Where Heritage Meets Modern Design
I’m Colton Branstetter, a Cherokee artist who grew up in Pryor, Oklahoma. I studied in Durango, Colorado, and now live in Catoosa, Oklahoma on the Cherokee Nation reservation. I create copper jewelry—including traditional gorgets and minimalist earrings, bracelets, and necklaces—inspired by Cherokee culture and history.
My passion for copperwork began after seeing other coppersmiths at Native events. I purchased a few pieces and realized that I might be able to make something similar myself. I began experimenting with sheets of copper and wire, mostly using minimal tools and sometimes crafting my own. The connection to copper is ancestral—Cherokee people have worked with it for generations, especially in our southeastern homelands, where natural copper deposits were abundant. I see my work as a continuation of that lineage.
I create in my garage workshop, where solitude and music in my headphones help me get into the zone. There’s something grounding about turning raw metal into something wearable. My favorite part of the process is that transformation—from flat copper to a finished piece that someone will wear with pride.
Most copper jewelry is seen as formal or ceremonial. I want my designs to be accessible for everyday wear—pieces that go just as well with jeans and a t-shirt as they do with formalwear. When someone wears my work, I hope they feel the strength of tradition and the subtlety of modern design coming together.
About the Indigenous Artisans Collective
Etsy and Nest are proud to support the Indigenous Artisans Collective, the latest cohort within the Etsy Uplift Makers Program, featuring shops from Indigenous makers affiliated with 27 tribes across the United States and the First Nations of Canada.
Many of the makers practice craft skills that have been inspired by or passed down from family and community mentors. Product collections include meticulously handcrafted home goods, jewelry, and other accessories, in honor of the maker’s culture and heritage. Amongst many Indigenous communities, traditional handcraft continues to hold significant cultural value, as well as economic opportunity.
Through the Uplift Makers: Indigenous Artisans Collective, Etsy and Nest are helping to create digital market access and economic opportunities for Indigenous makers while also providing artisans with resources and tools to help run a successful online business. From expert-led digital marketing training, onboarding support, and a custom resource library, the program delivers a comprehensive suite of programming to participants. Additionally, the program addresses key barriers new business owners face such as providing professional photography to capture the creative content needed to showcase their talent and reach new customers in today’s digital era.
