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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 »
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Artist Biographies
Want to learn about the Native American artists? Read more »
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41st 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 41st Annual American Indian Day & Powwow Celebration. Read more »
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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 »
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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 » -
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 »
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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 »
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Need Directions?
Planning a road trip to the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center? Take a look at these driving directions »
News & Events
| The Lakota Moon Calendar: | |
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Blokétu — The Warm Moons (Summer) During summer, the camp circle followed the migrating buffalo and moved often. Women worked to maintain the camp and were responsible for transporting and unpacking the family’s belongings; they also prepared food and made and set up tipis. Girls helped gather firewood and water and received instruction in quill-work decoration. Boys practiced their hunting skills on small animals. Men made weapons, hunted for game and defended the camp. Summer was also a time of celebrations and ceremonies.
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| Summer Travels | |
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Will your travels bring you to South Dakota? Include a tour of St. Joseph’s Indian School as part of your visit to campus. Learn more by taking our audio tour at 800-342-0829. Tours can be scheduled by contacting us at muscd@stjo.org or by calling 800-798-3452. All tour options are FREE and available to everyone. |
| Battle of Little Bighorn — June 25, 1876 | |
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The Battle of Little Bighorn fought on June 25, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, pitted federal troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer against a band of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Tensions between the two groups had been rising since the discovery of gold on Native American lands. When a number of tribes missed a federal deadline to move to reservations, the U.S. Army, including Custer and his 7th Calvary, was dispatched to confront them. Custer was unaware of the number of Indians fighting under the command of Sitting Bull at Little Bighorn, and his forces were outnumbered and quickly overwhelmed in what became known as Custer’s Last Stand. |
