Native Trade

Native Trade: a logo trademarked by Sister Sky

“Markets and commerce were not invented in Europe. When Columbus made shore, Indians…had already developed a broad and complex commercial network.” - Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Department of Interior, 2007.

Native American trade and commerce with Europeans has earliest recordings in the late 1400's to early 1500's.  Such business transactions created economic sustainability for both parties involved in the trading process.

Native American trade created personal and communal wealth within tribal communities.  In addition Native American trade created robust commerce and a healthy thriving business market.

Federally mandated forced-relocation of millions of Native Americans, to far removed lands of desolation, made extinct the robust business market of Native American trade.  Thus, sorrowfully creating a socioeconomic tragedy.   Native Americans where once skilled, experienced, dedicated entrepreneurs who contributed to a healthy trade commerce in North America.

For Native Americans in the 21st century ''Native Trade' equals:

• Revival of healthy trade industries.
• Individual and community wealth building.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Employment.
• Home Ownership.
• Healthy Families.
• Economic Sustainability.
• Tribal self-governance.

Global nations require healthy trade environments in order to establish and maintain economic wealth, for their citizens and government.  Tribal nations are no different than global nations, a healthy trade environment is required to establish and maintain economic wealth for tribal citizens and tribal governments.

Be a Native American game-changer!  Consciously practice fair Native Trade today !

Marina TurningRobe
Sister Sky  

About Sister Sky Brand

About Our Brand

Native American products are moving into mainstream retail due to consumer demand. Sister Sky is a 100% Native American owned company; we develop, design and commercially produce Native inspired products.

Sister Sky is not an artisan brand; our products are not hand made.  Native American artisans, making one-of-a-kind pieces, occupy that industry.  Sister Sky highly respects traditional artists; although we do not compete in that industry.  

Sister Sky is a Native American company moving past the "cottage industry" model to the "commercial industry" model in an effort to:

• Respectfully represent Native American culture, in the commercial industry.  
• Fill a gap in the commercial marketplace by providing Native inspired products supplied by Native American business owners.  
• Provide retailers an affordable and reliable supply of culturally-respectful Native         inspired products. 
• Create employment and model small business ownership in our tribal communitues. 

Sister Sky started as a hobby based business in 1999.  We have grown since and our branded product categories include natural bath and body care products, hotel amenities and fashion accessories.  Visit us at www.sistersky.com 

We value and appreciate your friendship and support!

Marina & Monica

Sister Sky

Violence Against Women - The Abalone Woman

Abalone Woman

A Native American Legend: Abalone Woman 

Abalone Woman lived on the ocean coast. She passed time sitting on the beach, shinning her most beautiful stunning colors in the sky. Several elders told Abalone Woman, "Your beautiful colors are a special gift, which must be handled with honor and loving care."  

A man from the North saw Abalone Woman's beautiful colors in the sky and said "I must find her, the woman who makes beautiful colors in the sky".  North Man set out on his journey, he traveled great distances to find the woman who made beautiful colors in the sky. 

North Man finally found her!  There she sat, on the beach, shining her beautiful colors in the sky!  North Man approached her, they met and fell in love. In the beginning, North Man was very kind to Abalone Woman, treating her with honor and loving care.  

North Man's kindness reminded her of the words spoken by her elders, "Your beautiful colors are a special gift, which must be handled with honor and loving care", so this encouraged Abalone Woman to continue shining her beautiful colors in the sky, for North Man to see and enjoy.  

As time passed, North Man began to treat Abalone Woman with disrespect.  He became very mad and cruel towards her.  Trying to make North Man happy, Abalone Woman would shine her colors brighter, brighter and brighter but her efforts did not change matters with North Man.  

Then one day on the same beach where their love began, North Man hurt Abalone Woman so very deeply.  North Man hurt Abalone Woman in a way which, no human hands, could ever heal.  North Man's hurt was forever.

In Abalone Woman's deep hurt, she looked up to the blue sky and began to cry-out in terrible pain. Like a stream leading into the ocean, Abalone Woman's tears fell down her face.  

As her tears of hurt and pain touched the water, the water began to shine the beautiful colors of Abalone Woman.  You see, her tears turned into beautiful abalone shells!  As Abalone Woman faded into hurt and pain she, too, transformed into the abalone shells. 

Abalone Woman became our beautiful shining abalone shell.  The shell is a reminder that women have a special shining gift.  Women must care for and respect their shining gifts and men must also respect women's gift of shining.  Most importantly, for love to not be in vain, men and women must handle each other with honor and loving care.   

*This legend, or similar version, is told by various coastal indigenous peoples.  We share this legend in an effort to end violence against women and in homes across the world.  

Sunburn and Heritage

Ancestral Heritage & Sunburn

Kevin's Cure Collection contains the natural solution: Yarrow, for sunburn damage to skin. 

Factors that can affect sunburn include genetic heritage, location and drugs. Your ancestral heritage determines a lot about how quickly you may burn when exposed to the sun. Those who are especially fair skinned fare more poorly when exposed to the sun than those who are olive skinned or black. This has to do with the amount of the natural pigment melanin in skin. Melanin is photoprotectant, enabling the body to absorb sun rays as simple heat without DNA damage. The more melanin in the skin, the lesser chance a person has to burn. When we tan, that is due to increased melanin production as a result of sun exposure. In very fair skinned people, there is insufficient melanin for tanning.

Your geographic location is another significant factor with sunburns. Those who live in the tropical latitudes are exposed to more direct sunlight, and must therefore be more careful than those who live in the higher latitudes where the rays of the sun are less direct. 

Drugs also play a role in whether you will burn. Antibiotics, oral contraceptives and anti-anxiety drugs can increase the risk of burns. If you are taking any of these classes of drugs, carefully read the contraindications sections of the data sheets, so you will know whether you are at increased risk of burning.

If you overdo your exposure to the sun and wind up with a mild burn, the following natural remedy can provide soothing relief. However, if you wind up with a serious burn, you will be wise to contact your doctor.

Yarrow

Native Americans used an infusion of the common herb yarrow as a wash for sunburn and other skin disorders. Yarrow relieves the pain of burns and soothes inflamed skin. You can buy dried yarrow in many natural food stores. If you have a sunburn, make a big pot of yarrow tea and add it to a warm or cool bath. The infusion will provide relief.

Kevin's Cure Body Lotion 

Contains Yarrow and other beautiful natural skin care solutions for healthy summer skin.  The Kevin's Cure Collection:  body wash, body balm, body lotion and healing salve.  Visit us at www.sistersky.com to purchase your Natural Solutions from Native Roots.  

Enjoy Your Summer!  

The Sisters

Credit information:  Foxnews.com, July 2012

Ethnic Skin Needs Special Care

Ethnic skin is sensitive. 

Ethnic skin differs in structure based on increased pigment (melanin). Increased pigment creates an array of tones from deep brown to light tan in ethnic skin.  Pigment producing cells are located in the upper layer of  ethnic skin and are very reactive to irritants such as harsh chemicals, heavy perfumes and dyes. Common complaints of people with ethnic skin include ashy skin, uneven skin tone, rough, bumpy skin and eczema.  All of these conditions can create uncomfortable, itchy, sensitive skin. Treating ethnic skin conditions is challenging because harsh chemicals found in many moisturizers often worsen the condition. Continued, prolonged skin care with gentle and effective products is needed to improve the appearance of many ethnic skin problems.

I know first hand how frustrating it can be to find a gentle & effective moisturizer for sensitive skin.  I created our flagship product, Kevin’s Cure body lotion for my son who was born with severe eczema. Since then, our family owned company continues to create products founded in age old, trusted, natural remedies handed down through the generations. Safe.  Gentle. Effective.  Free of harsh chemicals and Mother Nature approved.    -Monica Simeon, Company Cofounder. 

 You can find the complete line of Kevin's Cure products at www.sistersky.com

How To Apply Body Balm

“The best time to apply moisturizer is right after a wash when skin is damp, so you trap the moisture on its surface,” says Karen Kim, MD, a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

 

Unlike an ordinary lotion, Kevin's Cure Body Balm is specially formulated to be applied to damp skin. 

People who use Kevin's Cure Body Balm will see and feel improved skin health but it must be applied correctly. 

  

After bath or shower pat skin dry but leave some moisture.

       •Apply a thin layer of balm and smooth quickly all over body.

       •No need to rub in – it dissolves quickly.

•For added moisture – apply body lotion directly on top of balm.

 

Kevin's Cure Body Balm when applied to damp skin will significantly improve skin health and softness.

The Body Balm can improve skin health since it’s applied as medically suggested by a dermatologist.

Sister Sky provides Natural Solutions from Native Roots.  Visit our website at www.sistersky.com for Kevin's Cure Body Balm and more. 

About Kevin's Cure:  My son, Kevin was born with eczema.  When I couldn't find products that worked I made my own!  Borrowing herbal wisdom from my Native American heritage, I developed Kevin's Cure to soothe and soften naturally. 
-Monica Simeon, Company Co-founder

EEEWW! Mosquitoes

Reprieve in Sister Sky Cedar Citrus Products 

Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day. You can avoid being bitten by making sure you:  

1) Are using a repellent.

2) Aren't attracting the pesky insects and

3) Avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent. 

Mosquito Attractants:  

• Dark clothes and plant foliage are initial attractants. 

 

• In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets. 

 

• Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or standing water) will draw mosquitoes.  

Natural Repellents: 

Natural products will aide in repelling mosquitoes but they require frequent reapplication (at least every 1 hour).  Products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient.  For example:

Cedar Oil  

Cinnamon Oil                        

Rosemary Oil                        

Citronella Oil                         

Clove Oil  

 

Lemongrass Oil

 

Peppermint Oil   

 

Geranium Oil                     

*Put several drops of the oil(s) in with distilled water place in a glass spray bottle, shake and spray away! The 1 or 2 ounce spray bottles are perfect for personal use!  

To use as an ADDITIONAL natural repellent try:   

Sister Sky Cedar Citrus products offered in: lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

Enjoy the Summer Fun! 

Beware Summer Hair

SUMMER Hair Care

 

The stuff which makes summer fun – the sun and water - is hard on your hair. Dry hair, fizzy hair and even "green" hair can result from summer damage.  Take charge - it doesn't have to be that way!  

 Be proactive in your summer hair care regime by using Sister Sky Indian Hyacinth Conditioner, containing the protective ingredient Pro-Vitamin B5.  

Hair which is healthy moisturized and in good condition is less prone to breakage and heat damage.  Pro Vitamin B5 functions as a Humectant which increases the water content of hair improving elasticity while decreasing breakage.  

 Whether you'll be at the beach in the salt air, taking a dip in the pool or just sitting around the campfire, Sister Sky can help protect your beautiful locks against the summer sun with Indian Hyacinth Conditioner containing Pro Vitamin B5.  

Hair Tip:  wet hair before going into the water, apply Indian Hyacinth Conditioner containing Pro Vitamin B5 as a leave-in-conditioner until you are done with your daily summer fun!  

 

Enjoy Summer Fun!  - The Sisters

Exercise and Morphine?

Consider This High

Alvina Begay, Navajo/Dine, Nike N7 Ambassador for Indian Country

Improved self-esteem is a key psychological benefit of regular physical activity. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain.

Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as "euphoric." That feeling, known as a "runner's high," can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.

Endorphins act as analgesics, which means they diminish the perception of pain. They also act as sedatives. They are manufactured in your brain, spinal cord, and many other parts of your body and are released in response to brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neuron receptors endorphins bind to are the same ones that bind some pain medicines. However, unlike with morphine, the activation of these receptors by the body's endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence.

Regular exercise has been proven to:

• Reduce stress
• Ward off anxiety and feelings of depression
• Boost self-esteem
• Improve sleep

Exercise also has these added health benefits:

• It strengthens your heart.
• It increases energy levels.
• It lowers blood pressure.
• It improves muscle tone and strength.
• It strengthens and builds bones.
• It helps reduce body fat.
• It makes you look fit and healthy.

"Go get your endorphines today!" - Marina

Source:  WEBMd

Sister Sky: White Willow Lotion For Healthy Skin

For Thousands of Years:
Use of willow bark dates back thousands of years for Native Americans, also with the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. Willow bark has been used throughout the centuries in North America, China, Europe, and continues to be used today for the treatment of pain, headache and inflammatory conditions such as bursitis and tendinitis.  

Natural Pain Reliver: The bark of white willow contains salicin, which is a natural chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It is thought to be responsible for the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of the herb. In fact, in the 1800s, salicin was used to develop aspirin. However, studies have identified several other components of willow bark that have antioxidant, fever reducing, antiseptic, and immune boosting properties.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory: As an anti-inflammatory: white willow bark has been used to relieve the painful inflammation and joint pain of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, neuralgia, osteoarthritis, osteroporitic and lower back pain and the inflammatory stages of autoimmune diseases. It may also be an effective alternative for people who cannot tolerate non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.

For Healthy Skin: Used externally, white willow bark's antiseptic properties extend to its help in treating cuts, burns, wounds, sores, sweaty feet, dandruff and as a mouthwash to ease tonsillitis, sore mouth and sore gums. 
Used topically: white willow bark contains Tannins which is a natural astringent and is traditionally used topically to treat wet or oozing skin conditions such as poison ivy and eczema.

 
**Information: University of Maryland Medical Center.

"I love the fragrance of Sister Sky White Willow Skin & Hair care products! I have 2 year old twins and I wash my hands constantly which makes my hands dry and irritated. White Willow lotion smells wonderful and softens my very dry hands. Thanks Sister Sky!". - Sheila T.

 Enjoy the Summer Fun with healthy soft skin.  Try Sister Sky White Willow Lotion TODAY!

- Marina