Title: Owner
Company: Island Naturals
Location: West Tisbury, Massachusetts, United States
Jannette Vanderhoop, Owner at Island Naturals, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in instruction in Native American culture through art.
Following obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies with a minor in arts in 2004 from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, Ms. Vanderhoop founded Island Naturals in 2006, a premier online distributor of authentic Native American-themed handmade jewelry that reflect her Wampanoag heritage. She employs locally harvested wampum shells from the coastline of Martha’s Vineyard to create beautiful pieces such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pouches and objets d’art.
As program director from 2007 to 2009 of the Aquinnah Cultural Center, an organization that aims to preserve, educate, and document the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe, Ms. Vanderhoop works with children and adults of all ages teaching nature-based themes. Through museum exhibits, community workshops, art shows, school visits, and urban and rural projects, her goal is to increase global visibility and connection of Eastern Seaboard indigenous people and fight stereotypes as they relate to native people, with her modus operandi to “educate people to respect nature through art.” Her book, “Cranberry Day: A Wampanoag Harvest Celebration” describes for young readers how a young Wampanoag boy learns from his elders about the importance of the cranberry harvest.
The first in her family to attend college, Ms. Vandenhoop credits her success to her determination and education, as well as traveling way from Martha’s Vineyard which allowed her to attain new perspectives. As a career highlight, she is most proud of her community work and educating people about Wampanoag history and culture. In the coming years, she is hoping for the continued success of her cultural teaching with the Aquinnah Cultural Center and with Island Naturals.
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