Tinley's Native American Arts Store Keeps Tradition Alive

For the past eight years, Tinley Park has been home to a store dedicated to preserving Native American culture and authentic artwork.

You're immediately captured by the sounds of drums and rhythmic music when you walk through the doors of the Native American Arts, 17028 Oak Park Ave in Tinley Park. Dream catchers and wind chimes dangle like bats from the ceiling. Flutes, jewelry, lamps, books, medicine wheels and bead work are a mere sampling of the array of items found there.

Owned and operated by Ho-Chunk Nation members Matthew and Mary Mullen, the mother-son duo uses their store to serve a bigger purpose.

“We want to keep the conversation going,” Matthew said.

The pair encourages people to speak about Native American traditions and culture—two things that fill the store. Every piece of native art tells its own story and even the way they're crafted is filled with meaning.

Get the Facts about the Native American Arts Store

• Baskets in the store were made by Ho-Chunk Nation members—only 14 of the 70,000 members create these, owners said.
• Stone animal carvings called Fetishes sit in a glass case. They were made by the Zuni tribe, Matthew said, and the spirit of each animal is believed to be inside the stone.
• Kachina dolls—mostly a Hopi tribe tradition—serve as a tribute to spiritual and natural elements of life.
• Expectedly, dream catchers are among the store’s best sellers.
• All of the business' art is created by Native American tribal members still living in the U.S.
• Everything in the store is labeled using the tribe the artist belongs to.
• About 30 different tribes are represented.