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  • Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

    About Us

    The Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, an educational outreach of St. Joseph’s Indian School, is committed to promoting the knowledge and understanding of the Northern Plains Indian Culture past, present and future, through the preservation of historical artifacts and contemporary works of art. Read more »

  • Native American Artists

    Artist Biographies

    Want to learn about the Native American artists? Read more »

  • St. Joseph's Indian School's American Indian Day and Powwow

    42nd Annual Powwow

    As an outreach program of St. Joseph's Indian School, the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center will be offering cultural activities with our 42nd Annual American Indian Day & Powwow Celebration. Read more »

  • Native American works of art

    Gift Shop

    The Akta Lakota Museum offers a wide selction of unique, Indian made, items for purchase. All sales are used to fund programs for the Lakota children in our care at St. Joseph's Indian School. Shop our store »

  • ALM Historical Center

    Historical Center

    St. Joseph's Indian School's Alumni & Historical Center was dedicated in May 2013.
    Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We Stood Here in the Beginning) will preserve the memories of St. Joseph’s Indian School and share accomplishments of the students, religious staff and benefactors. Read more »

  • Listing of South Dakota area powwows

    Area Powwows

    A wacipi - powwow - is a Native American gathering focused on dance, song and family celebration. It celebrates the connections to tradition and spirituality, to the Earth and to one another in a social, personal and spiritual meeting. View the listing of South Dakota area powwows »

  • Lakota-Language.png

    Speak Lakota

    We invite you to learn basic phrases and words of the Lakota language with the students at St. Joseph's Indian School. Read more »

  • ALM billboard in Chamberlain, SD

    Need Directions?

    Planning a road trip to the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center? Take a look at these driving directions »

News & Events

St. Joseph's Indian School's 43rd Annual Powwow and Cultural Activities

43rd Annual Powwow and Cultural Activities

September 19-21, 2019
Register to attend

A traditional Lakota (Sioux) powwow helps Native American children, like those at St. Joseph's Indian School, share their culture, heritage and traditions with friends like you from around the nation.

Since 1976, St. Joseph's Indian School has hosted an annual weekend of Lakota culture on our Chamberlain, South Dakota campus.

Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to attend many or all of our powwow activities.

Guests enjoy free Native American cultural activities like:

  • A thiyópaye — extended family — banquet on Friday night
  • Cultural Activities — dreamcatcher crafting, Lakota hand games, dance presentation and more!
  • Tours of St. Joseph's campus, school and the children's homes
  • An all day powwow dance competition for Lakota children of all ages
  • Indian drum group competition
  • Traditional Lakota (Sioux) meals
  • And much, much more!!
Articles of a Treaty

On Exhibit … Articles of a Treaty

May 27, 2019 — November 30, 2019
Aktá Lakota Museum Gallery
Free Exhibition

An expansive new exhibit that explores the seventeen articles of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, a peace agreement between the Oceti Sakowin Confederacy and the United States of America is interpreted through music, poetry and art by Oceti Sakowin artists.

This exhibit is brought together in collaboration with the Center for American Indian Research & Native Studes (CAIRNS) and featured in select museums.