For Wednesday’s post, I’ve decided to cover 8 different ways to explore Native American culture today. It is one thing to read about and study these captivating people, but what many forget is that they are all around us. There are cultural centers, festivals and historical sites all over the United States just waiting to be explored. Below are 8 of the coolest ways I could find to experience Native American culture today.
8. Navajo National Monument
This monument is located in the northern part of Arizona’s Navajo Reservation. I personally think it would be a bit strange to visit a reservation, but things like the Navajo National Monument always make me consider it. The monument Consists of three of the most intact cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people. The Anasazi are the ancient ancestors of the Navajo and these dwellings are a glimpse into the reality behind these mythic people.
7. Kinishba Ruins
This is another ancient site in Arizona. It is a 600 room “great house” that features both Mogollon and Anasazi traits. Instead of being controlled by the Navajo, this site is actually run by an Apache tribe from there reservation in central Arizona. Unfortunately the ruins have not been well-preserved and have fallen further into disrepair. Minor clean up was done in the late 2000’s, but this might be a site to see soon (while it’s still around).
6. Montezuma Castle
All the cool stuff seems to be in Arizona. This national monument is another cliff dwelling, but this time on a massive scale. The ‘castle’ (a misnomer, they would not have thought of it this way) is a five-story dwelling that could house over 1,000 people. Archeologists estimate that this building took around five centuries to complete. What is most amusing is that the name of this site is completely misleading. The dwelling is more like a sky rise apartment complex than a defensive fort and the site predates Montezuma by more than 100 years. Sounds like a cool thing to see though. I’ll stop by if I’m ever outside Cape Verde.
5. Standing Bear Pow-Wow
I know I’ve covered Pow-Wows a couple of times in one form or another so I’ll keep this short. This Pow-Wow is held in honor of Standing Bear, who argued successfully in the Supreme Court that Native Americans were “persons within the meaning of the law” and earned them the right of habeas corpus (the right to be brought before a judge or court). Every year in Ponca, Oklahoma the Pow-Wow is held near the Standing Bear education center and museum. It is supposed to be a pretty large event and is sure to be full of cultural demonstrations and opportunities to experience new foods and sights.
4. Cherokee Heritage Center
Located on the site of an old Cherokee seminary in Park Hill, Oklahoma, this is a museum and cultural center dedicated to preserving the artifacts and rituals of the Cherokee people. They also are a huge part and host to the Cherokee genealogical project. For those of you familiar with the history of the Cherokee, it should be no surprise that this site is full of things to see, do and experience. Some of the most popular attractions this site hosts are their art shows. This show attracts Native American artists from around the country and is a great way to experience Native art and culture.
3. Akta Lakota Museum
This museum, whose name means “to honor the people”, is built on the sight of St. Joseph’s Indian School. Traditionally, Indian schools were places where young Native American children were sent to be stripped of their native culture and molded into optimal U.S. inhabitants. This museum aims to not only tell the story of the boys who passed through St. Joseph’s, but to preserve the culture of the Lakota, Sioux. Since opening it’s doors in 1927, the museum has continually added to its collection and today has an impressive number of items. Judging by the badass teepee out front, this is definitely worth a visit.
2. Alaska Native Odyssey
Of every thing on this list, this one is the least plausible to attend and therefore the coolest. This is an Alaskan tour offered by a site called gonativeamerica.com. I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska and this seems like a cool and unique way to do so. The tour consists of not only beautiful landscapes, but an insight into how these people lived and why they found this place sacred. A combination of history, culture and exploration, this is a tour geared towards a young and adventurous crowd and one I would love to do someday.
1. Hopi Wisdom/Prophecy Tour
This another tour offered by Go Native American. This is less of a scenic tour and more of a cultural experience. A Hopi translator and guide will walk you through the Hopi mesas and show you the traditional Hopi way of life. Many modern Hopi live much like their ancestors and this makes for a far more authentic experience than those offered by some other tour companies. The focus of the tour is Hopi wisdom and prophecy and the tour offers a great opportunity to both learn about and experience Hopi religion.
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