MY STORY

About Kiana

My name is Kiana Kona, and I am the creator and owner of KKONA LLC. I’m an Indigenous artist and a member of the Tulalip Tribe, originally from the Columbia River Gorge in the small town of White Salmon, Washington. Although I didn’t grow up on the reservation, I always felt a strong pull to reconnect with my roots and deepen my relationship with the land.

In 2021, I made that journey, moving to the Tulalip Reservation to immerse myself in my culture and traditions. It was at the Hibulb Cultural Center where I began learning Indigenous basket weaving from skilled elders. I’ve been creative my whole life, but it wasn’t until I first touched cedar that I truly discovered my passion.

Today, I specialize in creating handmade jewelry using cedar that I sustainably harvest from the Pacific Northwest. I also weave in unique, natural materials like tanned salmon leather with different seashells from around the world. Each piece honors traditional practices while reflecting my own artistic voice and vision.

You can find KKONA jewelry in select museums and gift shops, and I share my vendor schedule on Instagram for those who want to shop in person.

I am deeply grateful you’re here—thank you for taking the time to learn about my story and my work. I hope each piece brings you as much joy and connection as the care, intention, and love I put into creating it.

With gratitude,

Kiana