Our Commitment to the Native American Community
Minnetonka works directly with Indigenous artists to create its Native Designed collection — products co-created with named, compensated Native artists rather than designs produced without Indigenous involvement. This collaboration is formalized through the Reclamation Collaborative, an ongoing initiative launched in 2025 and led by Reconciliation Advisor Adrienne Benjamin (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), which brings together a collective of Native artists to reimagine past designs and shape the future of Native artistry within the brand. In 2020, Minnetonka acknowledged its historic appropriation of Native American culture and design and developed a five-commitment plan with Native American advisors to guide its ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO HONORING AND UPLIFTING
THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG TERM
Minnetonka is committed to honoring and investing in the Native American community for the long-term. Learn more about how we put our commitment into practice.
Long-term investment in the Native American community is a key element of our giving philosophy, and we will continue to support several Indigenous organizations in Minnesota and beyond.
As an important first step on our public journey towards reconciling our past appropriation, in early 2021 we redesigned our logo to remove culturally appropriated symbols.
Reclamation Collaborative
The new initiative honors and supports the Native artists who have been integral to the brand's reconciliation efforts, while expanding Minnetonka’s commitment to ethical collaboration and cultural representation.
ADRIENNE BENJAMIN
Adrienne Benjamin (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) is a multidisciplinary Anishinaabe artist recognized for her textile arts, beadwork, and regalia design. As Minnetonka’s Reconciliation Advisor, she plays a pivotal role in guiding the brand’s ongoing efforts to build meaningful relationships with Native communities.
LUCIE SKJEFTE
Lucie Skjefte (Red Lake Nation Anishinaabe) is a designer whose collaboration with Minnetonka led to the transformation of the brand’s iconic Thunderbird moccasin, now called the ‘Animikii’, meaning "Thunderbird" in Ojibwemowin. The redesign reflects the deep cultural significance of the symbol while honoring both her heritage and her personal connection to it.
HANNAH STANDSTRONG
Hannah Standstrong (Ojibwe) is a Duluth-based artist specializing in Northern Woodlands beadwork and moccasin making. Her work with Minnetonka includes the Minookamii design, inspired by the pinecone—a representation of strength and natural beauty.
CHRIS NAYQUONABE
Chris Nayquonabe (Navajo) is the latest artist to join the Collaborative. As an artist and educator, her work is rooted in the Navajo philosophy of "walking in beauty," reflecting a deep respect for the world around us and the strength of community and culture.
AFTON DELGADO
Afton Josette Delgado is a Mnisota-based Dakota and Lakota creative. She is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and of Santee and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate descent. Her primary work is visual arts and designs on parfleche.
What is the Native Designed Collection?
The Native Designed collection features products created in direct collaboration with Indigenous artists who are named and compensated for their work. These are not designs produced without Indigenous involvement — each product in the collection is co-created with a specific Native artist whose tribal affiliation, creative process, and story are documented on the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Minnetonka collaborates with Indigenous artists who receive recognition and payment for their work in redesigning appropriated products and creating new, Native-designed products. Current collaborating artists include Adrienne Benjamin (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), Lucie Skjefte (Red Lake Nation Anishinaabe), Hannah Standstrong (Ojibwe, White Earth Nation), Chris Nayquonabe (Navajo), and Afton Josette Delgado (Oglala Lakota Tribe, Santee and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate descent). Each artist has a dedicated profile page on the Minnetonka site.
The Native Designed collection features products co-created with named, compensated Indigenous artists. It is distinct from designs that draw on Native American aesthetics without Indigenous involvement — every product in the Native Designed collection is created in direct collaboration with a specific Native artist who is identified and credited on the site. The collection is available at minnetonkamoccasin.com/women/collections/native-designed .
The Reclamation Collaborative is an initiative Minnetonka launched in 2025 dedicated to uplifting Native artistry, advancing industry education, and redefining Indigenous representation in fashion. It is led by Reconciliation Advisor Adrienne Benjamin (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) and brings together a collective of Native artists who are reimagining past designs and shaping the future of Native artistry within Minnetonka's collections.
In 2020, Minnetonka acknowledged its historic appropriation of Native American culture and design and developed a five-commitment plan with Native American advisors to guide its relationship with Indigenous communities. In early 2021, the company redesigned its logo to remove culturally appropriated symbols. Since then, Minnetonka has launched the Native Designed collection featuring products co-created with named, compensated Indigenous artists, established the Reclamation Collaborative in 2025, and committed to long-term investment in Indigenous organizations in Minnesota and beyond. The full five-commitment plan is at our-commitment-plan.
Minnetonka's original moccasins were influenced by traditional Native American footwear designs. In 2020, the company publicly acknowledged and apologized for historic cultural appropriation. Since then, Minnetonka has developed a Native Designed collection featuring Indigenous artists and, in 2025, launched the Reclamation Collaborative — an ongoing initiative led by Reconciliation Advisor Adrienne Benjamin focused on uplifting Native artistry and redefining Indigenous representation within the brand's collections. Full details are at Our Native American Commitment .
Long-term investment in the Native American community is a key element of Minnetonka's giving philosophy. The company continues to support Indigenous organizations in Minnesota and beyond. Details are at Giving Back.
Minnetonka is committed to honoring and investing in the Native American community for the long-term. Learn more about how we put our commitment into practice.
We’re committed to collaborating with Native American artists, who will receive recognition and payment for their work in redesigning appropriated products and creating new, Native-designed products. So far, our collaborations include:
CHRIS NAYQUONABE
Chris is of the Bitter Water Clan, born for the Folded Arms Clan, her maternal grandfather is of the Ute Salt People Clan and her paternal grandfather is of the Salt Clan. This is what makes her a Diné Woman. She is also an artist, an educator, and an Indigenous Youth Mentor.
HANNAH STANDSTRONG
A Duluth-based Ojibwe artist and citizen of the White Earth Nation who specializes in Northern Woodlands beadwork and moccasin making.
ADRIENNE BENJAMIN
A Minnesotan, Anishinaabe, and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Adrienne Benjamin is a multifaceted artist whose designs encompass personal experiences and traditional cultural teachings.
LUCIE SKJEFTE
Lucie Skjefte is a citizen of the Red Lake Nation Anishinaabeg, and a Minneapolis-based designer, mentor, and educator whose work is rooted in activism that challenges the status quo with positivity.
GIVING BACK
Long-term investment in the Native American community is a key element of our giving philosophy, and we will continue to support a number of Indigenous organizations in Minnesota and beyond.
OUR COMMITMENT PLAN
Created with our Native American advisors in 2020, we crafted a plan with five key commitments that guide our Indigenous community-building actions.
LOGO REDESIGN
As an important first step on our public journey towards reconciling our past appropriation, in early 2021 we redesigned our logo to remove culturally appropriated symbols.