Indigenous Culture

02/25/2026

Group of great actors. ❤️🪶

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

Before the world knew highways and steel towers, the Native Americans lived with the Earth, not just upon it. Their sacred connection to the land, rivers, and sky shaped a culture built on respect and reverence. Though their journey was marked by unimaginable loss, their spirit endures. ‘We are still here.’

02/23/2026

In 2005, Zahn McClarnon played the role of Running Fox (also portrayed by Russell Means), brother of Dog Star played by Gil Birmingham and Michael Spears, in the "Into the West" mini-series for TNT.

If you have not seen this mini-series with a really fantastic Native cast, it is about time. ‘’Into The West’’ is a must have!!!

02/23/2026

I hope I get wishes, today is my birthdayProud to be Native American

02/22/2026

Every month!!

02/22/2026

Sacajawea? Sacagawea? Sakakawea?
Where She Came, How Its Spelled
"Sacajawea." Most Americans pronounce it that way too, SAH-kah-jah-WEE-ah.
I couldn't explain or articulate it, but saying "Sacajawea" somehow always felt "wrong." It was always explained to me that "Sacajawea" meant "Bird Woman." In Lakota on Standing Rock, they were taught that to say "Bird Woman" as "Zitkala Winyan." It turns out that Sacajawea was known to the Lakota too, and they did in fact know her as "Zitkala Winyan," as Bird Woman.
The story of Bird Woman is a complicated one. The Shoshone Indians insist that her name is "Sacajawea." They say that her name means "Boat Launcher." The general story is that she was kidnapped by the Hidatsa and brought to the Five Villages at Knife River (today its called Knife River Indian Villages located at present-day Stanton, ND). The Hidatsa Indians, however, were sedentary agricultural people, not particularly wont to journey so far west to Shoshone Indian country to steal children. The Hidatsa were traders, with trade coming to them. Bird Woman was likely kidnapped by the Crow Indians, a sister tribe to the Hidatsa, and who were west of the Five Villages, and who would have most likely raided the Shoshone Indians for horses.
At the Five Villages, Bird Woman came to be known amongst the Hidatsa as Bird Woman. In Hidatsa, they called her Tsacagawea (run the "t" together with the "s"), tsah-KAH-gah-WEE-ah.
When the Corps of Discovery met Bird Woman, they struggled with her name. Captain Lewis spelled it four different ways, Captain Clark spelled it yet four more different ways, and altogether the Corps of Discovery spelled it seventeen different ways. Not once with a "j".
The picture of Mizuo Peck as Sacajawea in the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

02/21/2026

Crazy Horse – A Sacred Hero
Crazy Horse was born on the Republican River about 1845. He was killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, in 1877, so that he lived barely thirty-three years.
He was an uncommonly handsome man. While not the equal of Gall in magnificence and imposing stature, he was physically perfect, an Apollo in symmetry. Furthermore he was a true type of Indian refinement and grace. He was modest and courteous as Chief Joseph; the difference is that he was a born warrior, while Joseph was not. However, he was a gentle warrior, a true brave, who stood for the highest ideal of the Sioux [Lakota.] Notwithstanding all that biased historians have said of him, it is only fair to judge a man by the estimate of his own people rather than that of his enemies.
❤️ Thank you for reading and liking the article
❤️ Proud to be a Native American.

02/20/2026

𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨'𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 native forever 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬.❤️😊

02/20/2026

Montana is the only state in the United States whose constitution requires public schools to teach and preserve the history and culture of Native American tribes.
This mandate traces back to the 1972 Montana Constitution, which includes a clause stating that the state recognizes “the distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indians” and is committed to preserving their cultural integrity.

At the time, Montana was rewriting its constitution to modernize government structures, and delegates added this provision to address the long history of cultural loss experienced by tribal nations within the state.

For many years, however, the constitutional requirement was not consistently implemented. In 1999, the Montana Legislature passed the Indian Education for All Act to give the mandate clearer legal weight.

The law stated that every student, Native and non Native, had the right to learn about the cultural heritage of Montana’s tribal nations.

It also directed school districts to develop curricula and set aside funding for educational materials.

The Office of Public Instruction began creating resources, including classroom units, teacher training, and partnerships with tribal elders and cultural experts.

02/19/2026

“Winyan: The Women of the Sioux Who Transformed Bison into Life”

In the Sioux community, women are referred to as “Winyan,” a term that means woman or life-giver. Their role in the community is crucial, as they maintain the balance between spiritual life and daily activities. They are not only the protectors of the family but also the transmitters of knowledge and are responsible for processing bison meat, the most sacred animal to the people.

When hunting bison, nothing is wasted. The Winyan transform every part of the animal with a precision that is almost ritualistic. The meat is dried and turned into pemmican, a mixture of ground meat, fat, and various seeds that can be preserved for months. The hide is used to make teepee covers, clothing, or moccasin shoes; the stomach serves as a water container; bones are crafted into needles, tools, or weapons; and sinew is used to make strong thread or cordage.

For Sioux women, working with bison is not merely a household task but a sacred act. Before they begin, they often recite a brief prayer to give thanks and acknowledge the spirit of the animal. In their culture, processing bison meat is a way to honor the life that has been bestowed upon the community.