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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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Wasutuη Wí — When Things Ripen Late summer, a time when all helped collect the fruits and roots necessary to survive the winter. The berries that were good and growing well two months previously begin to ripen during this month. But this also meant that every growing thing was ripening and certain plants would be ready for harvest, either for food or medicine, in another month.
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| History of the Powwow | |
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The word powwow derives from the Algonquian language. To the Algonquian, a powwow was a gathering of medicine men and spiritual leaders in a curing ceremony.
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| The birth of the Black Hills as told by Lakota narrative | |
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The Great Race exhibit focuses on the narrative written by James LaPointe (Oglala Lakota) in his book, Legends of the Lakota. Divided into eight vignettes, the exhibit combines art, music and poetry to convey the ancient story of the formation of the Black Hills.
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