This Dugout Canoe Made From a 12-Foot-Long Log Was Found Bobbing in a North Carolina River
The newly discovered vessel is one of 79 known dugout canoes that have been unearthed throughout the state
Massive Fields Where Native American Farmers Grew Corn, Beans and Squash 1,000 Years Ago Discovered in Michigan
The ancestors of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin built earthen mounds to grow crops. The site could be the largest preserved archaeological field system in the eastern United States
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025
From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this year
See the Stunning Archival Photographs That Tell the Stories of Everyday Native Life and Communities
The Archive Center at the National Museum of the American Indian presents a new exhibition that can help “interrupt the romanticized, stereotypical images often shared of Native peoples throughout history”
DNA Links Modern Picuris Pueblo Tribe to Ancestors Who Lived in Chaco Canyon Hundreds of Years Ago
Tribal leaders partnered with scientists to confirm their connection to the archaeological site in New Mexico
When a Historian Saw This Haunting Photograph of a Nameless Native Girl, She Decided She Had to Identify Her
In 1868, Sophie Mousseau was photographed at Fort Laramie alongside six white Army officers. But her identity—and her life story—remained unknown for more than a century
Archaeologists Unearth Rare 1,000-Year-Old Food Storage Pit in Alaska
Initial findings suggest the cache was used to preserve moose and caribou meat in the harsh climate of southeastern Alaska
Biden Establishes Two New National Monuments in California
The Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument will protect more than 848,000 acres of public lands
Why Sitting Bull Was Killed by Indian Agency Police at His Cabin on the Standing Rock Reservation
Because of his alleged involvement with the Ghost Dance movement, the Lakota leader, who died on this day in 1890, was seen as a threat to the U.S. government’s efforts to subdue Indigenous Americans
What Food Was Served at the First Thanksgiving in 1621?
Turkey may have been part of the holiday meal, along with venison, shellfish and corn, but pies and potatoes were decidedly not on the menu
How Recovering the History of a Little-Known Lakota Massacre Could Heal Generational Pain
When the U.S. Army massacred a Lakota village at Blue Water, dozens of plundered artifacts ended up in the Smithsonian. The unraveling of this long-buried atrocity is forging a path toward reconciliation
How an Indigenous Weaver’s Mastery of Color Infuses Her Tapestries With a Life Force
The work of Diné artist DY Begay, now on view at the National Museum of the American Indian, blends tradition and modernity
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With 20 Beautiful Photos That Capture the Richness of Native Culture
The diversity of the Native American experience is honored by the newly christened federal holiday
From Powwows to Smartphones, See the Past and Present of Indigenous Plains Life in Narrative Art
The National Museum of the American Indian showcases centuries-old narrative art traditions that a new generation of artists is embracing
A Century Ago, This Law Underscored the Promises and Pitfalls of Native American Citizenship
The 1924 Indian Citizenship Act sought to assimilate Native people into white society. But the legislation, signed by President Calvin Coolidge, fell short
The True Story of Pocahontas Is More Complicated Than You Might Think
Historian Camilla Townsend separates fact from fiction in the life of the Powhatan “princess”
N. Scott Momaday Built the Foundations of Native American Literature
Smithsonian scholars offer their reflections on the author, who died last week at age 89, and his impact on a new generation of Native writers
Twenty-Four Smithsonian Shows to See in 2024
Election-year items, truth serum, Nigerian art and a pioneering self-driving car are on display this year
Lily Gladstone Makes Golden Globes History as First Indigenous Best Actress Winner
The “Killers of the Flower Moon” star accepted the award by speaking in the Blackfeet language
From Ancient Ruins to Historic Military Forts, Connect with Arizona’s Vibrant History and Living Cultures On Foot
Step outside to uncover the state’s multifaceted past and unrivaled natural beauty
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