Spas in Indian Country

The Spa at Salish Lodge
photo from www.salishlodge.com

This month's issue of Native Peoples Magazine has a cover story, "Natural Beauty: Health, wellness and beauty secrets from Indigenous peoples," on Native-owned spas and traditional health and beauty treatments. It's an important topic because, as with cultural appropriations in the fashion industry, the health and wellness industry is also rife with New Age-y rip offs of Native spirituality and traditional medicine.

Here's a compiled list of the businesses mentioned in both the NPM cover article and an Indian Country Today article from last year, "5 Spas in Indian Country Using Luxury Accommodations and Native-Based Treatments."

I have also previously done a post here about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe's Spa at Norwich Inn in Norwich, CT.

The Spa at Talking Stick Resort
(Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community)
Scottsdale, AZ

Aji Spa at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino
(Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community)
Chandler, AZ

Salish Lodge and Spa
(Muckleshoot Tribe)
Snoqualmie, WA

Travaasa Hana
(Hawai'ian)
Hana (Maui), HI

The Skʌ:nʌ́: Spa and Ahsi Day Spa at Turning Stone Resort and Casino
(Oneida Nation)
Verona, NY

Spa Ssakwa'q'n at Coeur d'Alene Resort
(Coeur d'Alene)
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Tamaya Resort and Spa
(Pueblo)
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

Besides spa facilities, there are also Native-owned health and beauty supplies retailers. One example that I know of is ArXotica, Inc. in Bethel, AK. Three sisters from the Quissunamiut Tribe make bath and beauty products from hand-gathered ingredients from their arctic tundra environment in Alaska.

Another botanical products shop is Laughing Berry Botanicals of Metlakatla, AK. They make health and skincare products from the locally harvested devils club plant and black seaweed. The Shearers, the husband and wife team who own Laughing Berry Botanicals and make all the products, also own Laughing Berry Gifts and a tour company that focuses on Tsimshian culture and history around Metlakatla.

And again, from an article from last year in Indian Country Today, "All-Natural Beauty: 7 Indigenous-owned Skincare and Cosmetic Lines You'll Love," here's their list of Native-owned health and skincare companies:

Native Touch (Andrews, NC)
Sister Sky (Spokane, WA)
Medicine of the People (Tucson, AZ)
Native Naturals (Norman, OK)
Native Wisdom (Chicago, IL)
Mother Earth Essentials (Alberta, Canada)
Kamamak Cosmetics (British Columbia, Canada)

I'll continue to update this list as I find more resources!