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pair of Gong’s shoes, and his designs
became so popular that he launched
his entrepreneurial career. Eighth
Generation was born. The company
later became the first Native-owned
business to produce wool blankets.
Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee/Upper
Ahtna Athabascan), executive director
of the Chief Seattle Club, a Pioneer
Square nonprofit that provides assistance
for urban Native people and
works on issues of indigenous homelessness,
said Eighth Generation is a
game-changer in many ways and fills
her with an immense sense of pride.
“There are very few places in this
city that show examples of traditional
Coast Salish culture,” Echohawk said,
adding that many of Seattle’s celebrated
totem poles “are typically stolen
from Alaska, or appropriated.”
Gong’s work, mission, business
philosophy, giving programs and
community collaboration are also
inspiring, Echohawk said. “I work in
homelessness and understand that we
have to find our own solutions. We
have to take control.”
The club, under Echohawk’s leadership,
is preparing to build an adjacent
housing unit to provide homes for
about 100 indigenous homeless people.
She said the building itself, like
Eighth Generation, is designed to represent
Salish culture and will include
an art gallery, medical clinic and café.
She said the development process is
daunting, but Gong has inspired her
to see it through and create another
center of pride in the city.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,”
Echohawk said with a laugh, before
turning serious. “But I’m following
Louie’s example and it feels easier because
of the work he has pioneered.”
Developing Artrepreneurs
Eighth Generation, which opened
the Pike Place store last August, works
with talented Native arts entrepreneurs
across the country as part of its
“Inspired Natives” effort. That includes
jewelry artist Michelle Lowden, from
Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico; Sarah
Agaton Howes of Minnesota, an Anishinaabe
artist known for her handmade
regalia and moccasins; and Kyle
Reyes (Filipino/Hawaiian/Japanese), a
Utah-based artist and owner of Three
Canoes Design. They contract with the
company to brand their products under
the Eighth Generation label.
The collaboration is making it
possible for these artists to make
a living through their art, Gong
said. “A mortgage-paying, choicemaking
difference.”
Recently, Eighth Generation
launched some new collaborative
projects with other Seattle companies,
including curating special ice cream
flavors for the month of September
with Central District Ice Cream and
working with Seattle’s Chocolati Café
to create art-based chocolates presenting
flavor combinations influenced by
Eighth Generation’s indigenous
experience, along with Seattle’s
Native history and culture.
16 | FALL 2017
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