best native american places to visit

Essential Native American Travel Destinations & Experiences For Summer

Traveling to Indian Reservations doesn’t register on many people’s “travel bucket lists.” There are a lot of reasons for this, which are far too complicated to get into here, ranging from cultural disconnects to overt racism . That’s a shame, as a trip to an Indian Reservation is an enlightening experience and should be essential to get a handle on who we really are as Americans.

Indian Country (that’s the collective name for all of America and Canada’s reservations) is home to many of the first peoples of this country. There you’ll find wholly unique cultures and some of the most beautiful scenery on the continent — from the Badlands of South Dakota to the vast hop fields of the Yakama Valley to the blue waterfalls of the Havasupai.

Indian reservations are also at the very bottom of America’s socio-economic ladder . There are no poorer, sicker, and at-risk Americans than those living on reservations . It may feel difficult to know how to help those left behind in America, especially when it all seems so far away. But there is a way to help, right now in fact. Go there . Book a tour. Eat at a roadside diner. Hire a guide. Visit art galleries. Buy things. Spend money in general. Tourism dollars are a great way to support our fellow Americans who are at the bottom, struggling to finally rise above their lot in this American life.

Below are 12 amazing destinations around Indian Country where you can spend your summer tourist dollars, gain incredible experiences, and help Native-run businesses. There are, of course, more places than just these 12. America has 326 Indian Reservations and over 500 recognized tribes, with variously incorporated communities. Take these 12 as a starting point. Then, when you get home, find the reservation nearest you and check it out.

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Havasupai Falls, Havasupai Indian Reservation — Arizona

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Havasupai has gotten a huge boost recently from the Instagram generation’s love of the place . It’s shockingly beautiful. The reservation is huddled up next to Grand Canyon National Park and, in fact, the Havasupai unit is an offshoot of that canyon. The red rock walls and blue waters make for a dynamic contrast that’s photo ready for anyone’s bucket list feed.

You can’t just walk into Havasupai. There are constant mud and landslides that make the area very dangerous. The area is also very, very sacred to the Havasupai people. Please, do not traipse around on your own.

You’ll need to make a reservation with the tribe for a pass to hike and camp. Expect to pay between $140 and $200 to camp in the area. Unfortunately, camping and lodging reservations for 2018 are already sold out . However, because of the physical effort involved in getting down to the reservation (it’s a 10-mile hike or a $200 helicopter ride), there are plenty of scratches and you can often score a site at the last second. You can make also booking for 2019 as of June 1st. But you’ll have to act now, as these will also book up fast.

Don’t forget to hit up the Supai Cafe for a Supai Burger — that’s a burger made with a fry bread bun.

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Tatanka Rez Tourz, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation — South Dakota

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Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the most economically depressed community in the United States with a life expectancy lower than Iraq’s . These people need your tourist dollars. Pine Ridge is also the size of Connecticut. So getting around and finding the sweet spots requires guidance.

Tatanka Rez Tourz is led by father-daughter team Warren and Tianna Yellowhair. They meet with singles, couples, or groups and take them to the main sites around the reservation — from the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial to the Oglala Lakota College . Along with the tour, you’ll get an in-depth and enlightening experience about the history of the Lakota, their battles with the US government, broken treaties, starvation, and the eventual Wounded Knee Massacre wherein US soldiers shot, killed, and then horrifically mutilated over 300 unarmed men, women, and children for dancing and singing.

Be warned, a tour in this part of the country is harrowing. Rates for the rez tour range from $50 per person to $25 per person in groups of ten or more. Transportation is generally provided.

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Discover Navajo, Navajo Nation — Arizona, Utah, & New Mexico

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The Navajo Nation — home to the Dine people — is one of the only corners of Indian Country where an indigenous population still controls the vast majority of their ancestral lands. This is due to the failed extermination attempts through forced marches to a concentration camp a state away, the failure of that camp, and the US government basically giving up. After all that, amazingly, the Dine got their home back. And their home is one of the most magical corners of the planet from the great Monument Valley to the canyons of Utah and Arizona to vast Painted Deserts.

Discover Navajo is your one-stop shop for tours all over the Navajo Nation. Their website has direct links to local tour operators for horseback riding, fishing, self-guided tours, and every other kind of tour you can think of. They also offer the Navajo Cultural Tour that lasts for three days and touches the Navajo museums, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Window Rock, and more.

Check out local tour operators for prices .

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Antelope Canyon Tours, Navajo Nation — Arizona

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Getting into the nitty-gritty of the greatness of the Navajo Nation, you have to take a moment for Antelope Canyon. This corner of the nation, near the Utah stateline, is one of the continent’s most mythical places. It’s also an extremely sacred place for the Navajo people and, therefore, gated — to stop people from accessing the place without a local guide.

Antelope Canyon Tours is your best, local bet for getting into Antelope for a full tour. Tours generally last between one and two hours and will set you back between $40 and $110.

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Go Native America — Nationwide

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Indian Country is vast. There are tribes living in every state, with communities worth exploring. Go Native America embraces the vastness and uniqueness of these communities by offering tours and connecting travelers with local guides to lead them around Native America.

Tours can range from one-day rez tours to multi-day excursions onto reservations and into the backcountries for camping and hiking. Tours operate in South and North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, and Alaska currently. Trips to Powwows are also available.

Expect to pay up to $1,000 for three-day trips . Ride and guide day tours, like their Little Big Horn tour , are closer to $500 a pop.

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Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway, Standing Rock Indian Reservation — North Dakota

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Standing Rock made news a couple years back for their stand against big oil and an impending pipeline. Of course, there’s more to Standing Rock than just a protest site. The reservation in North Dakota is a beautiful grassland with very important monuments to Native American Heritage — Sitting Bull’s final resting place is in Fort Yates, near the banks of the Missouri.

While there aren’t a lot of “classic” tourism options here, The Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway is a classic road trip stretch. The great plains stretch out on either side of the mighty Missouri River, giving any road-tripping wanderluster a drastically beautiful view of a sea of grass.

The Standing Rock Monument, Sitting Bull Memorial, Standing Rock Lewis & Clark Nature Trail, Lake Oahe, and Holy Hills of the Mandan Indians are all must-stop spots along the byway . The two casinos on the rez offer accommodations from standard hotel rooms to cabins along the banks of the Missouri.

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Wind River Scenic Byway, Wind River Indian Reservation — Wyoming

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While Standing Rock’s Byway is through a sea of grass, Wind River’s Byway cuts along the river through a great canyon with drastic rock walls hemming you in. Wind River, like Standing Rock, is also among the most-depressed communities in America economically. So spending money here is a huge help to that community.

The byway will only take you 40 minutes to drive through if you’re in a hurry: So take your time. Go rock climbing, book a river rafting tour, grab a bite to eat, maybe drop a line in the river and snag a rainbow trout. Then hit up Warm Valley Native Tours in Fort Washakie for a full-on tour of Wind River Reservation with stops at sites like Sacajawea’s grave.

Access to the byway is free. Email Warm Valley Native Tours for individual rates on rez tours.

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Miccosukee Indian Village & Airboat Rides, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians Reservation — Florida

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The Miccosukee have a long history in what is now the American South. Originally from the upper valleys of Tennessee and Georgia, they ended up in Florida after European expansion pushed them out of their homelands. Today they have a small reservation amongst Florida’s Everglades and have spent the last two centuries adapting to the alligators and wetlands.

Miccosukee Indian Village is a great place to get a handle on this tribe, their culture, and Florida’s unique backwaters. You can take airboat rides through the swamps, wrestle alligators, and explore the heritage of the Miccosukee people at the Indian Village Museum.

Group airboat rides will set you back $20. Private airboat trips are between $150 and $300. The alligator shows and Indian Village are free . There’s also plenty of accommodations and food options at the local resort casino .

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Tillicum Village — Blake Island, Washington

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Tillicum Village isn’t on a reservation. It’s also not “native” owned — it’s owned by Seattle-based Argosy Cruises. Still, the site employs local Natives and celebrates Salish culture in a way that’s accessible and enlightening. In the end, hitting up this place helps preserve native culture while employing actual, local Natives.

Tillicum Village sits on Blake Island State Park about 40 minutes by boat from downtown Seattle. The Village is home to a huge longhouse, a forest of totems, huge pits for cooking salmon, and a stage where the legend of the Raven is performed in all its glory (that’s the bird who stole the sun to bring light to the earth). The salmon is spot on, the story is a crucial part of local history, and the island is a great place to spend the day outside the bustle of Seattle.

Expect a four to five hour trip and to spend around $91 for the boat ride, food, and experience.

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Crow Native Days, Crow Agency — Montana

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There are a lot of great events in Indian Country from the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in New Mexico to the Red Earth Festival out in Oklahoma. But one of the most fun and unique is Crow Native Days up in Montana.

Crow Agency is home to the Battle of Little Big Horn site amongst a sea of grasslands, roaming buffalo, prancing antelope, and little roadside shacks selling Indian Tacos. It’s also home to a culture devoted to horses. And Crow Native Days is centered around one of the greatest rodeos in America.

The event blends the pageantry of a great pow wow with the excitement of an Indian Rodeo. Horse racing, horse riding tricks and acrobatics, and fancy dancing happen side-by-side with plenty of fry bread and buffalo stew stands in between to nourish you. It’s a four-day spiritual party that’s unlike anything else in the world.

Crow Native Days generally fall around June 20th every year. Entrance prices to the events vary, but generally, cost less than a tenner.

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The Cherokee Heritage Center, Cherokee Nation — Oklahoma

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The Cherokee people have a very long and sad history. They were once the most integrated tribe in the United States with large plantations, newspapers, theaters, and everything else that comes with a “modern” society. Then the United States decided they wanted it all and forcibly removed them, along with several other Southern tribes to “Indian Country” in what’s now Oklahoma. The Trail of Tears ensued as the indigenous population of the American South lost everything.

To get a real handle on what happened, a trip to The Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma is crucial. The center has a village set up as it would have been in 1710 , a Trail of Tears museum , an art gallery, and several events throughout the year devoted to all things Cherokee. There’s also an education wing that focuses on cultural outreach and a genealogy department for tribal members to trace their heritage. It’s a full experience and you’ll walk away wiser for having absorbed it.

Admission is only $8.50 per adult and Saturdays are free for everyone.

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National Museum of the American Indian — Washington, DC

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Lastly, a trip to Washington, DC, and the National Museum of the American Indian is an absolute must for all Americans. The museum house exhibits touch on the 500+ cultures that were decimated by manifest destiny over the last 400 years.

This year is an especially important time to hit the museum as they’ve started parsing the broken treaties and actions of the US government that led to extermination . The museum also launched the “ Americans ” exhibit that dives deeply into how the “image” of the stereotypical American Indian has been highjacked, perverted, and at times celebrated for commercial products and national pride over the centuries to present day. The whole museum is a masterclass in Native American life with a killer indigenous food court to boot.

The museum is free for everyone .

10 Places for Native American Vacation Experiences with Your Family

Listening to Native legends around a campfire, taking a Jeep ride through the high mountain desert, watching the colorful swirl of dancers at a powwow—exchanges with Native peoples provide a visceral understanding of traditions and history not available in textbooks. The United States is a particularly rich destination for exploring indigenous culture. That often means traveling to unspoiled countryside, far from crowds and fences, to find the sorts of wide-open spaces typically found only in faded photographs or dreams.  Pictured: Courtney Yarhollar sings with his drum group at Red Earth Festival, Oklahoma City

Glacier National Park ’s jagged mountains, dense pine forests, and rolling grasslands remain sacred to the Blackfeet Nation, whose 1.5-million-acre reservation adjoins the preserve. At Lodgepole Gallery & Tipi Village, Blackfeet artist Darrell Norman reveals history and customs on his reservation tours . You'll hear how the Creator taught people to hunt using a cliff formation called a buffalo jump. At the Holy Family Mission, a Catholic boarding school designed to assimilate Blackfeet children, you'll discover, in Norman’s words, "how the teachers beat the Indian out of the Indian." Stay overnight at the Tipi Village, an encampment of 11 teepees and two cabins, where you'll learn important rules of etiquette, starting with where to sit—men on the right, women on the left. Fall asleep by the fire as Blackfeet members have done for centuries.

Year-round, the Red Earth Art Center  showcases both traditional and contemporary Native American arts and crafts. A scavenger list of items to find pulls kids through the exhibits, full of cradleboards, totem poles, baskets, pottery, beadwork, and paintings. Each June, the center hosts the Red Earth Festival. Part powwow and part juried art show, the event attracts more than 75 tribes, 125 artists, and more than 700 dancers and singers, who compete for prize money. The participants—bright with fiery colors, breastplates, quilled arm bands, and fringed leggings—swirl and sing to ancient rhythms. The festival kicks off with a grand parade of Native Americans wearing tribal regalia.

Guss Yellow Hair and his daughter Tianna Yellow Hair established Tatanka Rez Tours to show visitors that there’s much more to the Pine Ridge Reservation than the tales of extreme poverty told in the national media. Home to the Oglala Lakota tribe, the land beyond the community unfolds as a sweep of Black Hills grasslands, broken by ridges and bordered by Badlands National Park . Guss enters your vehicle, relating tribal history while escorting you to reservation sites on a tour customized to your party's ages and interests. From the White River Visitor Center , see the badlands’ eroded rock formations and twisting peaks. At a monument for the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre, Guss recounts how, in December 1890, U.S. soldiers slaughtered more than 350 people who were en route to peace negotiations. In homage to the victims, Guss chants an invocation, performs a tobacco offering, and ties a prayer flag to the fence surrounding the marker.

At  Monument Valley  Navajo Tribal Park, sandstone mesas, buttes, and spires create a dramatic interplay of red-rock formations and open spaces that conjure the classic West of cowboy movies. But the park, which straddles the Arizona and Utah border, sits on land considered sacred to the Navajo Nation. Only Navajo guides can take outsiders beyond the Valley Drive. Native-led Jeep, van, or horseback rides stop at petroglyphs and Ancestral Pueblo ruins. On evening excursions with Navajo-owned tour companies , you can look up at a night sky aglow with stars. The company’s sunrise and sunset tours show how the changing light flames across the rocks, turning them different shades of orange and purple. 

A complex of attractions in Cherokee , an hour's drive west of Asheville, details the history and culture of the town’s namesake—the nation that lived in the territory that once included north Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains. At the Oconaluftee Indian Village , present-day Cherokee in traditional 18th-century attire demonstrate how to carve masks, chip flint to create arrowheads, and fashion a dugout canoe using fire and an ax. Through special effects, artifacts, stone carving demonstrations, and dance by the Warriors of AniKituhwa, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian presents important traditions, while at the outdoor Mountainside Theatre, scores of performers in traditional regalia enact  Unto These Hills   (pictured above). Through battle reenactments, music, and dancing, this long-running drama stages big moments in Cherokee history, including the forced relocation of 16,000 members to Oklahoma. The performance has been staged each summer since 1950. During the evening, listen to more tales and songs under the stars at the bonfires at Oconaluftee Islands Park .  

Set against  northern New Mexico ’s Sangre de Cristo foothills, the  Taos Pueblo  exudes a simple dignity and strong spiritual presence. When the five-story adobe structure (built in the years between 1000 and 1450) catches the light, you can imagine the awe of the Spanish explorers when they came upon it in 1540. A guided horseback ride through the reservation by  Taos Indian Horse Ranch  supplies a bounty of wide-open spaces. The horses walk or trot alongside ravines, through streams, and across the high mountain desert dotted with sagebrush. Continuously inhabited by Tiwa-speaking Native Americans, the pueblo—which is the largest such multistory dwelling in the U.S.—has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. On the 20- to 30-minute optional tour, a guide explains the site's history and takes visitors to the  San Geronimo Chapel,  constructed in 1850. On feast days ( listed on the website ), the pueblo comes alive with drumming and dancing.  

It’s a special experience to walk among totem poles as they were meant to be seen—in the outdoors.  Ketchikan  features one of the world’s largest collections of these structures. Part of the Tlingit and Haida culture, the intricately carved poles rise among the spruce and cedar trees of  Totem Bight Historical Park . The carvings visitors see today replicate and interpret original 19th-century versions that were deteriorating in abandoned villages. Bears, wolves, eagles, and ravens cut into the wood tell the stories of deceased clan members, treaties, lineage, and other historical details. Not far away,  Saxman Native Village  features a second collection of poles. Targeted to cruise passengers, that site is more theatrical, adding participatory Native dancing, an onsite carver, and the option for a lumberjack show. Totem Bight is both less expensive and less touristy. The  Totem Heritage Center , a museum in town, displays its own treasured cache of totem poles indoors.

Among Mesa Verde National Park ’s 5,000 archeological sites, 600 of which are cliff dwellings, the gem is Cliff Palace . The largest such structure in North America, it was built by Ancestral Puebloans some 800 years ago and features 150 rooms and more than 20 kivas (ceremonial spaces). Because it was constructed beneath the overhang of a sandstone cliff at an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,134 m), the palace must be reached via a moderately strenuous hike plus a climb up a 10-foot ladder. Once onsite, it’s easy to imagine people gathering for news in the kivas and mothers warming their children at fires near the back walls. Non-hikers can take in scenic views of Cliff Palace and see other dwellings at a distance by driving the Mesa Top Loop Road. Check out pertinent exhibits at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center. 

For a blend of traditional resort relaxation with Native elements, head toward the Sierra Estrella Mountains and the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass near Phoenix. Owned by the Gila River Indian Community, the 500-room hotel incorporates cultural elements of the Pima and Maricopa peoples. The Aji Spa’s wraps and scrubs feature native herbs and oil made from creosote. This is the only spa in the world for sessions called  thoachta , which utilize light touch and Pima techniques. At Kai, one of the state's most acclaimed restaurants, the menu has Native-inspired entrees such as grilled buffalo and wild boar. In winter, the resort's cultural concierge tells Pima and Maricopa stories around the fire, while in other seasons community members lead sessions in traditional jewelry and bread making. On trail rides, you might catch sight of wild horses roaming the reservation. 

The closest history museum to the Capitol building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is the striking  National Museum of the American Indian . It has more than 8,000 items on display, so we recommend making sense of the collection by joining one of the regularly scheduled docent tours. Temporary exhibitions are also exceptional at providing valuable context. One exhibit, “Americans” (on display until 2020), examines how corporations, the military, sports teams, and even food products have appropriated or exaggerated images of Native culture in a way that's often reductive or racist. When you want to understand another culture, there's nothing quite like a good guide or curator to help put things in context.

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• 10 extraordinary Native American cultural sites protected on public lands

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado

Mason Cummings, The Wilderness Society

In honor of Native American Heritage Month this November, we take a look at a few noteworthy Native American cultural sites on public lands.

Native American Heritage Month  offers all Americans the opportunity to recognize and honor tribes who understood the value of wilderness long before European Americans ever laid eyes on bison or redwoods—or, indeed, decided to call certain places  “wilderness.”

A number of the national monuments, parks and other sites we cherish contain major  historical and cultural resources  connected to these tribes. In many cases, the land that surrounds them might not have remained in good condition without the Antiquities Act, a law passed in 1906 that allowed presidents to protect natural and cultural sites as national monuments. The Antiquities Act was first signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt and has been used on a bipartisan basis by 16 presidents since then (including President Barack Obama). It is likely that some of these special places would have been obscured by development—or demolished entirely—without this law and the strong movement to preserve public lands that it exemplifies.

Right now, treasured landscapes like Utah's Bears Ears and Nevada's Gold Butte are in desperate need of similar attention. Home to countless important Native American archaeological and cultural sites, they have recently fallen prey to vandalism, reckless off-road vehicle use and other destructive behavior.  

In November, let's take a look at some places that preserve traces of Native American culture that are hundreds (or even thousands) of years old, and think of the spots that still need to be protected.

Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

Mesa Verde was the first national park designated with the express purpose of preserving "the works of man"—in this case the remnants of 6th-12th century Ancestral Puebloans, as exemplified by more than 4,000  known archeological sites , including  some of the most notable and well-preserved in the U.S.  The park’s signature attractions are  some 600 ancient dwellings carved into rock alcoves , stumbled upon by a pair of cowboys—who called it “Cliff Palace”—in the late 19th century. At that point, Mesa Verde had been vacant for hundreds of years. Experts think the last Puebloan residents of the area were forced out when a booming population eventually exhausted natural resources and was torn apart by internal strife. Since 1906, the park has been preserved for the enjoyment and education of all Americans ( though oil and gas development in the area pose a threat to the landscape ). Tours of the site offer details on these lives, and trails provide opportunities for hiking and snowshoeing. The 360-degree panoramic view at Park Point is one of the most breathtaking in the country.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Steve Dunleavy, Flickr

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (Arizona)

The 14th century “great house” around which this monument is centered was once part of a chain of settlements along the Gila River and is considered  one of the largest prehistoric structures ever built in North America . Prized as a trace of ancient Sonoran Desert dwellers who developed  wide-scale irrigation farming  and a large trade network before leaving the area around the year 1450, the Casa Grande was originally protected as  our country’s first archaeological reserve, in 1892 . The building, whose exact purpose remains unknown, gained national monument status from President Woodrow Wilson in 1918. Today, several Native American groups claim an ancestral link to the builders and occupants of the monument’s eponymous structure.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona

National Park Service

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (New Mexico)

The campaign that led a stretch of picturesque land near Las Cruces, New Mexico was a major initiative of The Wilderness Society—but it was led in part by local tribal leaders, a fitting testament to the significance of this place to Native Americans. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe asked  that the area be protected  in part to preserve an expanse of ancient petroglyphs, and the Fort Sill Apache tribe,  considered modern-day successors to the Apache  that originally inhabited parts of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks region, requested that they be accepted as partners in managing the monument for future generations. The mountain ranges and rugged plains here contain  traces of civilizations hundreds of years old (and in some cases much older) ; the Paleo-Indian peoples who  once roamed the Potrillo grasslands  hunted now-extinct game like giant ground sloths thousands of years before Christopher Columbus was born. Stretches of land protected by the monument contain  some of the earliest known prehistoric habitation sites  in southern New Mexico,  among many significant historical and archaeological resources .

Organ Mountains, New Mexico

Mason Cummings, TWS

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument was designated by President Obama under the Antiquities Act.

Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa)

The only national monument in Iowa, Effigy Mounds was  protected by President Harry Truman in 1949  in order to preserve its namesake series of sacred hillocks, constructed by a  culture that inhabited land along the upper Mississippi River , stretching east to Lake Michigan (what is now parts of Iowa, southeast Minnesota, southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois). Numbering more than 200, the mounds were built over thousands of years in a variety of shapes ranging from simple cones to bison and birds. Though the exact function of the mounds as a whole remains unknown,  some are burial sites , and experts think that others may  have acted as territorial markers . Whatever the mounds’ purpose,  more than 15 modern-day tribes , ranging from Minnesota to Oklahoma, are considered to be culturally associated with them. The largest and best-preserved chain of mounds, the evocatively named “ Marching Bears ,” can only be fully appreciated from overhead.

Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa

Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico)

Unfortunately,  oil and gas development currently threatens the beauty and tranquility of this park and adjacent land —and it would be a true shame to lose it. Between 850 and 1250 CE,  Chaco Canyon , in what is now northwest New Mexico,  was a major center of Ancestral Puebloan culture . Today, the surrounding area is protected to preserve the history of those people, including majestic public and ceremonial buildings that are among America’s most significant intact examples of pre-Columbian culture. These multi-story “Great Houses” were  truly monumental undertakings, sometimes involving decades of construction , and many were connected by a system of roads to other buildings in the region. It is thought that this area was once a unique gathering place for different clans to meet— a center for trade and cultural exchange  that remains a hallowed landmark today.

In 2013,  the park received International Dark Sky designation  for being one of the best places in the United States to stargaze (due to its distance from artificial light pollution).

Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, New Mexico

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (Ohio)

This park  protects five different archaeological sites  containing artifacts of the broadly defined Hopewell culture, chiefly earthworks and ancient mounds. The people who flourished in this area practiced a wide array of spiritual, political and social customs, but are  considered to be related due to the elements this park preserves: their similar construction of earthen-walled enclosures and mounds , with the former often appearing as  squares, circles and other geometrically precise shapes . A  variety of archaeological figures  have devoted their careers to finding out more about the Hopewell culture.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Ohio

Ton Engberg, National Park Service

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Colorado)

This sprawling, landscape-scale monument in southwest Colorado contains  thousands of known archaeological sites  that have yielded invaluable historical information on Ancestral Puebloan (sometimes referred to as “Anasazi”) and other indigenous cultures. A nearby museum  contains millions of items  chronicling those peoples as well as historic Ute and Navajo populations (the protected area is considered to have ancestral links to  dozens of modern-day tribal nations ).  Three original villages within the monument have been prepared for visitors  and outfitted with interpretive signage, making it an  essential destination  for anyone with an abiding interest in Native American culture (though a huge number of dwellings, shrines, petroglyphs and other artifacts remain unlabelled).

Aztec Ruins National Monument (New Mexico)

Aztec Ruins National Monument was protected as a national monument in 1923 and  named a World Heritage site  in 1987 (as part of  Chaco Culture National Historical Park ) for its well-preserved examples of Pueblo architecture—the same features that still draw tourists from around the country. So why is it called “Aztec Ruins”? Early white explorers initially mistakenly identified the buildings on-site as traces of the Mexican Aztec culture, rather than the work of (even older) indigenous peoples, and it still bears the original, ill-gotten title. Despite this, the monument is an important place for Ancestral Puebloans, its ancient “great houses” and associated “kivas”—ceremonial chambers—serving testament to the legacy of its old inhabitants.

Artifacts discovered in the ruins have included food remnants, clothing, tools and jewelry,  offering a glimpse at the way Ancestral Puebloans used natural resources  and traded with other peoples.

Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico

Ocmulgee National Monument (Georgia)

Ocmulgee National Monument contains  North America’s only intact “spiral mound,”  a 20-foot-tall hillock built by indigenous tribes for purposes that remain unclear. This is just one of the monument’s pieces of major earthwork traced back to South Appalachian Mississippian settlements. The monument,  containing seven mounds in all  and  a collection of more than one million artifacts , was protected along the Ocmulgee River by act of Congress in 1934.

Ocmulgee National Monument, Georgia

denisbin, Flickr

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (New Mexico)

Surrounded by the Gila National Forest (and at the edge of the Gila Wilderness), this monument, protected by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, is named for its most striking feature—the ruins of interlinked cave dwellings built in five cliff alcoves by  the Mogollon peoples who lived in the area in the late 13th- and early 14th century . While the monument covers comparatively little physical ground, it offers a wealth of things for visitors to do once they’ve finished exploring these rare traces of ancient Puebloan culture:  activities in the broader area  include hiking, bird-watching, camping, fishing and horseback riding.

Ruins in Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico

Doc Johnny Bravo, Flickr

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8 Destinations to Experience Native American Culture

Through stories, art, song, dance and architecture, Native American culture comes alive in the special places that serve as the ancestral homelands of these Native peoples. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in vibrant culture, while exploring vivid depictions of historical events and places.

Cultural experiences at National Parks and beyond

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (S. Tevebaugh, National Park Service)

The Huna Tlingit Tribal House (Xunaa Shuká Hít) is located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit who sustained themselves on the abundant resources found throughout the Bay prior to the Little Ice Age. Although villages inside the Bay were overrun by glacial advances in the 1700s, the Huna Tlingit re-established numerous fish camps and several seasonal villages soon after the glacial retreat.

The Huna Tlingit Tribal House, the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay in more than 250 years, provides a venue for ceremonies, workshops, camps and tribal meetings and ensures that Huna Tlingit culture, language and history will be passed on to current and future generations.

Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park (Linda Webster, Share the Experience))

The Desert View Watchtower , an Anasazi and Pueblo-inspired building designed by noted architect Mary Colter, provides a spectacular view of the vast canyon below from its observation deck. Built in 1932, the Desert View Watchtower deteriorated over time, largely serving as nothing more than a short pit-stop for Grand Canyon visitors passing through on their way to other area attractions. 

Now, through a collaborative restoration project between the National Park Service and the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, the watchtower continues to offer unbeatable views of Grand Canyon, but also serves as an inter-tribal interpretive center where visitors can learn about the area through authentic tribal interpretive programs and live art demonstrations conducted by local Native artisans.

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks (John Chao, National Park Service)

The ancestral homelands of the Yurok Tribe, Redwood National and State Parks and California’s northern-most boundaries were once dotted with more than 50 tribal villages. Traditional family homes located in these villages were made from the fallen keehl (redwood tree), which the tribe consider sacred, living beings.

Today, the Yurok Tribe is working closely with Redwood National Park to reintroduce prey-go-neesh, or, the mighty California condor. On the brink of extinction, California condors had not flown over the Pacific Northwest in nearly a century until recently.The condors are returning to this traditional Yurok territory thanks to an intensive rehabilitation program among the Yurok Tribe, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and other partners.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park (Norman Lathrop, Share the Experience)

Native American people have had ties to Maine and the area now known as Acadia National Park for more than 12,000 years.  Currently, five principal nations—the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Abenaki and Penobscot, collectively known as the Wabanaki—remain connected to this landscape.

Wabanaki, which translates to “People of the Dawnland,” is particularly fitting, as Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain is the highest point along the Northern Atlantic Seaboard, and the first place in the U.S. to see dawn from October through March. In summer, Acadia National Park produces free, weekly “ Cultural Connections in the Park ” events that feature Wabanaki artisans and performers.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park (Joy Bello, Share the Experience)

For thousands of years, the Blackfeet Nation has made its ancestral home throughout northern Montana and the Rocky Mountains, including Glacier National Park. Today, the Blackfeet Reservation encompasses nearly 1.5 million acres (600,000 ha) along the eastern ridge of the park, in what tribal members call the “Backbone of the World.”

Combining a tour of Glacier National Park, including Going-to-the-Sun-Road, with an exploration of the Blackfeet culture is as easy as contacting Sun Tours, a Blackfeet-owned, National Park Service-approved tour operator. Guides are full-time residents of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation who share Tribal culture, history and lifestyle. They are also experts at spotting local wildlife, so don’t be surprised to see free-roaming elk, deer, moose, antelope, black bears or grizzly bears along the way.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Nawras Baban, Share the Experience)

The Great Smoky Mountains have been the ancestral home of the Cherokee Indians for thousands of years. Called  Shaconage,  or  place of blue smoke , the region is vast and is home to wide array of diverse plant and wildlife species.

In 1838, nearly 14,000 Cherokee Indians were forced to trek westward to Oklahoma on an arduous journey known as the “Trail of Tears.” A small group in western North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Cherokee, negotiated an agreement to purchase 57,000 acres (23,000 ha) of property known as the Qualla Boundary and remain in North Carolina. Today, Park visitors can visit the Oconaluftee Visitor Center’s Mountain Farm Museum and walk along the Oconaluftee River Trail, which connects the Qualla Boundary. Along the route, wayside signs share cultural and spiritual details about the Cherokee homelands.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Michael DeWitt, Share the Experience)

In northwestern Wisconsin, along the scenic shoreline of Lake Superior, sits Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which includes 21 islands as well as 12 miles (19.3 km) of shoreline along the mainland. Two thirds of the mainland portion of the park are located within the boundaries of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indian Reservation.

Just across the bay from Oak Island—the highest point in the Apostle Islands—is Red Cliff’s Frog Bay Tribal National Park, the first tribal national park in the country. Two miles (3 km) of trails and nearly a mile (1.6 km) of sandy beach are open for visitors to enjoy hiking, swimming and scenic views of five of the Apostle Islands. Multilingual signage narrates the park’s ecosystem in English and Ojibwe .

American Indians and Route 66

ILLINOIS TO CALIFORNIA

St. Augustine Mission, Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico (Lisa Snell, AIANTA)

Learn about the  Native American experience along Route 66 in both a printed travel guide and on a website created in partnership with American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the National Park Service. The guide includes Native historical sites along the route and also chronicles present-day cultural experiences available to travelers. Compiled with assistance from many tribes along the route, American Indians and Route 66 gives travelers a more complete picture of the famed journey.

Bring Home a Story

• Many Glacier Campground Glacier National Park, Montana
• Desert View Campground Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
• Cedro Peak Camping Sites - Robin and Jay Cibola National Forest, New Mexico
• Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations Acadia National Park, Maine
• Elkmont Campground Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

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11 Important Native American Heritage Sites in the US That You Need to Visit

S ites of Native American heritage play a powerful role in educating visitors about the original residents of what are now the United States and help foster respect for the 5.2 million indigenous people in the country today. Socially ethical tourism helps sustain Native American families — some of the least represented, most poverty-stricken groups of people in the US. It’s important for tourists to respect that many of these sites are sacred to the local people, their spirituality, their land, and their ancestors. The following 11 important Native American heritage sites are managed by state or federal agencies in collaboration with associated tribes and are well worth a visit.

1. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana

Photo: Don Mammoser /Shutterstock

On June 25 and 26, 1876, thousands of Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho fighters came together to defeat the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry. Under Lt. Col. Custer, the soldiers attacked the south-central part of Montana , with the goal of forcing the native peoples onto reservations. While Custer and several hundred others of European ancestry died in the battle, ultimately the native peoples’ sacred lands were taken from them and their relocation forced. This is a deeply meaningful site for many contemporary Native American people. Today members of the Crow tribe guide tours of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument , where visitors can see the site of “Custer’s Last Stand” on Last Stand Hill; visit a museum of historic and prehistoric artifacts; reflect at the Indian Memorial; and walk through the National Cemetery. The national monument is on the Crow Agency directly off a major interstate.

2. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico

Photo: William Silver /Shutterstock

The Chaco Canyon area is important because it served as the epicenter of the Puebloan peoples — the ancestors of the Hopi and others — at least 3,000 years ago. This was where astronomy, art, and trade began to flourish and then spread throughout the Southwest. The National Park System preserves the Chaco Culture National Historical Park , which features unique architecture, extensive rock art, and domestic and ceremonial structures. Archaeologists recently discovered pre-Colombian chocolate at the site, one indication of trade with people in Central America and beyond. There’s hiking, night sky viewing, and educational activities year-round. Though the site is in a somewhat remote part of New Mexico , it is easy to visit by car, bicycle, or through an organized tour.

3. Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa

Photo: Effigy Mounds National Monument /Facebook

The Midwest of the US is sprinkled with giant earthworks that indigenous people built for purposes we still don’t thoroughly understand. Situated in Iowa , along the Mississippi River, the Effigy Mounds are shaped like lynx, water spirits, bison, turtles, and more. The builders created these structures about 1,400 years ago. In consultation with Native American groups, anthropologists have traced the lineage of more than 20 contemporary tribes who descend from this culture. The Effigy Mounds are open to visitors during daylight hours all year-round, except in extreme weather conditions, on Christmas, and on Thanksgiving. Barring icy road conditions, the Mounds are easy to get to.

4. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona

Photo: Tom Forbes /Shutterstock

Montezuma Castle and the nearby Montezuma Well were important to the Sinagua people starting more than 800 years ago. The castle is a stunning, incredibly well-preserved, five-story cliff structure with 20 rooms. It took 300 years to build it alongside Beaver Creek, which attracts birds and other animals. Artifacts at the visitor center museum include stone tools, bone needles, and gems that indicate long-distance trade. Some Yavapai and Hopi tribal members trace their lineage back to the Sinagua who built this structure and the nearby well. The descendants of the architects sometimes return to the sites for private religious ceremonies. Visiting the Montezuma Castle National Monument is simple as it’s just off a major highway. An accessible trail takes tourists throughout the site.

5. Ocmulgee National Monument, Georgia

Photo: Joseph Thomas Photography /Shutterstock

The Ocmulgee sites trace more than 17,000 continual years of Native American heritage. Occupation began thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. It was at one time the largest archaeological dig in the United States, with sites ranging from ancient houses to historic villages to very old earthworks. An onsite museum housing more than 2,000 artifacts showcases their finds. Every September, over 300 Native Americans gather at the site for a public celebration of culture, including dancing, storytelling, music, and art. Ocmulgee is the ancestral homeland of the people of the Creek, or Muscogee, Nation. The Ocmulgee National Monument is open to the public and leashed pets. Six miles of trails thread through the site and bikes are only permitted on the main trail. The main entrance is just off a highway near the city of Macon.

6. Poverty Point State Historic Site, Louisiana

Photo: Poverty Point World Heritage Site /Facebook

Members of what is now called the Poverty Point Culture built the mysterious earthworks at this northeast Louisiana site almost 3,700 years ago. The site is heavily protected and is a UNESCO World Heritage site . No one is sure what the complicated concentric ridges and conical mounds, which surround a central plaza, were used for. Hypotheses range from trading centers to sites of religious ceremonies. The Poverty Point people were hunters and gatherers and fishers, and although there is no stone to quarry at the site, they crafted interesting objects out of rocks. Archaeologists are unsure what they were used for but the running hypothesis is that the objects improved cooking by holding heat. The Poverty Point State Historic Site is open to visitors nearly every day of the year and is easily reached by car.

7. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Ohio

Photo: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park /Facebook

Another mound site, Hopewell is 2,000 years old. It’s located in the Ohio River Valley, and was constructed by the Hopewell culture. Oral history tells us that the Hopewell culture used their mostly geometric mounds as sites of sacred ceremonies, including funerals and other rites. The mounds are 12 feet high and up to thousands of feet across, and the Hopewell culture built them for about 500 years. The Hopewell Culture National Historical Park protects six groups of earthworks, all of which are relatively close together and easy to visit by car. The park has activities including yoga, arts programs, summer lecture series, guided tours, and camping. There is no lodging in the park but there are hotels and inns nearby.

8. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, South Dakota

Photo: Traveller70 /Shutterstock

The three groups of the Hidatsa tribe lived in these villages along the Missouri River for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of fur traders in 1750. The site has always been a major trade center, from prehistoric times through the Lewis and Clark expedition. The museum houses art made by indigenous people throughout the history of the villages’ occupation. Their descendants are now located on the Fort Berthold Reservation in west-central North Dakota . Visitors with a few hours to spend at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site can walk to Awatixa Xi’e Village (the Lower Hidatsa Site) and Awatixa Village (the Sakakawea Site). Site trails are open all year from sunrise to sunset.

9. Hovenweep National Monument, Utah and Colorado

Photo: Zack Frank /Shutterstock

Hovenweep housed humans starting about 10,000 years ago, but it is best known for the six ancestral Pueblo villages scattered throughout the 20-mile expanse preserve. The area was continually occupied through the 1300s, when the Puebloans dispersed from the area. The six villages, with multistory stone structures exhibiting impressive masonry, housed a total of 2,500 people at any given time. In good weather, visitors can check out all six of the villages, which are somewhat isolated from one another. Visitors to Hovenweep National Monument meet at the visitor center at Square Tower Group, and drive to each of the other five villages. Spring is the best time to go, not just because of the wildflowers and birding, but because summers are extremely hot and winter conditions make some roads impassable. Still, this is one of the oldest sites in the Southwest, and seeing the structures make for a memorable adventure.

10. Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs, Hawaii

Photo: George Burba /Shutterstock

Located in Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island, Pu’u Loa consists of more than 23,000 lava etchings that are sacred to native Hawaiians, especially the Kalapana people. The etchings are in all kinds of shapes, like people, canoes, animals, concentric circles, and pecked dimples known as cupules. They appear to have been sometime created between 1200-1450 AD. Until relatively recently, native Hawaiians used to bury their babies’ umbilical cords in the lava near the petroglyphs, which was believed to ensure the child’s long life. Perhaps Pu’u Loa got its name from this practice, which translates to “The Hill of Long Life.” The National Park System has created a seven-mile walking trail to reach a boardwalk to see this site without damaging it.

11. Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, California

Photo: Pinterest /California State Park

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Celebrating History: 10 Must-Visit Indigenous American Museums in the USA

The Indigenous populations of America share a rich and detailed history–one you can explore through carefully maintained artifacts and unique exhibits at many of our nation’s museums.

From the Seminole people of the Everglades to the First Americans of Oklahoma, here are ten must-visit museums in the United States preserving Indigenous American heritage.

Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki (Clewiston, FL)

Tucked away in the swamplands of the Big Cypress Reservation, Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum honors the history and traditions of the Seminole people through temporary and permanent exhibitions. See over 200,000 artifacts, from jewelry and clothing to ancient tools. Check out dioramas depicting scenes from life in the 1890s, such as a Seminole silversmith hard at work or three women cooking the daily meal over a roaring fire. Outside, walk the boardwalk under a canopy of cypress trees, where you’ll encounter recreations of Ceremonial Grounds, a Seminole Village and a Hunting Camp.

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First Americans Museum (Oklahoma City, OK)

At this state-of-the-art museum in Oklahoma City, you’ll discover the collective histories of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes, from the Apache to the Tonkawa. Explore the Tribal Nations Gallery, where the exhibit “OKLA HOMMA” shares the highs and lows of the tribe’s past and present and how they came to the state. Check out traditional clothing and materials at the “Winiko: Life of an Object” exhibit, showcasing pieces from the Smithsonian. For an up-close look at a 90-foot Indigenous Mound, enjoy an interpretive walk on the grounds. The museum also features year-round demonstrations, a theater for live performances and an on-site restaurant where you can dine on tribe-inspired cuisine with a modern twist, such as hominy stew with braised bison.  

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National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC)

Part of the renowned Smithsonian Institution, you don’t want to miss the colossal collection of artifacts at the National Museum of the American Indian . Stop by the American Gallery, which examines the representation of Indigenous peoples in America throughout history (good and bad), from thought-provoking art to ads, photographs, postcards and relics from pop culture. Don’t miss the “Return to a Native Place” exhibition, which highlights the history and struggles of Chesapeake Bay’s Algonquian people through maps, ceremonial objects and photographs.

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The Heard Museum (Phoenix, AZ)

Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, celebrates the beauty and history of Indigenous American art. Located in the Akimel O’otham tribe’s homeland, the museum offers free guided tours, 12 galleries, outdoor sculpture gardens and an on-site café. Learn about the Native people of the Southwest in the “HOME” exhibition, which features a Navajo hogan (traditional hut) and 400 katsina dolls (wooden effigies of benevolent spirits). Experience the trials and tribulations of Native American boarding schools in America via the “Away from Home” exhibit. And marvel at bronze and stone sculptures by Indigenous American sculptors like Allan Houser.

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Museum of Native American History (Bentonville, AR)

In Bentonville, check out the free Museum of Native American History . Journey through 24,000 years of history via collections that span five different periods, from the Paleo Age to Pre-Columbian. Notable relics include a pictograph calendar spanning 70 years of tribal history and ancient wonders like mammoth skeletons and Mayan gold. In the Woodlands exhibit, learn about Mound Builders and check out artifacts such as woodland pipes, ceremonial bowls and ancient tribal weapons like darts. Stop by the museum store to purchase Indigenous American jewelry, seed pots, art and collectibles.

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Dickson Mounds Museum (Lewistown, IL)

Explore the lives and histories of the Illinois River Valley Indigenous People at the Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown. This expansive archaeological museum is home to your typical exhibits and artifacts and expansive grounds that feature walking trails, a restored prairie and the remains of an excavated Indian village. Explore the River Valley Gallery and learn about the people and wildlife that lived in the region. Wander through the People of the Valley exhibit and see photographs, murals and artifacts like hunting tools of people who lived during the Ice Age. The museum is also home to the Discovery Center, where kids can interact with unique playscapes and activity drawers to learn more about Illinois’ Indigenous Americans.

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Iroquois Museum (Howes Cave, NY)

The Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave, New York, is located on 45 acres of ancestral lands belonging to the Mohawk people and designed to look like a Great Iroquois Longhouse. Home to a vast collection of Indigenous American artifacts and art, the museum also features a nature park with trails where you might encounter wildlife such as foxes and deer. Inside, stroll through galleries featuring Iroquois art from the 1960s to the present, such as stone carvings, basketry and works made from antlers. Archaeological and historical art collections are also on display, featuring clothing and tools. During Labor Day weekend, experience the annual Iroquois Festival, which showcases traditional dancing, archeological demonstrations and an art market.

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Chumash Indian Museum (Thousand Oaks, CA)

Open on Saturdays and Sundays, the Chumash Indian Museum is a living history center and historical site dedicated to preserving the history and promoting awareness of the Chumash people. Explore the replica of a Chumash Village and peer through the doorways of two thatched longhouses. View dioramas showcasing the Native’s everyday life, from hunting and gathering to cooking. Marvel at thousand-year-old Chumash pictographs and artifacts like woven baskets, farming tools and fishing equipment.

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Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (Santa Fe, NM)

Sante Fe’s Museum of Indian Arts & Culture tells the stories of the Southwest’s Indigenous American populations through rotating exhibitions featuring contemporary art and events. Check out examples of Navajo weaving on display. See a curation of necklaces, bracelets and pins from Indigenous artist Anthony Lovato. And don’t miss the “Here, Now, and Always” exhibition showcasing more than 600 pieces from the museum’s collection of Native ceramics, jewelry, fashion and artwork. Visit on Sundays for free education classes and family-friendly activities. The museum also hosts a Native speaker series with rotating topics.

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Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor, ME)

Once a small trailside attraction, Abbe Museum has become a must-visit spot in downtown Bar Harbor. Experience 12,000 years of the Wabanaki Nation’s history through stories, replicas, artifacts and textiles. Explore the museum’s core exhibit, People of the First Light, which tells the story of the Wabanaki through oral histories, interactive digital displays and artwork. The exhibit’s centerpiece is a two-story ash tree sculpture that connects the various aspects of the space, from Native clothing on display to canoe replicas.

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4 Great Native American Reservations For Unique Vacations

The cultural experience in Native American Reservations is amazing and even though many of the powwows are private. There are some which do allow and welcome other cultures so that they can learn about the Native American lifestyle and traditions.

Best time to go for Native American vacations is in the summertime so you don’t need to worry about some harsh lower North America temperatures. Another reason is because the rituals and festivals are usually during the hot summer seasons.

Colorful Pow Wow at Native American Reservations

For those of you who are trying to learn more about the culture, many Native American powwows have organized tours which gives you a chance to ask your guide some questions. There are several different types of tours that are offered from group to self guided however this again does depend on the Indian reservation.

You are probably wondering about the costs for a holiday in one of the Native Indian Reservations.

These vacations are NOT as expensive as a more urban experience. When taking a Native American vacation it’s more of an all-in experience where you are paying a fix price for the whole experience. You might have to dish out some extra money in the restaurants and shops but it’s nothing compared to an urban city vacation.

Native American Reservations: a tipi setting

The Do´s And Don´ts

There are a few things you need to be careful about because many of these reservations are still sacred grounds which are home to Native Americans. You need to be careful to respect the reservation and refrain from shouting, swearing and intruding on teepees which have been setup by settlers.

If you plan on taking photo’s during your trip then ask before taking any since you may require special permission. It’s important to mention that many powwows are less restrictive then before since many people visiting are from different cultures.

Did you know that New Mexico is home to 19 pueblos, including the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos located north of Santa Fe?

Every August since 1922, the largest Native American Indian arts market, in downtown Santa Fe takes place. Visit the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture to discover the complexity and diversity of the Native American cultures of the region.

Inn and Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe

Stay at the Santa Fe pueblo-style hotel at Loretto Chapel , a replica of the Taos Pueblo, a national historic landmark.

Here are some amazing Native American reservations to consider.

1. The Blackfeet Indian reservation located in Montana has one of the most beautiful recreation centers and also borders Alberta in the North. The whole Native American reservations is around 3000 square miles.

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation offers a lot more activities compared to other Native American vacations. For an authentic venture into the life of the Blackfeet Indians spend the evening around a crackling fire, while listening to stories from Native American Tribes, drumming and singing songs passed down from generation to generation about life for the Blackfoot Indian in Montana.

Our tip, the Tipi Village accommodations - a truly genuine experience!

If you get a chance to visit the Blackfeet Reservation it is best to go during their North American Indian Days Pow Wow in summer. Many people of different tribes come to Browning and set up their camp to enjoy the rodeo (next to the arbor) and pow wow held in the arbor for several days.

You can enjoy hiking along the Blackfeet Trial or setup a camp fire during the night sharing in some of the Native American music. This reservation is equipped with a sports area, restaurants, and festivals including costumes that you can wear during the whole event.

2. The Six Nations which is the largest in Canada and has a total of 23,902 band members consisting of many different tribes plus it is the only reservation which has six Iroquois nations that live together on the same site. Within the middle of the reservation is the location known as Bears Inn. Everything is in walking distance from the center Bear’s Inn like the sports complex, village life and restaurants.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about The Bears Inn at TripAdvisor .

3. Next, the Nuu Chah Nulth which is located within Vancouver Canada and has some of the most beautiful scenery since the reservation runs along the Pacific Rim.

Have a look at the modern elegant Surfs Inn Cottages .

Many tourists often find themselves here where you can participate in surf lessons, watching festivals and enjoying the culture.

4. The Metlakatla Indian Reserve is always a must see since it is the only remaining Native American reservation within Alaska . The community relays on tourist so they are very flexible about allowing all different cultures on the reservations. They have also several activities for everyone to take part in which include art exhibitions, fishing, tours and cultural experiences catered at educating everyone who comes and visits.

There is only one small but very nice hotel in Metlakatla

but you find more accommodation in nearby Ketchikan and there are also over 300 campsites !!!

Learn more about native tribal culture.

Visit the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. This ceremonial event is unique opportunity to learn about native tribal culture through many activities, these include:

• Native American Art Exhibit and prized competition
• Native American traditional art and jewelry vendors
• Evening and daily inter-tribal dance exhibitions
• Evening and morning all Indian parade
• all Indian Rodeo

Many of the events are housed at Red Rock State Park and Conference Center. Visit the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. It is planned in Gallup, New Mexico. 97th Annual event: August 3-11, 2018. For more information visit the website: https://gallupceremonial.net

5. Gathering of Nations

North America’s Biggest PowWow – April 26, 27 & 28, 2018 at the Powwow Grounds – Tingley Coliseum /Expo New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM, U.S.A. In the fourth weekend of April. Native Americans come to Albuquerque for the Gathering of Nations , the world’s largest Native American cultural event. Highlight is the Grand Entry where thousands of Native American dancers enter the University of New Mexico’s arena in full regalia to the beating of the drums.

There are also many demonstrations by tribal members, like: traditional bread baking, hiking and riding along the Rio Grande on trails or listen to Native American storyteller under the stars. Native American vacations are great.

Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque

Stay at the Nativo Lodge , a comfortable hotel with a nice decor in a very tasteful authentic Native American Theme.

Related Getaways to 4 Great Native American Reservations For Unique Vacations

18 Best Places to Visit in New Mexico, According to Locals

Come to see historic small towns, scenic hiking trails, the "Grand Canyon of New Mexico," and more.

For a true taste of the American Southwest, consider a trip to New Mexico. Spanning approximately 121,000 square miles, the state is famous for its rich Indigenous history, vast landscapes (from towering dunes to subterranean caves), amazing archaeological sites, national landmarks (cliff dwellings, well-preserved adobe buildings, and centuries-old churches, to name a few), and an incredible arts and culture scene. It’s no surprise, then, that New Mexico is nicknamed the Land of Enchantment.

To narrow down the state’s best attractions, we reached out to local experts for their top recommendations. Without further ado, here are the best places to visit in New Mexico, from sprawling national parks to tiny towns and everything in between.

White Sands National Park

Spanning 275 square miles, White Sands National Park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field, and it looks and feels like an entirely different planet . The wave-like, powder-white sand dunes resemble mounds of snow, and visitors can hike or sled down them any time of year. It’s also worth noting the park is home to a handful of white-hued animals — which have changed to a lighter color over time to adapt to the environment — including mice, lizards, crickets, spiders, and moths. 

Couse-Sharp Historic Site

Angelisa Murray, CEO of guided tour operator Heritage Inspirations in Taos, describes the Couse-Sharp Historic Site as a “true gem” and “one of [her] favorite museums.” Here, you’ll find the former homes and art studios of Taos Society of Artists (TSA) founding members Joseph Sharp and E.I. Couse. “Our guests can see the actual moccasins and pottery that Couse painted in his paintings ... and journey back in time to get a real feel of Taos in the early 1900s,” says Murray.

“ Abiquiú is one of my favorite small towns to take our guests,” says Murray. The town, which was settled by the Spanish in the mid-18th century, looks and feels like it was plucked out of a classic Western, and visitors may even recognize it from fan-favorite flicks like Indiana Jones . However, it’s also famous for being the home of renowned American artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Don’t leave without visiting the O’Keeffe Home and Studio and Ghost Ranch (the artist’s summer home, about 20 minutes northwest). Murray also recommends popping into the state’s first general store, Bodes , which “offers an otherworldly experience for the intrepid traveler,” according to Murray.

Bandelier National Monument

Known for its magnificent mesas, canyons, and ancestral Pueblo dwellings, this national monument spans more than 33,000 acres of rugged landscape, making it a must-visit for history buffs and nature lovers alike. The 1.4-mile Pueblo Loop Trail winds through various archaeological sites and is a popular hike. If you’re looking for more thrills, hop on one of the ladders along the route to climb into small human-carved alcoves. Alternatively, experienced hikers may opt to tackle the challenging Frijoles Canyon and Rim Trail (eight miles one way). Keep in mind those who wish to visit Frijoles Canyon and the Pueblo Loop Trail will be required to take a shuttle, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily (mid-June through mid-October).

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

For a first-hand look at Pueblo culture, head to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Spanning more than 80 acres, the center is owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. On-site offerings include a museum, exhibition galleries, murals from Pueblo artists, and the Indian Pueblo Kitchen , which serves freshly prepared Native American cuisine. Don’t leave without stocking up on some souvenirs, including Native American artwork and a wide selection of traditional and contemporary crafts, jewelry, pottery, rugs, and more. Pro tip: Check the events calendar for a schedule of the latest programming.

Santuario de Chimayo

Marama Nengel, chef concierge at Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection , recommends taking an afternoon trip to Santuario de Chimayó , about 27 miles from Santa Fe. According to Nengel, thousands visit this picturesque adobe church — now a National Historic Landmark — each year. It’s best known for its holy dirt, which is believed to have healing properties. Per Nengel, no trip here is complete without a visit to the Centinela Traditional Arts gallery to see eight generations of Trujillo weavers. Finally, when hunger calls, tuck into some Southwestern fare at Rancho de Chimayó .

Puye Cliff Dwellings

Located in Los Alamos, this National Historic Landmark was once home to 1,500 Pueblo Indians. It’s no surprise, then, that the site boasts some stunning Pueblo architecture and well-preserved cliff and cave dwellings. The panoramic valley views are an incredible added bonus. It’s worth noting that guided tours are available Monday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe Plaza is both a beloved tourist attraction and a popular gathering place for locals. This National Historic Landmark, established by the Spanish in the early 17th century, is renowned for its Spanish Pueblo architecture. The bustling location hosts a slew of events throughout the year, including the Traditional Spanish Market in the summer months. Come holiday season, the square gets decked out in twinkling lights, making it even more magical. In recent years, the area surrounding the Plaza has evolved into a buzzy hot spot with dozens of eclectic restaurants, shops, museums, and hotels.

El Rancho de Las Golondrinas

El Rancho de Las Golondrinas (“The Ranch of the Swallows”) is a historic ranch-turned-living history museum near downtown Santa Fe, though its rural surroundings make it feel worlds away, What’s more, a visit to this 200-acre site, which is dotted with striking adobe buildings, feels like a step back in time to New Mexico in the 1800s. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the ranch served as an official rest stop for travelers on El Camino Real, which stretched from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Note the site is closed for general admission between November and March.

Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway

The 65-mile Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway — named for the precious stone the Pueblo mined here centuries earlier — links Santa Fe and Albuquerque. As such, it makes for an excellent day trip from either city. The historic route winds through old mining and ghost towns such as Madrid , Golden , and Los Cerrillos . Carve out some time to stop at Casa Grande Trading Post , Cowgirl Red , and Tinkertown Museum , as well as Sandia Peak Tramway to soak up the postcard-worthy views from up high.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

According to Hans Loehr, adventure center architect at the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe , the Sangre de Cristo Mountains offer something for everyone, including scenic trails for hikers of all experience levels. Additionally, he tells Travel + Leisure , "Guests can enjoy exploring forests of aspen, ponderosa, and pinyon-juniper and meadows filled with colorful wildflowers, relaxing near alpine lakes, bagging some high mountain peaks, and pausing to take in breathtaking views from ridgetops and mountain summits.”

Rio Grande Gorge

Stretching nearly 50 miles, the magnificent, 800-foot-deep Rio Grande Gorge is considered the Grand Canyon of New Mexico. Soak in sweeping views of the rugged landscape from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge , which, at 650 feet above the ground, is one of the country’s highest bridges. It’s also a popular spot for hiking.

Sontanna Sanchez, a concierge at the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, recommends visiting Meow Wolf for a unique and immersive art experience. The kaleidoscopic “House of Eternal Return” features “more than 70 rooms, taking participants on a macrocosmic adventure only found in Santa Fe,” says Sanchez. All in all, the playful exhibit is sure to delight art lovers of all ages.

San Miguel Chapel

Located along the Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe’s Barrio de Analco Historic District , this Spanish colonial mission church is considered the oldest in the United States. While initially constructed in 1610, it has since been rebuilt twice (most recently in 1710). In terms of design, prepare to be dazzled by the adobe architecture; the interiors are equally spectacular with centuries-old wooden beams and the 750-plus-pound San Jose bell, which has its own fascinating history.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

This national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the Chihuahuan Desert in the southern part of the state. The enchanting attraction is home to nearly 120 caves. Travelers can easily spend the entire day exploring these captivating caverns, admiring the mystical stalagmites and stalactites, and spotting wildlife like bats and cougars. Don’t miss the Big Room, North America’s largest single cave chamber by volume. The 1.25-mile trail is a relatively easy 90-minute trek.

Old Town Albuquerque

With its narrow winding streets and adobe architecture, Old Town Albuquerque oozes small-town charm. While lots has changed since its 1706 establishment, this dynamic destination has remained the city's heart. Despite its tiny 10-block radius, Old Town is packed with more than 150 independent restaurants and boutiques. It also hosts more than 40 events annually, including a car show, live music performances, and the world-famous Balloon Fiesta Week .

Taos Downtown Historic District

Despite its small size, Taos packs in plenty of charm and character. What’s more, this storied mountain town is renowned for its many galleries , scenic hiking trails, and, in the winter, world-class skiing. At the center of town is the Downtown Historic District , where you’ll find the 1796-era Taos Plaza. Here, locals and visitors alike gather to listen to live music and attend farmers markets and other events, including dozens of art-forward programming. An abundance of shops and galleries can also be found within easy walking distance. When it's time to refuel, head to one of the nearby cafes and restaurants . 

Taos Pueblo

About three miles northwest of Taos Plaza lies the Taos Pueblo , which is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. The Pueblo has been inhabited for more than a millennium, and many of the adobe structures appear the same as when the Spanish first arrived in New Mexico in the 1500s. Hlauuma (north house) and Hlaukwima (south house) are the location's most famous buildings, and they’re considered the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the country.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

History & Heritage

Visiting american indian tribal lands in arizona.

Discover the rich history and traditions of the native communities in Arizona, where art and culture continue to be a major influence throughout the state.

American Indian Tribal Lands

Indigenous people inhabited what became Arizona more than 12,000 years ago. Today, 22 American Indian communities preserve their cultures and traditions on land that accounts for one-quarter of Arizona. From the Navajo Nation in the high country—the largest reservation in the United States—to picturesque areas along the fertile flood plains of the Colorado River, the forests of central Arizona and the vibrant Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, American Indian communities share unique cultural experiences with visitors.

Most road trips and scenic drives in the state offer an opportunity to connect with indigenous culture. Some of the most popular cultural attractions take place near stunning natural wonders and manmade landmarks such as the ancient pueblo dwellings on the Navajo Nation in the north and Mission San Xavier del Bac on the Tohono O'odham Nation in the south. On these sacred lands, the state's cultural tapestry is on display at powwows, art markets and other annual celebrations hosted by American Indian communities. See the pageantry and skill of tribal dancers and musicians and discover authentic artworks that preserve the traditions of each group such as Zuni stone fetish carvings, Navajo rugs, Hopi kachina dolls and Papago basketry.

Museums and cultural centers

Many tribes operate museums to share their traditions with visitors. The Navajo Nation Museum , Hopi Cultural Center and other cultural centers throughout the state are excellent options for travelers interested in history, art and culture. Internationally known museums also preserve the heritage of the state's tribes. Heard Museum in Phoenix showcases stories inclusive of all American Indian tribes in the state and hosts the annual Indian Fair & Market and World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff focuses on the high-desert and Colorado Plateau tribes, with artifacts and contemporary collections representative of Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Apache, Pueblo and Havasupai tribes. Arizona State Museum in Tucson and Amerind Museum in Dragoon preserve the artistic heritage of Southern Arizona's native cultures.

Basic tips for traveling on Tribal lands

ROAD CONDITIONS All U.S. highways, state roads and main tribal roads are paved. Secondary roads are usually graded and graveled; however, travel off recognized and numbered roads is strongly discouraged. Inquire locally about road conditions. SERVICE Keep your gas tank full, and be sure to check fluid levels. It can be a very long way between service stations. WEATHER Be prepared for anything. Winters can produce snow six feet deep. Summer temperatures are often over 100 degrees. After hard rains, normally dry washes often become roaring streams from storms that are miles away. Never attempt to cross a running creek. Some areas (usually marked with warning signs) are prone to dust storms. If caught in a dust storm, try to find a place to get off the road.

View and download a map of Tribal Lands in Arizona.

Before you go

Access to tribal lands differs among the American Indian communities in Arizona. Many tribes welcome visitors to experience their cultural ceremonies, while others limit visitation to commercial areas. When visiting, remember the following:

• Each reservation operates under its own government and its own rules for visitors.
• Sacred areas and graveyards are restricted areas and are not open to the public.
• Alcohol is not tolerated except in designated areas such as casinos.
• Protecting the integrity of Arizona’s tribal lands and iconic natural beauty is more important than ever. Follow these seven principles to leave no trace as you explore.

Research the tribal land you plan to visit before your trip to make sure your group respects specific regulations pertaining to taking photos and attending ceremonial events. Information on purchasing authentic arts and crafts is available from the Indian Arts and Craft Board and the Indian Arts and Crafts Association . For specific information, contact the individual tribe(s) prior to your visit.

Touring Tribal Lands in Arizona

From cultural etiquette to tour suggestions, here's everything you need to know about visiting the many tribal communities in Arizona.

COVID Updates

Tribal Openings & Closures

In response to the situation surrounding the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, some of the Tribal tourism-related businesses in Arizona have...

Ak-Chin Indian Community | Visit Arizona

Visit this traditional desert farming community south of Phoenix.

Cocopah Indian Tribe

Just south of the city of Yuma, discover the Cocopah culture that has thrived for generations.

Colorado River Indian Tribes

Take a trip to experience the diverse community of the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona.

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

On the far-east side of Greater Phoenix, explore a tranquil setting where Yavapai people have lived for thousands of years.

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe

Located along the Colorado River, the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe offers gaming, boating, fishing, and quick access to nearby Lake Havasu, Lake...

Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe

Explore the Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe's native culture along the beautiful Colorado River near Yuma, AZ.

Gila River Indian Community

Immerse yourself in the Gila River Indian Community, discover breathtaking artwork, and enjoy a day under the sun.

Havasupai Tribe

Head to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to explore the remote homelands of the “People of the Blue-Green Water.”

Hopi tribal lands are sacred regions that require a bit of effort to visit. Discover how to explore this special place and leave with a deeper...

Hualapai Tribe

Hualapai Tribe's Grand Canyon West offers unparalleled views of the Grand Canyon’s west rim from hiking and biking trails, river rafting, and...

Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians

The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians lives in northern Arizona, near natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, and Lake...

Navajo Nation

Covering more than 27,000 square miles of desert landscape around the Four Corners region, Navajo Nation has many treasures to explore.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Explore the scenic lands and culture of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe near Tucson.

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Think big when visiting the attractions offered by two tribes that have been connected for generations.

San Carlos Apache Tribe

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is a family friendly community that provides entertainment for everyone, from gambling and golf to fishing and...

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Known for their hand-woven baskets, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe is close neighbors with the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, which are...

Tohono O'odham Nation

Visit the Tohono O'odham Nation, featuring outdoor recreation and casinos, and learn about their culture in the lands they call home near Tucson...

Tonto Apache Tribe

Discover indoor and outdoor playgrounds in Arizona’s Mogollon Rim Country.

White Mountain Apache Tribe

Explore natural wonders and cultural attractions on tribal lands in Arizona’s scenic White Mountains.

Yavapai-Apache Nation

Nestled in the Verde Valley, the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s casino and hotel welcome visitors to an area filled with history, from Montezuma’s...

Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe

North of Phoenix, the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe's resort, casinos, business park, and shopping center means you'll have a fun and relaxing getaway...

Zuni Pueblo

The Zuni Pueblo is brimming with artists creating authentic works of art and where you will find genuine hospitality.

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From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint.

The best Alaska Native experiences

Oct 7, 2022 • 6 min read

Watch live singing and dance performances and explore artistic expression of Alaska Native culture at the annual Festival of Native Arts © Patrick J Endres / Getty Images

Although well-known for its snowy mountains, lush rain forests and incredible wildlife like bears, moose and humpback whales, Alaska is also rich in the cultures of Alaska Native peoples. Their worldviews, language, singing and dancing traditions, and ways of life have been shaped by these lands – and indeed shape how visitors experience them.  

Travelers to Alaska will learn about the traditions that have sustained Alaska Natives for thousands of years. Get to know the true Alaska by grounding yourself in the modern ways Alaska Native peoples celebrate and practice their culture around the state.

Explore dog mushing traditions

Fairbanks is the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the lower Tanana Dene peoples. While many Alaska Natives live in the Fairbanks area, you will find the largest majority of Athabascan (Gwich’in, Koyukon, Lower Tanana and more) and Iñupiaq people represented here. Dog mushing is a tradition that was introduced to this region by Alaska Natives.

During the late winter and early springtime, many communities cheer for their favorites in the sprint dog races, like the three-day Open North American Championships in mid-March. Mushers and spectators alike eagerly watch sprint times, pick out their favorite teams and dogs and generally enjoy some much-needed daylight. 

Attend the Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks 

A little later in March, the Festival of Native Arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is where visitors can experience Alaska Native singing and dancing and learn about many rich cultures and storytelling. See performances from the Dena’ Intertribal Dancers, who perform Athabascan songs and dances while dressed in moosehide vests and dresses adorned with Athabascan beadwork. Usually, toward the end of the sets, dance groups will welcome individuals to practice the dances and feel the power of the drum for themselves.  

Cheer on incredible survival skills at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics

Dog mushing isn’t the only sport popular with Alaska Native people. In July, traditional Alaska Native sports are on display at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO).  Games here showcase the skill and preparedness one needs for survival across the region, such as the fish-cutting contest or the two-foot high kick, in which athletes use both feet to kick a seal skin ball hanging from a rope. While definitely an Olympic-style competition with a mastery of agility and strength, camaraderie is part of the event: athletes cheer each other on and offer pointers to one another. You can also watch dance group performances, the Miss WEIO pageant and regalia contests. 

Listen to Athabascan fiddling

More foot-stomping dancing and fiddle music happen later in the year with two key celebrations. More than 80 performers ranging from elders to youth musicians perform at the Athabascan Fiddlers Festival , when people from all over come to celebrate Athabascan culture, traditions and music. The Gwich'in Athabascan Fiddle Dance sometimes happens at about the same time in November with people dancing the jig, two-step and other dances. Many of the Gwich’in dance pros wear beautiful beaded moosehide mukluks and other regalia.

Admire interior Alaska Native cultural exhibits

A visit to the interior would not be complete without stopping by the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center , which features Alaska Native lifestyle exhibits, artwork like an archway made of moose and caribou antlers, as well as history from the interior. Be sure to take a moment to admire the innovative and beautiful beaded designs of Alaska Native artists. Fish skin processing has seen a resurgence in the past 20 years, and visitors will see salmon leather transformed into jewelry, bags and baskets, among many other unique creations.

Celebrate with a blanket toss at Nalukataq

Travel up north to Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) in late June to experience Nalukataq , a celebration of the gift and spirit of the bowhead whale and the successful whaling crews that provide for their community. During Nalukataq, local Iñupiat whaling crews serve the entire community with various cuts of whale, locally prepared bread, caribou and goose soup, and other delicacies to sustain the community through the winter. 

Nalukataq is not complete without a blanket-toss celebration and traditional dancing to cap off the day. Nalukataq literally means “to be tossed up and down on a bearded sealskin blanket.” People are tossed high into the air on this blanket, a tradition that originates from hunters who needed to spot game far off in the distance. Some Iñupiaq display their athleticism by doing flips and tricks in their traditional parkas. Another exciting part of the celebration is when they toss candy, to the kids' delight.

Learn Native dance at the Yup’ik celebration in Western Alaska

Dance is central to many Alaska Native communities. It’s a way to pass along oral traditions, culture, language and survival lessons, and a time to celebrate. In Mamterilleq (the traditional Yup’ik name for Bethel), the Cama-i Dance Festival takes place in March. The three-day celebration of Native dance represents the Yup’ik tradition of winter gatherings (the name comes from the greeting “Cama-i!”). Yup’ik, Cup’ik and St. Lawrence Island Yupik dancers often wear bright floral qaspeqs (summer parkas), mukluks and beaded fur headdresses. 

The songs often feature stories about seal hunting or historical events. This festival is also a good chance to pick up carved masks, jewelry and crafts at the vendor booths.

Join the festivities at Southeast Alaska's Celebration 

Every other year in early June, one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples is held to celebrate Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Celebration is a four-day festival that fills the streets of Juneau with Native people embracing their heritage while dressed in the traditional regalia of their clans. 

Celebration also features traditional food, arts and cultural artistry. Juneau is located in the traditional homelands of the A’akw Kwáan and T’aaḵu Kwáan and has a lot to offer in arts and culture, including spruce and cedar weaving, Chilkat robe weaving, formline design artwork and totem poles.

Discover Native history and traditions at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Many visitors to Alaska find themselves in Anchorage , also known as Dena'ina ełnena, the traditional homeland of the Dena’ina people. The Alaska Native Heritage Center , one of the largest cultural institutions in the state, is a must-visit. See traditional Alaska Native homes, community gathering places and structures. Museum docents and guides describe what materials they are made of and which groups lived in each, and they share stories and artifacts that further explain how they lived. 

Special events also focus on Alaska Native dance and storytelling, and an on-site movie theater puts on films covering traditions from kayaks to totem poles. 

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

6 Best Places To Experience Native American History In Oklahoma

Heide Brandes

• Activities and Interests
• Destinations
• History and Culture
• Indigenous People
• Native American
• United States

As the sun slowly dipped down toward the horizon on the winter solstice in December, a small hump of grass in a field close to the eastern border of Oklahoma was the focus of my attention. Hundreds of years ago, this same field would have been filled with the writhing bodies of an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 prehistoric Native American revelers who were honoring the shortest day of the year. That small hump was one of the 12 mounds built by the Spiro people in Oklahoma.

It’s just one of the many places to experience Native American history in Oklahoma.

The Spiro people in Oklahoma were part of the massive Mississippian culture that was as sophisticated and as large as other prehistoric empires like the Inca and the Mayan cultures.

The Spiro site in Oklahoma was among the largest political, trade, and power centers of the Mississippian culture, and nearly 10,000 people lived in Spiro from 800 A.D. to 1480 A.D.

The Spiro people built 12 ceremonial and house mounds and one burial mound. That burial mound remained untouched until the 1930s, when looters discovered the treasures hidden within it. What followed was the largest and longest period of looting in American history before federal law protected the site.

Like those ancient Spiro people, I was honoring the winter solstice in my own way by taking a solstice walk with Dennis Peterson, the director of the Spiro Mounds Archeological Center. I was there to learn about the history of these forgotten people.

I grew up in Oklahoma, and Native American history and culture have always been woven into the identity of the state. In addition to the Caddo and Wichita tribes, who already claimed Oklahoma as home, thousands of Native Americans were displaced and forced to Indian Territory — what Oklahoma was called before statehood — during the Indian Removal Act.

Today, 39 tribes call Oklahoma home, and Oklahoma has the third-largest number of tribes behind Alaska and California. The tribes and the state also have some of the most impressive museums, cultural centers, and exhibits that celebrate and honor the rich heritage of the Native peoples.

Here are six places to experience Native American history in Oklahoma.

1. Spiro Mounds Archeological Center, Spiro

Located roughly three hours west of Oklahoma City, The Spiro Mounds Archeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public.

The site includes a nice museum with interpretive exhibits, an introductory slide show, examples of the art and artifacts that were discovered in Spiro, and a small gift shop. Two miles of easy trails weave along the 12 mounds at the site, and the staff archeologist leads tours that delve deeply into how the Spiro people lived.

Special tours of the site are offered during the solstices and equinoxes and are advertised on the website. These tours tend to be very popular, so arrive early. If you go, be sure to wear sturdy shoes, and expect the tours to run two hours or longer. Bring lots of water if visiting during the summer.

The Spiro Mounds Archeological Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays.

Pro Tip: If you visit before May 6, be sure to make The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum a stop on your trip. The museum is hosting a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition called “Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World ,” the first major museum exhibition on the Spiro Mounds, and possibly the last. It brings together the extraordinary objects that were found at the Spiro site that haven’t been seen together since the looting during the 1930s and ‘40s.

2. Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur

Located in the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur serves as the cultural, historical, and educational heart of the Chickasaw people.

Ten years in the making, the cultural center hosts reenactments, performances, historical collections, exhibits, classes, and special events. It is one of the most extensive tribal cultural centers in the United States.

The campus grounds also include the Aaholiitobli’ (“a place to honor”) Honor Garden of native plants that honor the Chickasaw leaders, elders, and warriors; the Kochcha’ Aabiniili’ (“a place for sitting outside”) Amphitheater; and the Aba’ Aanowa’ (“a place for walking above”) Sky Pavilion, which offers a 40-foot birds’ eye view of the Chikasha Inchokka’ Traditional Village and the surrounding Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

From traditional Native American celebrations to cooking demonstrations and storytelling, the Chickasaw Cultural Center is among the most intensive and impressive educational centers in Oklahoma and the U.S.

Pro Tip: Currently, the Chickasaw Cultural Center remains closed due to COVID concerns, but it hosts numerous virtual events, demonstrations, and educational events through its website.

PhotoTrippingAmerica / Shutterstock

3. Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah

In eastern Oklahoma, the Cherokee Heritage Center near Tahlequah is home to a stunning Trail of Tears exhibit. Told through artwork and historic accounting in six galleries, this exhibit tells of the forced removal of Cherokee ancestors from their indigenous lands in the southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

The center also features a 1710 Cherokee Village called Diligwa; the Cherokee National Museum; Adams Corner; and special exhibits and events. The center’s Cherokee National Archives house an impressive collection of important Cherokee historical records, including 167 manuscripts, 579 historic photographs, and 832 audio holdings.

Like many museums, the center is closed currently due to COVID, but vaccine rollouts in the Native American community may see the center open later this year.

4. Choctaw Nation Museum, Tuskahoma

In the Fourche Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, Tuskahoma is the site of the newly-restored Choctaw Nation Museum, which was the original 1884 capitol building for the Choctaw Nation. The museum has a lovely collection of Choctaw art, exhibits, and artifacts, and it tells the heartbreaking story of Choctaw removal from Native lands.

The Museum also honors the World War I and II Choctaw Code Talkers with a Memorial Exhibit and a five-acre lawn where Choctaw Stickball, Choctaw weddings, and the inter-tribal pow-wows are held.

Pro Tip: During Labor Day weekend, the Choctaw Nation Museum holds the Labor Day Festival and Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow, which is open to the public and well worth a visit. Though canceled in 2020, the Choctaw Nation is considering the possibility of holding the festival in 2021.

Ken Wolter / Shutterstock

5. Sam Noble Museum Of Natural History, Norman

In a unique collection, the Sam Noble Museum in Norman houses one of the most impressive exhibits of Native American languages. Intended to be a resource for community members, scholars, researchers, and students, the Native American Languages collection holds books, video recordings, audio recordings, journals, lesson plans, and more from more than 175 Native North American languages.

The collection serves Oklahoma’s Native American communities while spreading the importance of preserving Native American languages and cultures. The curators and museum also host the Breath of Life workshop and the annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair so visitors can develop an awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Native American languages.

Pro Tip: The Sam Noble Museum closed during 2020 due to COVID, but will reopen to the public on May 11.

6. Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee

The Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee tells the story of the art, culture, and history of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek, and Cherokee tribes, which were known as The Five Civilized Tribes. These tribes were displaced to Indian Territory through the Indian Removal Act. Called the Trail of Tears, the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral homelands was a dark chapter in the history of Oklahoma’s tribes.

This museum features ever-changing exhibits and historic artifacts from the permanent collection. Traditional art produced by artists of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole fill the gallery walls, and the museum also has the world’s largest collection of Jerome Tiger originals, including Stickballer , his only major sculpture, which is on permanent display in the gallery.

These six locations are shining examples of Native American culture and history in Oklahoma but are far from the only sites where you can learn about these topics in the state. From art museums like the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and Woolaroc in Bartlesville to the Red Earth Art Center and Festival in Oklahoma City, as well as dozens of smaller Native American cultural centers throughout the state, Oklahoma is full of opportunities to connect and learn more about Native American culture.

Further Reading:

• 7 Places To Explore America’s Native American Heritage
• Native American Culture: Tribes Return To Traditional Names And Why That Helps Travelers
• The Original Names For 5 Of America’s Most-Visited Sites

Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and travel writer based in Oklahoma. She loves outdoor adventures, exploring different cultures, and finding off-the-wall, bizarre, and wondrous experiences to enjoy. Heide writes for numerous national and international publications and is an award-winning member of the Society for Professional Journalists, North American Travel Journalists Association, and Society of American Travel Writers. Besides traveling and writing, Heide is also a professional Bellydancer, a medieval re-enactor, and a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.