Art should always tell a story, according to longtime jeweler Doug Napier.

His own story began decades ago.

As a child, he watched as his grandfather Samuel DeCory and his uncle Jack DeCory shared their craftsmanship with those around them.

“Growing up the two most significant people in my life were my grandfather and my uncle.”

When Napier’s father left, his grandfather became his father figure. “He raised me. He was my mentor, but he was also a crafted woodworker. He would make furniture and turn it around and give it away to family and friends. It really meant something.”

Napier’s uncle was a gifted musician and painter who could have spent his life traveling the world playing music. Instead, he stayed in Rapid City giving guitar and painting lessons out of his home. “People who played guitar in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s knew him.”

The two Lakota men passed their legacy down to Napier who found his own craft in making powerful jewelry. In honor of his heritage, Napier created a jewelry line, Jewelry by DeCory, and opened Elements of South Dakota, a downtown business of South Dakota-made products from local artists.

“The front part of the store is all South Dakota-made products from pottery and bison sticks to paintings. The back half is an art gallery of local artists,” Napier said.

More than 20 artists are represented, all telling a different story. “We don’t pick things that are just made here. The people that showcase their stuff are passionate about what they do. The stuff they do has meaning not only to them but to the area.”

That is exactly the inspiration behind Napier’s own line of jewelry launched last spring. The first line, Lakota Legacy, has a video story for each piece that ties the subject to the Lakota culture. “You are not only buying the jewelry, but you are buying the story.” Napier’s hope is that people will buy the jewelry and continue to pass on the stories.

The Nature line was released this past spring featuring pieces with mushrooms, sunflowers, pinecones and the pasque flower. “Each year we want to come up with a new standalone line that has a story tied to it.”

Napier has been making jewelry for 40 years, ever since a job out of high school turned into a career. He started working with the Black Hills Gold company. A manager saw talent in the young teen. “He took me under his wing and showed me every aspect of jewelry making. I got really good at it and was offered jobs all over the place.”

The jewelry business has taken Doug Napier worldwide from Seattle and New York City to China and the Dominican Republic. “I am also a consultant, so I travel all over the world to different factories and help them troubleshoot their problems.”

He recently traveled to the United Kingdom to help the Royal Mint with a new line of jewelry. “I was helping them set up the factory and do some training.”

While his career has taken him to some amazing places, his heart always remained in his home state.

“South Dakota has always been my pace of life. There is something significant about this area. It feels like home. It has always been home even though I traveled. It is still a piece of me.”

After moving home, Napier returned to where his jewelry journey started and got a job with the Black Hills Gold company. He also began creating YouTube videos out of his home educating others on the process.

With more training space needed, Napier opened a shop downtown next to Who’s Hobby House and started a center where people from all over world would spend time learning how to cast jewelry, set stones, and solder.  He also added custom jewelry making and repairs. When the pandemic hit, however, people stopped coming and Napier needed to change directions. That is when he came up with the Jewelry by DeCory line.

“I like the fact that I can sit at the bench and create something out of nothing. I don’t just make jewelry for jewelry’s sake. If it is not important and doesn’t have a story attached to it, then I am not interested.”

Napier said his favorite piece is the one he is has most recently completed. “When I am working on something I am all in. It’s neat when you can find a job and hobby that are the same thing. “

When Napier first started, he would work eight hours a day with jewelry and then come home and spend time working on his own creations. “Many of the pieces we have now are ones that I made back then.”

His dream is to open a two-year accredited trade school to inspire and educate a new generation of jewelers, one that will highlight the beauty of the Lakota people and the Black Hills. Napier already has his nonprofit status but is working toward raising funds, finding a building and developing a curriculum. He hopes to have scholarships for local Native American youth and offer community night classes for locals who just want to make one piece.

“My goal is to build up my company to a point where I can hand it off or sell it so I can put my full attention to the trade school and teach all these things I picked up over the years.” 

He wants to share his story and give back to his community – a trait passed down to Napier from his ancestors.