The Native American Tea Company was founded in 1987 in Aberdeen, South Dakota by Clarence Wolf Guts, a Native American veteran and member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. He was one of the last surviving Lakota code talkers from World War II.
Wolf Guts started the company to promote natural, herbal teas inspired by Native American traditions and to support Native-owned business initiatives. The teas became known for blending cultural heritage with health-conscious ingredients. The Company merged with Native American Coffee owned by a Muscogee Creek, Bill McClure aka Billy Mac. We welcome you to our native family.
Today, we are known as The Native American Tea and Coffee Company.
President - Jordan Sutherlan - Cherokee
Vice President - Hunter (Woody) Wood - Cherokee
William C. McClure, Chairman – Muscogee Creek
I lead our company with the enduring strength of my Muscogee (Creek) heritage. My roots trace to Ben Fife, a Hitchita‑Town Creek who navigated the upheaval of Removal, and to Sartelo Micco (King), a respected leader whose very name means “chief.” Their wives, Iyokkogee and Lasochee, safeguarded family, medicine, and ceremony on the long journey from Alabama to Indian Territory. Their daughter Millie King Fife, my great‑grandmother, wove generosity and hospitality into daily life and passed those values to her son, Rev. Elijah L. Fife. (Fyfe)
Rev. Elijah Fife built Big Cussetah Church near Okmulgee—a beacon of faith that nurtured community bonds and preserved Creek culture. His daughter, and her sisters, my grandmother, Nancy Fife McClure, opened their home to travelers and neighbors alike.
Nancy Fife McClure's son—my father—Charles Lee McClure—graduated from Chilocco Agricultural Indian School in 1931, he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and spent four decades as a trusted funeral director across western Oklahoma. Together with my mother, Mary Frances McClure, they cared for families in Cordell, Sentinel, Sayre, Mountain View, and Carnegie with quiet compassion and an unshakable smile.
I am proud to say I have two grandchildren who are Muscogee Creek and Cheyenne Arapahoe. I hope they will carry on our tradition of love and compassion to the people we serve.
Today, I am proud to say that every blend we craft at Native American Tea & Coffee Company honors that lineage. We champion traditional botanicals, partner with Native growers, and invite the world to taste Muscogee generosity in each fragrant, healing cup. From Ben Fyfe’s endurance and Elijah Fyfe’s sermons to my parents’ gentle service, their stories guide me to lead with optimism, share abundantly, and celebrate life—one comforting sip at a time.
Mvto, Billy Mac, aka (Bill McClure)
Tom Aman, Chairman Emertius
Dr. Thomas Aman stands as a pillar of community leadership and cultural preservation in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As Chairman Emeritus of the Native American Tea Company, he has been instrumental in guiding the company’s mission to honor Native American traditions through herbal teas. His family's deep roots in the region trace back to the Standing Rock Reservation, where his parents met at a powwow in 1926. This heritage has fueled his dedication to supporting Indigenous communities and promoting economic development in the area.
Beyond his contributions to the tea industry, Dr. Aman has made significant strides in education and philanthropy. He served as the National Chairman for the $20 million building fund for Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota. In recognition of his efforts, the Entrepreneurial Education Center at the college was named in honor of Dr. Thomas and Danielle Aman. Furthermore, the Native American Tea Company donates 5% of its profits to the college, providing scholarships and supporting the academic aspirations of Native American students.
Dr. Aman's commitment to cultural preservation extends to sustainable agriculture through his partnership in the development of the Brown Otter/Jet, LLC Buffalo Ranch in Bullhead, South Dakota. Located within the Rock Creek District of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, this initiative aims to restore buffalo populations and promote traditional practices.
The Brownotter-JetCo Buffalo Ranch, LLC, co-founded by Tom Aman and Ron Brownotter, is a significant Native American-owned enterprise located in Bullhead, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Spanning approximately 20,000 acres, the ranch is home to a herd of around 600 American bison, playing a vital role in the resurgence of buffalo populations on tribal lands
Established around 2010, the ranch operates within the agricultural sector, focusing on livestock and animal specialties. Beyond its agricultural endeavors, the ranch offers buffalo hunting experiences, providing visitors with the opportunity to engage in traditional practices and connect with the land's heritage
In addition to its cultural and recreational offerings, the ranch contributes to local economies and food sovereignty initiatives. It has been involved in federal programs aimed at supplying locally raised bison meat to tribal communities, thereby supporting both nutritional needs and economic development within the reservation .
Through his multifaceted endeavors, Dr. Aman continues to bridge the past and present, fostering a legacy of respect, resilience, and renewal for Native American communities.
