The earliest inhabitants of what are now known as the United States were the great tribal nations of the Navajo, Cherokee, Apache, Hopi, Mohawk, Seminole, Pueblo and many more. Each one existed independently, with their own spiritual beliefs, cultural traditions, laws, history and artistic style. Plenty of Native American gift shops offer authentic products created by skilled artisans of The People.

Some stores primarily cater to tourism and will feature mainly novelty products and items that are based on some of the more iconic, and generalized, images of tribal life. Examples of such goods are traditionally costumed dolls, headdresses, drums, tomahawks, bead work, dream catchers, post cards, paintings and key rings. For the most part, this type of inventory is manufactured in factories and ordered in bulk instead of being authentically hand crafted.

Stores that provide quality products of authentic origin can often be found near reservations or in places that have a strong tribal presence. This type of inventory consists of items that have been individually hand crafted by artisans who have been taught trade skills that have been traditionally passed down through generations. They are constructed with great pride and attention to detail that makes each one a quality piece.

To craft in the traditional styles and be truly authentic, the artisans should use only natural materials as their ancestors did for hundreds of years. Construction typically includes such things as natural types of clay, silver, wool, fur, leather, gems, stones, quills and feathers, as examples. Every piece is done by hand and favored subject matters are human forms, landscapes and the elements in the skies, often featuring earthen tones, geometric shapes and spiritual symbolism.

Basketry is a huge draw to many people who enjoy traditional style crafts made with great skill and quality. The techniques and materials vary by region depending on what was plentiful in the individual areas. In the northern zone that is now Alaska, the primary choice was baleen from whales, yucca leaves and grass in the southwest, and thin strips of wood in the northeast are fashioned into all manner of baskets, jars and trays.

One of the oldest art forms of mankind is pottery and the many tribes, including the Catawba, Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi and Pueblos have their own distinctive styles. To get the most traditionally authentic product, the craftsmen will dig natural clay and build their structures by hand without a potter's wheel. Organically sourced plants and minerals are used to create colors, while luster and shine are achieve with pine pitch and stones.

Both haunting and captivating, kachina dolls are specialties of the many Pueblo tribes such as the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo, and are actively sought out by collectors. They are totems generally in forms representing the spirits of men, animals and the sun, often shown as dancing. The figurines are said to have the supernatural ability to perform actions like increasing fertility, assuring good health or well being and even making it rain.

Beading is an art that will vary in style with each region. Seed beads are used by almost all traditional artisans to add embellishment to many items, including shoes, clothing, fabrics, pipes, drums and basket handles, as well as to create beautiful jewelry. There are hundreds of authentic traditional tribal crafts that one may find and enjoy.