Indigenous Peoples' Day

These museums and educational centers are all Indigenous-led, ensuring that the cultures they represent are accurately portrayed and that their collections are handled respectfully.

Museum/Tour Resources Produced

by Indigenous Communities:

The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA)

• Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Website: https://iaia.edu/mocna/

• About: MoCNA is part of the Institute of American Indian Arts and is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to showcasing contemporary Indigenous art. It is Indigenous-led, and the artists whose work is displayed maintain full control over their representations.

  
  
  
  

The Haida Heritage Centre

• Location: Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

• Website: haidaheritagecentre.com

• About: The Haida Heritage Centre is operated by the Haida Nation and is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Haida culture. It houses artifacts repatriated from non-Indigenous museums and highlights traditional and contemporary Haida arts and practices.

  
  

Woodland Cultural Centre

The Woodland Cultural Centre

• Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

• Website: woodlandculturalcentre.ca

• About: The Woodland Cultural Centre is a Mohawk-run cultural and educational center. It provides resources on Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) culture, history, and contemporary issues, and it is a hub for language revitalization and cultural preservation efforts.

  
  

The First Americans Museum (FAM)

• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Website: famok.org

• About: Opened in 2021, FAM is a state-of-the-art institution dedicated to the cultures of the 39 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma. The museum is led by Indigenous curators and educators, and it emphasizes accurate and respectful storytelling.

  
  

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Archives and Museum

• Location: Agency Village, South Dakota

• Social: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sisseton-Wahpeton-Tribal-Historic-Preservation-and-Archives-100064566107258/?_rdr

• About: This museum and archive are owned and operated by the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe and focuses on preserving and educating people about Dakota culture, history, and the ongoing lives of the people. It is entirely Indigenous-led, with no controversy about its collection.

Educational Resources Produced

by Indigenous Communities:

Native Knowledge 360° by the National Museum of the American Indian

• Website: americanindian.si.edu/nk360

• About: Although part of the Smithsonian, this educational initiative was developed in collaboration with Indigenous educators and focuses on providing accurate, Indigenous-centered curricula for schools and the public.

• The Tlingit Culture, Language and Education Resource Center

  • Website: ccthita-nsn.gov

  • About: This resource is run by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and offers extensive resources on Tlingit and Haida culture, language, and education from the tribes themselves.

Four Directions Teachings

• Website: fourdirectionsteachings.com

• About: This educational website offers interactive teachings from five First Nations in Canada. It’s led by Indigenous educators and is entirely focused on preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge and stories.