https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/blog/national-museum-american-indian/RSS feed for National Museum of the American IndianenThu, 19 Mar 2026 13:11:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2026/03/19/meet-jewels-gilbert-native-artist-behind-beautiful-arctic-beadwork/Above the Arctic Circle, where the temperature plumets below zero and darkness abounds for months, the art of Indigenous beading sustains the resilience of the Alaskan Gwich’in Athabaskan culture.Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:11:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2026/03/19/meet-jewels-gilbert-native-artist-behind-beautiful-arctic-beadwork/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2026/02/13/hoop-dance-a-dynamic-native-american-artform-of-skill/In 1991, my father and I decided to host a unique event to preserve a Native artform that began in the Southwest and transform it into a World Championship Contest. Little did we know our collaboration would take the art of hoop dancing to unknown levels of skill and performance.Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:51:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2026/02/13/hoop-dance-a-dynamic-native-american-artform-of-skill/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/12/23/native-holiday-festivities-across-indian-country/The winter holidays and especially Christmas have different meanings to tribes and Native individuals across Indian Country as they commune with friends and familyTue, 23 Dec 2025 13:33:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/12/23/native-holiday-festivities-across-indian-country/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/12/05/a-return-to-a-sacred-place/Kiowa tribal members revisit their ancestral homelands to honor their creation story during the anniversary of the United States’ first national monument.Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:24:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/12/05/a-return-to-a-sacred-place/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/10/05/restoring-her-name-the-story-behind-a-1910-photograph/American Indians have long been erased or hidden from historical records, but archivists and Native communities are working to restore identities and reconnect families with photos and other materials related to their ancestors.Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2025/10/05/restoring-her-name-the-story-behind-a-1910-photograph/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/10/25/meet-montanas-teacher-of-the-year-kevin-kickingwoman/It is very rare for an American Indian who has deep roots in his culture, to receive teaching recognition in formal education. Here is his story.Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:00:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/10/25/meet-montanas-teacher-of-the-year-kevin-kickingwoman/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/10/11/indigenous-peoples-day-a-day-to-honor-and-recognize-the-first-peoples-of-america/Native American Indians are committed to making Indigenous Peoples Day a national holiday in 2024.Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:22:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/10/11/indigenous-peoples-day-a-day-to-honor-and-recognize-the-first-peoples-of-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/05/22/quapaw-treaty-of-1818-a-treaty-that-was-honored-only-6-years/The document signed in 1818 serves as a reminder of the unfairness of the federal government's approach to negotiating with Native communitiesWed, 22 May 2024 19:26:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/05/22/quapaw-treaty-of-1818-a-treaty-that-was-honored-only-6-years/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/05/03/connecting-community-and-collections/The Role of Virtual Engagements in Home to Mi’kma’ki Shared StewardshipFri, 03 May 2024 19:54:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/05/03/connecting-community-and-collections/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/04/05/indigenous-americans-believe-about-eclipses/From Cherokee to Shawnee to Shoshone-Bannock and others, the traditions and beliefs marking an eclipse reveal close connections to the planetsFri, 05 Apr 2024 15:16:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/04/05/indigenous-americans-believe-about-eclipses/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/03/29/womens-history-month-featuring-native-rights-champion-suzan-shown-harjo/“She’s taught all of us that Native values make Americans stronger.” - President Barack ObamaFri, 29 Mar 2024 21:44:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/03/29/womens-history-month-featuring-native-rights-champion-suzan-shown-harjo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/02/29/snow-snake-traditional-winter-game-of-the-haudenosaunee/This age-old game uses the techniques of skill and strength to propel a wooden pole down a long snow trackThu, 29 Feb 2024 17:55:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2024/02/29/snow-snake-traditional-winter-game-of-the-haudenosaunee/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/12/21/christmas-in-indian-country/A unique look at how Native people spend their winter holiday seasonThu, 21 Dec 2023 17:32:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/12/21/christmas-in-indian-country/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/11/21/the-indigenous-effect-native-people-in-film/Over the past few years, Indigenous film and television have finally started to break through on mainstream platforms, and the National Museum of the American Indian's annual Native Cinema Showcase has been part of that change. Native comedian, filmmaker, and the producer of Netflix show "Spirit Rangers" Joey Clift (Cowlitz) looks back on how things have changed since his childhood and what he hopes the future holds for Indigenous film and television.Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:47:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/11/21/the-indigenous-effect-native-people-in-film/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/11/11/the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian-offers-many-online-resources-to-honor-veterans-day/For the 2023 Veterans Day, the National Museum of the American Indian has selected several online virtual options for you to connect to our Native veteran's publications.Sat, 11 Nov 2023 08:22:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/11/11/the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian-offers-many-online-resources-to-honor-veterans-day/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/10/16/through-the-indigenous-lens-of-photographer-tomas-teko-alejo/For Hispanic Heritage Month the National Museum of the American Indian is proud to feature the powerful images of an Indigenous American Chicano photographer.Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:35:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/10/16/through-the-indigenous-lens-of-photographer-tomas-teko-alejo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/09/30/healing-soul-wounds-grappling-with-the-indian-boarding-school-era/During history major Maddie Henderson's internship at the National Museum of the American Indian, she sought to learn more about the Indian boarding school era and how forced assimilation has affected the dissemination of cultural practices generations later, including within her own family.Sat, 30 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/09/30/healing-soul-wounds-grappling-with-the-indian-boarding-school-era/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/08/16/robert-houle-red-is-beautiful-is-a-art-exhibit-currently-at-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian/The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. is proud to present the contemporary art of Robert Houle in his final exhibition location and the only venue in the United States.Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:19:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/08/16/robert-houle-red-is-beautiful-is-a-art-exhibit-currently-at-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/05/23/an-important-treat-to-the-cheyenne-and-arapaho-tribes-has-been-put-on-display-in-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian/The important document is now on view at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.Tue, 23 May 2023 17:33:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/05/23/an-important-treat-to-the-cheyenne-and-arapaho-tribes-has-been-put-on-display-in-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/04/20/festivals-officially-return-to-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian-starting-with-the-cherokee-festival/After a hiatus due to the Covid crisis, in-person events are now scheduled for the museums in New York and Washington D.C.Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:24:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2023/04/20/festivals-officially-return-to-the-national-museum-of-the-american-indian-starting-with-the-cherokee-festival/