My Native American Art Journey

My journey with Native American culture and art began when I was just four years old, after my family moved to the Navajo Reservation. As a white kid born in the Midwest, I quickly realized how different life would be in Wide Ruins, Arizona. Those early years left a lasting impression on me—not because of the Navajo arts, but because of the deep cultural connections I observed and experienced.

In Wide Ruins, I attended Head Start and later rode the bus to Sanders for kindergarten. I was the only white kid in my Head Start program, and the community welcomed me with open arms, even giving me my own set of tribal clothing. My daycare was in a traditional hogan, and I spent afternoons watching sheep grazing across from the local trading post. That trading post wasn’t an art gallery; it was where we bought Cokes and candy. But the culture I experienced there shaped my understanding and appreciation of Native traditions.

When my family moved to Gallup for my first-grade year, the immersion in Native American culture only deepened. Half of my classmates were Native American, and many of my teachers, coaches, and friends were as well. The Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial exposed me to an even broader array of tribes and art forms. Downtown Gallup was filled with stores selling Native art, and seeing people wearing turquoise necklaces, cluster belts, and traditional attire felt completely normal.

In high school, I worked part-time at a Native American art gallery owned by a friend’s family, learning the basics of customer service. Later, during college, I took a break to help a local business owner start a bike shop, which introduced me to the realities of running a business. That eventually led to a partnership starting a mail-order catalog for lowrider bikes—a venture that taught me sourcing, advertising, inventory management, and building a customer base long before the internet was mainstream.

My connection to Native American art became more direct when I married my wife, the granddaughter of Bill Richardson of Richardson’s Trading Company. I helped create their first mail-order catalog (didn’t last long) and built their first website from an HTML 5 resource manual, navigating the challenges of early e-commerce. When eBay emerged, I ran their online sales, selling dozens of items each week and gaining valuable experience in online transactions and logistics.

After finishing my accounting degree, I launched my own online business, Wide Ruins Trader, blending my love for Native art with my growing knowledge of business operations. Later, I was invited to join Perry Null Trading Company, where I built their first website and expanded their online presence. For 17 years, I worked in all facets of the business—pawn, buying, and commissioning pieces—all while continuing to build my understanding of the industry. I even developed strong relationships with international buyers, including the Japanese market, which had a unique focus on turquoise and specific artists.

Today, as a CPA with my own firm, I work with clients across industries, but my love for Native American art remains a driving force. I bring a dual perspective: I’ve built businesses from the ground up and understand the financial and operational side of running them. This category is my way of giving back to a community and industry I care deeply about.

In the coming days, I’ll start new topics to share insights, resources, and strategies for starting and growing a Native American jewelry business. Whether you’re an artist, a reseller, or simply curious, I’m here to help.

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Jason,

Thank you for sharing a bit of your incredible history, as well as shedding light on the wonderful experiences that have helped shape you.

This community specifically, (including those that visit but briefly) is incredibly fortunate for what you have done and continue to do.

While my business may not be in any way affiliated with Native culture, I understand what it takes to work towards something viable, starting with nothing more than your mind and hands.

I commend you, and thank you, for we are blessed with the fruits of your labor.

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Thank you so much for telling us your story. What a wonderful way to grow up!

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