Gathering Tribes

The wisdom of children! Our grandson doodled "It's OK to Look Strange" and we love it so much we put it on a t-shirt. He is such a kind and compassionate boy and we are happy to share his heart with this design. A percentage of the sales goes into his college fund. Yay!

Available colors are Brown, Red, Black, Red, Orange, Green, and White.

Please make sure you order the right size by checking the Size Guide below. T-shirts are not returnable or exchangeable.  Return & Exchange policies toward end.

A super-soft, form-fitting, breathable t-shirt with a slightly lower neckline than a classic t-shirt.

• 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% rayon
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• 40 singles
• Slim fit
• Ribbed crew neck with set-in sleeves

Size guide

T-shirt Returns & Exchanges Policies

Mugs and t-shirts are made on-demand and ship directly from the printer. Please take into consideration that the item is being made for you and then shipped to you. You will receive an email with the tracking number when the item ships to you.  Please save it and follow up as needed.  If you haven't received your order within 10 days after you receive the shipping email, please feel free to reach out to us at treasures@gatheringtribes.com or (510) 406-8335

Make sure your address is correct.  We are not responsible for a replacement or a refund if the shipment goes to a wrong address that you typed in.

If your order arrives damaged or mislabeled:  Our team will look into the order. Please share a detailed description of the problem within 7 days.  Add quality photos where we can see the issue.  If it arrived damaged, please send photos of the shipping box inside and outside also.  We’ll be happy to assist and reship the product for you.

Our return policy doesn’t cover buyer’s remorse so we won’t be able to issue you a refund for the order. Thank you for understanding.

Questions about your order:  Please contact us at treasures@gatheringtribes.com or by phone at (510) 406-8335 if you have any questions or problems with your order.

Thank you.

Who knows what this bear sees as it happily looks up!  Claudia Peina carved it from jet and inlaid turquoise eyes, and six turquoise dots on the front and back.  One leg is bent backward, and it balances on the other leg!  The paws are detailed. "CP" and "Z" are engraved on the bottom foot.

Size: 2.75" H x 2.5" L x .5" W

Bears are the guardians of the western gate in Zuni Pueblo.  They are associated with healing at all levels, protection, and a reminder to restore oneself during the winter months.  In some traditions a part of the bear is rubbed all over infants to imbue them with power, strength, and good health.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

We love Paula Calabaza's chunky hand-rolled beads!  This one is made with jet, clam shell, melon shell, turquoise, and catlinite with jet heishi in between the beads in the center.

Size: 20.5"

Hand Rolled Beads Hand-rolled beads are made by chipping out pieces of stone or shell.  A hole is drilled into the center of each chip.  The chips are strung on a wire and rolled, and rolled, and rolled until they are all the same width.  Sometimes they are graduated – a difficult task!  They are then polished until smooth.  There are hand-rolled necklaces from Kewa Pueblo that are over a thousand years old.  In the “old days”, the holes were drilled with a hand-pump drill, strung on handmade string, and rolled on sandstone.   There is nothing quite like hand-rolled Kewa beads!

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

This tufa cast naja was made by Navajo silversmith Kevin Yazzie.  It has graceful, yet strong lines.  The three arrow points at the top are polished to a high sheen and make a very cool contrast to the organic texture of the organic texture from the tufa.  The hook on the back cannot be seen from the front, and can be hooked onto your favorite necklace or chain.  The beads do not come with it.  This is one of the most beautiful tufa cast najas we've ever seen!   Najas are worn by women and men.  More about najas and tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 3" H x 2" W

Najas are a prominent symbol in Navajo jewelry and are always the center piece in squash blossom necklaces.  I was told they are a feminine symbol, and their crescent shape represents the arms of a matriarch and the generations of the past and future.  It symbolizes ease of movement, paths of least resistance for the family, even during challenging times.  There is a sense of open arms in the shape of the naja that is soothing.  Some najas have hands on each end.

Tufa Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound tightly together and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Award-winning Creek, Navajo and Hopi jeweler, David Tune, made this spirit person shaped inlaid ring.  The stone is high grade natural Bisbee turquoise.  The inlay is turquoise, fossilized walrus ivory, red and orange coral.  The band is tufa cast and stamped by hand.  "David Tune" is stamped into the band.

Size: 9 - adjustable one size up or down.  Setting is 2" H x .75" W