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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

    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 »

  • 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

The Lakota Moon Calendar:
Moon of Sore Eyes.

March — Istáwicayazan Wi — Moon of Sore Eyes

The moon when eyes hurt from snow blindness. Often the Lakota had several names for each month. No doubt it changed from year to year, depending on weather conditions.
Learn More!

Featured Artifact
Gauntlet Gloves

Gauntlet Gloves ca. 1880s, Santee Sioux
Museum Bequest
Whittier Family Collection
In the late nineteenth century heavy “store” gloves like those the cowboys wore became popular among the Indian people as well, but were decorated with faceted glass seed beads to make them more handsome.