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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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38th 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 38th Annual American Indian Day & Powwow Celebration. Read more »
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Shopping Center
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
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Please Note — No Heartbleed Virus!
You may have heard about the Heartbleed vulnerability that has affected the software that powers most internet web sites. We would like to put our visitors as ease and let them know that the Akta Lakota Museum does not use the third-party product (OpenSSL) that contained the virus. Since we do not use a third-party product we have no reason to believe that our websites were compromised as a result of the recently announced vulnerability. However, due to the potentially severe nature of the virus we have taken precautionary measures to protect our software solutions and sites. If you have any questions please call our toll-free number 1-800-798-3452. Pilamaya — thank you — for your patience! |
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The Dragonfly — tuswéca
Native American Indians are deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through symbols and signs such as the dragonfly symbol. The meaning of the Dragonfly symbol was to signify happiness, speed and purity. The dragonfly, tuswéca also represents transformation and life’s ever constant process of change. Learn more with a visit to the museum! |
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The Lakota Moon Calendar: April — Magáksicaagli Wí — Moon When Ducks Come Back The last cold drafts of the North wind begin to give up their hold on the waters as spring arrives. Bird migrations were closely observed by the Lakota, ducks and geese flying north were a sure sign of spring. People would anxiously wait for the first formation to come up over the southern horizon. If they flew beneath the clouds, there would be no more heavy snowfall. If they flew above the clouds, they would knock down more snow. Learn more» |