Fawn Douglas Opens IndigenousAF Store in Las Vegas Arts District

Fawn Douglas, an enrolled member of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, opened the IndigenousAF store on Oct. 23 in the Arts District. The shop sells clothing, jewelry, and artwork made by Native Americans. The name includes the letters AF to represent allies and friends, according to the organization's website.

Douglas has operated the Nuwu Art Gallery and Community Center on Maryland Parkway for years. That space hosts free workshops and exhibitions. Her partner, A.B. Wilkinson, is a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The new venture combines their nonprofit work with a direct retail model in a high-traffic area.

The store connects physically to the Wai Gallery, a 1,600-square-foot space dedicated to art exhibitions. Douglas said the retail operation will generate funds to support Nuwu Art. Those funds pay for free art materials, compensate culture bearers, and cover the costs of community events.

Douglas emphasized the importance of verifying the origin of the goods. She cited the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, a federal law that regulates the marketing of Native American arts and crafts. The store will only sell items created by tribal members or descendants of a tribe.

Douglas said the project aims to correct common misconceptions about Native culture. She noted that there are more than 575 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Each group maintains its own language, culture, and artistic traditions. The store intends to let those artists present their own stories rather than relying on outside interpretations.

Douglas and Wilkinson plan to assess the store's performance before expanding their programming. They aim to integrate the new space into the local community. The retail operation is designed to be a financial engine for their existing educational nonprofit.

The store is currently open for business. It serves as a physical link between the Nuwu Art Gallery and the Wai exhibition space. Customers can purchase items and view current exhibitions at the connected location.