” Bradbury said.
Expanding beyond local Nez Perce artists
In order to keep up with customer demand, Morfin expanded the offerings at Traditions over the years from items created by local Nez Perce artists and descendants, to now include works from Native American artists from all across the country.
Morfin said that while this allows Traditions to carry art from other tribes including silver, coral and turquoise art, it is important to her to never culturally appropriate.
“We do have items that come through our shop that are very much things that are kept within our families. So, if there is anything like medicine pipes or very delicate spiritual items, those are items we will never put on our shelves,” Morfin said.
Traditions Gift Shop offers a chance for tourists and residents to not only support local and Native artists, but it also allows them to gain access to the kinds of art and products that would normally not be easily accessible outside of Native American circles.
Bradbury said that while many of the artisans sell their work at powwows and tribal events, Traditions gives them an opportunity to reach a much wider audience.
In addition to the products offered at Traditions, Morfin also hosts events and cultural classes. These classes include beaded necklace workshops and powwow yoga classes as well as wellness walks.
“There is just so much that we do to really try to extend healthy living, healthy lifestyles and connections for all people,” Morfin said.
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