Indigenous winter market kicks off holiday shopping season

CLOQUET, Minn. — An indigenous winter craft market at the Cloquet Community Center helped kick off the local holiday shopping season.

The market showcased pieces from a number of the area’s indigenous artists, each showing off their creations from blankets to bead work.

According to one of the event’s organizers, markets like these help local artists get a headstart on those important holiday sales.

“This is the kickoff of our gift season here, that’s why we aim to do it right around the middle of November, so that we can try to get people to come in before Black Friday and Small Business Friday,” said Chi Ma’iingan, owner of Round Lake Traditions, one of the hosts of the event.

We purposely target this date here at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community Center, because it seems that we get a lot of foot traffic coming in right around this time.”

The market also featured a bake sale and a silent auction, with the proceeds from those going towards the Fond du Lac Elders Concern Group.