Today Bear - Buffalo Silver Designs is a handcrafted producer and retailer of "Contemporary Native American Style Jewelry and Judaic Silver Designs, genuine silver and gold handcrafted jewelry.
Bear-Buffalo began in business in 1998 representing authentic Native American artisans and had traveled the Pow Wow circuit along the east coast. In addition, we had retailed our Native American artists and crafter's over the Internet over the last few years. Prior to starting our own company we were in a partnership with another Native American vendor and his Native American artist wife.
Mark Blacker and his wife Gail are the owners of Bear -Buffalo Silver Designs and have marketed quality products through their business. Gail's' family heritage has strong roots in Native America and her husband Mark has been actively pursuing the genealogy of her fathers' family and their Native American roots...Stout, Avery, Snow families from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While acquiring several connections leading to verification of her Native American genealogy some written documentation is missing from local churches or other sources. Unfortunately in Pennsylvania and other places many churches and local authorities destroyed much of the records about citizens with Native American ancestory, though the search for her genealogy continues.
We started this business after collecting a considerable amount of personal Native American art and crafts and felt the strong historic and philosophical connections with the culture. Today our aim is to continue to promote the culture and philosophies of Native America.
Mark who has been a crafter for many years always had interest in silver and worked as an apprentice under Mel Whitebird to learn the silversmith art. Mark has won several regional awards for his quality work and designs.
My journey from producing simple crafts to that of a silversmith was one of turmoil and setbacks and some friends who have provided some wonderful experiences and opened our eyes to some of the finest artwork today of birds and other natural wildlife. To Oneta Cole one of the top Aviary artists and her husband Andy. Though we have lost touch over the years I thank them in many ways that they will never understand. Please take a moment and visit Oneta at her website www.oneta-secondmoon.com
We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you at Fine Art and Fine Craft events and on the internet. It is our goal to open a retail outlet in 2007, in .Silverthorne, Colorado.
