Ellis Tanner Trading Co.

About Us

Ellis Tanner Trading Company is a modern-day old fashioned trading post features a pawn shop as well as authentic Native American jewelry, paintings, crafts, and Native American Church items. You'll find a huge selection of Pendleton blankets and shawls along with an extensive Native American music section. The trading post also features a wonderful Navajo bookstore and the Circle of Light mural of Navajo leaders. During income tax season, they can file their taxes and get credit on their anticipated refund. With these services, Ellis Tanner Trading Company continues to serve its customers much like the old fashion trading posts from the past.


Ellis Tanner is the fourth generation of the Tanner trading families. His great-grandfather, Seth Tanner, came West with Brigham Young and helped settle this area. The Navajos gave him a name which is an honor. They called him ''Hosteen Shush'' which means ''Mr. Bear''. Ellis Tanner's grandfather, Joseph Baldwin Tanner, was also honored with Navajo name; he was called ''Shush Yaz'' which means ''Little Bear''. He was a highly respected trader and a very good friend of Chee Dodge, the first Chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council. Joseph Baldwin Tanner played a major role in helping the Navajo leaders form the first Tribal Council. Ellis Tanner's parents, Rule Levi and Stella Tanner, were well respected traders and they had stores in many different areas of the reservation.

The influence of the Tanner family can be seen in several geographic names around the area. There is Tanner Springs and Tanner Wash in Arizona, in the areas where Seth Tanner settled.