Shopping for Native American Art and Maine-Made Products
Maine’s Indigenous art is a living, evolving tradition shaped by the Wabanaki Nations: the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq peoples. Known collectively as the People of the Dawnland, the Wabanaki have been creating art rooted in Maine’s forests, rivers and coastlines for thousands of years, drawing from the same landscapes that continue to inspire visitors today.
Across the state, curated shops feature Maine-made products, and many also offer Wabanaki-made goods, from beautifully woven baskets to thoughtfully crafted everyday items. Purchasing one of these pieces is a meaningful way to support local artists, help keep traditional skills alive and invest in creative practices passed down through generations.
One of the best places to experience this artistry firsthand is the Abbe Museum (open May-Oct.) in Bar Harbor. The museum is dedicated to Wabanaki history, culture and contemporary life, and its gift shop is a thoughtfully curated space showcasing authentic Wabanaki-made goods. Peruse the shelves stocked with a variety of items, from rustic, hand-cut soaps infused with native plants like sweetgrass, cedar and nettles (and often enriched with traditional ingredients like bear tallow) to hand-carved wooden spoons and butter knives. These everyday objects that carry generations of knowledge in their form and function.
One of the most recognizable Wabanaki art forms is traditional basketry, where beauty and practicality come together. These baskets are made from natural materials gathered with care—brown ash splints, birch bark and split cedar—and each one reflects a deep knowledge of the land. Many feature distinctive details like porcupine weave, a technique created by folding and pinching ash splints into spiky points that give the baskets texture and personality. Explore this functional artwork at Baskets of Time in Wilton, an intimate shop-meets-gallery owned by David and Ann Shultz. Devoted to Wabanaki baskets made in Maine, the collection highlights modern day master weavers, from tightly woven, multicolored baskets by Sarah Sockbeson to bold, contemporary pieces by 12th-generation weaver Gabriel Frey. Frey’s visually striking works, known for their elaborate textures and colors, have been exhibited in galleries across the country and demonstrate how tradition and innovation can coexist seamlessly.
Discover even more Wabanaki works alongside other exceptional Maine-made crafts at the Center for Maine Craft, a year-round retail gallery representing more than 300 members of the Maine Crafts Association. The space showcases a wide range of media and techniques, offering a broader context for Maine’s creative legacy while spotlighting Indigenous artists within that tradition.
Seasonal events provide another meaningful way to shop directly from Wabanaki artists and makers. The Guild Fine Craft Shows bring juried makers together at two major events: the Mount Desert Island show in August and the Brunswick show in October. Here, you’ll find high-quality handmade objects across many disciplines, including baskets and woodwork. For a deeper cultural experience, plan a visit during the Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas at the Abbe Museum in July or the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners’ Common Ground Country Fair in Unity each September. The Common Ground Country Fair features a dedicated Wabanaki Arts Tent that brings Indigenous creativity and culture to life through hands-on demonstrations and displays, from basketmaking and beadwork to woodcarving, moosehide drums, birch bark pieces and quill-adorned jewelry. Visitors can also experience drumming, singing in Native languages and dance performances—both traditional and contemporary—designed to deepen understanding and respect for Wabanaki communities and their living traditions.
For one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, peruse the Wabanaki Winter Market—the largest holiday gathering of Wabanaki artists in New England—held at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono each December.
Wherever you shop, choosing authentic Wabanaki-made goods supports living artists, sustains cultural traditions, and offers a tangible connection to Maine’s oldest—and still thriving—creative communities.