A Radical Revival: Indigenous Music Strikes Chords that Cross Borders
The Indigenous music industry is booming, with both traditional and contemporary sounds reaching new audiences across the United States and Canada.
Arts and Cultures
Of the Land: DY Begay’s Tapestries Weave Memories Together with Her Ancestral Diné Home
A new NMAI exhibition showcases the innovative works of Diné tapestry artist DY Begay, who weaves together her memories and the stunning vistas of her ancestral home on the Navajo Nation.
Celebrating a World of Diversity: Folklife Festival Marks More Than Three Decades of the NMAI Amplifying Indigenous Voices
This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival marks the founding of the National Museum of the American Indian and honors the Indigenous voices across the Western Hemisphere it has amplified for more than three decades.
A Chronicle of Endurance: A Century Later, Edward Curtis’s Images are Connecting Descendants with Their Indigenous Ancestors
A century after photographer Edward S. Curtis photographed American Indian tribes in the western United States and Alaska, his great-grandson is photographing their descendants and recording their stories.
Tapping Into Ancestral Wisdom: Reviving the Nearly Lost Art of Native Hawaiian Tattooing
A few dedicated artists are revitalizing the traditional Native Hawaiian protocols and methods of “kākau uhi”—creating tattoos by tapping intricate designs into skin.
Sharing Honors and Burdens: Smithsonian Exhibition Shows Indigenous Artists Carrying Their Ancestors’ Messages Forward
Smithsonian exhibition features six Indigenous artists who through their dedication and innovation are carrying their ancestors’ traditions and messages forward.
Seeing Through Indigenous Lenses: Filmmakers Reimagine a Collective Climate-Sound Future
Filmmakers in the Americas challenge the Hollywood approach while tackling causes of climate change.
Scratching a 500 Year Itch: Mohawk Artist Shelley Niro’s Multimedia Creations Know No Limits
A new NMAI exhibition features the candid art of Six Nations Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist, photographer and filmmaker Shelley Niro—works that shine a harsh spotlight on society yet provide a healing outlet for her people.
Homecomings: From Small Gatherings to International Events, Powwows Link Indigenous Communities and Cultures
Whether a community gathering or an international competition, the powwow has been a way for Indigenous peoples across North America to strengthen bonds and preserve their diverse cultures.
Color and Memory
A new NMAI exhibition spotlights the bold, abstract artworks of Saulteaux Anishinaabe artist Robert Houle.