Bonai Baa Products

We are a family generated business, based out of the Carson-Tahoe area. Our products are the result of combining traditional and contemporary practices, utilizing natural products derived from medicinal plants of the Nevada Great Basin and beyond.

Our philosophy is to promote wellness through quality, natural and gentle products that promote healing of your mind, body spirit. Tsaa nesengwan (to feel good)and baa utu (to give water) is the way of our people. It is our responsibility to make sure that we take care of each other and ourselves by ensuring everyone’s ability to feel and think in a good way

We come from an unbroken line of traditional plant healers and basket weavers. Our family’s traditional practices have survived as a result of mousey characters who have retained the memory of our foremothers and have passed down that life-sustaining knowledge down the line to the best of their abilities. In this way, we have shared our baa (water) that keeps our minds, bodies and spirits strong to maintain resilience in this forever changing world.

Our logo and business name is a reflection of our family’s history. Bonai meaning mouse and Baa meaning water in the Western Shoshone language. Bonai Baa is a testimate to our people’s legacy and a reflection of our resilience. Bonai is a name often given to youngest daughter of a Shoshone family - to or whoever best fits the description. And Gaa is a name often given to the men of our family with my uncle being known as Guna Gaa “Wood Rat”, my great-grandfather being Gaa Nayngi “Rat Ear” and my great-great-grandfather being called Gaa Waach (AKA Chief Kawich) meaning “Rat Wonderer”. We come from a long line of Bonais and Gaas who have resisted much of the assimilation influences of the Daibo world and have retained their connection to this land.

Jay Martin Kawich, Owner & Operator

Ne, Jay Martin Kawich, mai nadebenian. Ne Yomba-naite, tease wa’ai Tahoe-naite. Ne aisan deniwai , tease wa’ai natesunkan. Niam bii, Melanie Smokey. Nian tso, “Captain Kawich”, mai nadepinya. Soden Kawich Range-ha man kahnigate. Maiku “Nelis Air Force Base-ha” mai nadepinya nakwai . Asen beai!

Jay Martin Kawich here from the Yomba Shoshone Indian Reservation as well as the Washoe ancestral homelands of the Carson-Tahoe region. I am a teacher and a naturalist healer. My mother is Melanie Smokey - descendent of Captain Kawich, chief of the southern band of Western Shoshones. His domain stretched across the northern portion of what is now known as Nelis Air Force Base all the way to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Di-elel, Hugh Smokey, digum diya ke’i. Desalabil-shilu ke’i. Deshtotoli-ah. Dinga!

My Washoe grandfather was Hugh Smokey Sr. of Dresslerville. He was a strong man and hunter.

Shizhe’e e’i Marlin Martin wolye.

Though I am born and raised Nevadan, I am also descended of the Dene peoples of Arizona. My father is Marlin Martin - a Keeya’ani clan member of the Navajo Nation.

Contact us

Jay Martin Kawich

775-781-7654

JAY@BONAI-BAA.COM

PO BOX 6812 Gardnerville, NV 89460

Jay Martin Kawich

775-781-7654

JAY@BONAI-BAA.COM

PO BOX 6812 Gardnerville, NV 89460