Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

MEET THE AUTHORALFREDA BEARTRACK-ALGEO
2024-07-23 11:00 - 13:30 (America/North_Dakota/Center) | Aktá Lakota Museum, St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, SD, 57325, United States
Join us on Tuesday, July 23 at 11:00 am at the Aktá Lakota Museum for a special gathering with Alfreda Beartrack-Algeo, a talented author, poet, and illustrator from the Lower Brule Lakota Nation, Kul Wicasa Oyate, Lower Brule, South Dakota.
Alfreda draws inspiration from her tiyóspaye, her circle of family and friends, as she uses various art forms to share her stories. She believes storytelling is a powerful and beautiful experience. In her creations, from the smallest rock to the mightiest mountain, there is a story waiting to be told. With each character and tale, she feels she contributes a piece of her spirit to the rich tapestry of life.
Alfreda Beartrack-Algeo has authored three children’s books: The Day the Earth Rose Up, The Cottonwood Sings, and Father Eagle and the Hunter, along with her young adult series “Legend of Big Heart,” which includes The Land Grab, The Roan Stallion, and The River Run.
Her work has garnered critical acclaim for its deep cultural resonance and vivid imagery, earning her a place among the most respected voices in contemporary Native American literature. Each of her books not only entertains but also educates readers about the traditions, values, and history of the Lakota people.
This event promises to be an enlightening experience for all ages, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the rich heritage and vibrant storytelling tradition of the Lakota Nation.
This event is free and open to everyone.

Holiday Open House!
2024-11-30 09:00 - 15:00
Support Small Businesses by joining us on Saturday, November 30 for our annual Holiday Open House! Shoppers will enjoy a 30% storewide discount. We will be offering a craft project for the kiddos and refreshments. All visitors are encouraged to sign up for door prize drawings— no purchase is necessary!
Support our artists by shopping locally! This is a one-day-only event!

Poetry on the Road!
2025-04-01 17:00 - 19:00
Poetry is hitting the road in South Dakota, courtesy of the state Poetry Society. With events all over the state, it’s an opportunity to find inspiration, or lift your own voice.
South Dakota’s State Poet Laureate, Bruce Roseland, along with other SDSPS member poets and special guests, will be visiting the Aktá Lakota Museum on April 1, 2025, from 5—7 p.m. They will give poetry readings and host an open mic where YOU can sign up to read your own original poems!
By bringing poetry to people around our state, Poetry on the Road helps SDSPS fulfill its mission to “foster the creation and appreciation of poetry that appeals to the senses, challenges the imagination, and stimulates creative and intellectual thought.”
Find a Poetry on the Road Event near you here!
SDSPS’s Poetry on the Road is brought to you by the South Dakota State Poetry Society, the South Dakota Humanities Council, and many local sponsors.

You're Invited!
2025-05-01 17:00 - 19:00
The Aktá Lakota Museum warmly invites you to join us in celebrating the artists featured in our newest exhibit:
Wóuŋspe – Education | Creative Collaborations, curated by David A. Meyer II.
This unique exhibit honors the deep connection between Native American students and their mentors, explored through an artistic perspective.
The showcased works are the result of collaborations between students from St. Joseph’s Indian School, visiting artists, and the South Dakota Artists in Schools and Communities program.
Visitors will experience a vibrant blend of voices and artistic styles—where the fresh creativity of youth meets the insight and guidance of seasoned Lakota and non-Lakota artists.
Event Schedule
🕔 5:00 PM – Opening Remarks by David A. Meyer II, Assistant Curator
🕕 6:00 PM – Artist Talks | Exhibit Exploration | Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages
This event is free and open to the public—make plans to attend and be inspired by the next generation of Native artists.

Holiday Open House – Shop Local!
2025-11-29 09:00 - 15:00
🎄Holiday Open House – Shop Local! 🎄
Join us on Saturday, November 29, for the Aktá Lakota Museum’s Annual Holiday Open House!Celebrate Small Business Saturday by supporting local and regional Native artists while enjoying a fun, festive shopping experience.
✨ Event Highlights:🛍️ 30% storewide discount – one day only!🎨 Free Gift Bags!☕ Refreshments🎁 Door prize drawings – no purchase necessary!
Shop local. Support Native artists. Celebrate the season with us!

Poetry on the Road
2026-01-30 17:00 - 19:00
Poetry is hitting the road in South Dakota for the third year in a row, thanks to the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS). With events taking place across the state, Poetry on the Road invites audiences to find inspiration, listen deeply, and lift their own voices.
South Dakota’s State Poet Laureate, Bruce Roseland, along with fellow SDSPS member poets and special guests, will visit the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5–7 p.m. The evening will feature poetry readings followed by an open mic, where attendees are invited to sign up and share their own original poems.
By bringing poetry directly to communities across the state, Poetry on the Road helps SDSPS fulfill its mission to foster the creation and appreciation of poetry that appeals to the senses, challenges the imagination, and stimulates creative and intellectual thought.
Find a Poetry on the Road Event near you HERE!
SDSPS’s Poetry on the Road is brought to you by the South Dakota State Poetry Society, the South Dakota Humanities Council, and many local sponsors.

St. Joseph’s Student Art Exhibit
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-03-31 16:30
In honor of National Youth Art Month in March, students of St. Joseph’s Indian School are being celebrated through a Student Art Show and Sale hosted by the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center.
The exhibition highlights the importance of art education for all children while advocating for continued support of quality school and community art programs. It also provides St. Joseph’s students with the opportunity to present their work in a professional gallery setting.
Participation in the Student Art Show and Sale allows students to share their creativity and artistic talents with a broader audience. Throughout the exhibition, visitors may purchase artwork directly from the student artists, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the students.
A closing reception and gala will be hosted by the Aktá Lakota Museum on March 26 for participating students, their families, and staff.
The exhibition is on display in the Historical Center Gallery and will remain open to the public through March 31.
Exhibition is curated by Casey Walsh, Museum Curator.

"Americans"
2026-11-07 08:00 - 2027-01-07 16:30
The South Dakota Humanities Council is bringing Americans, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition to the Aktá Lakota Museum for an exclusive tour in 2026!
Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, Americans explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the culture of the United States.
American Indians are less than 1% of the population, yet images of Indians are everywhere. American Indian images, names, and stories infuse American history and contemporary life. Pervasive, powerful, at times demeaning, the images, names, and stories reveal how Indians have been embedded in unexpected ways in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.
Americans surrounds visitors with images and objects from popular culture and delves into these historical events. The exhibition invites visitors to explore this complicated history and to share local stories about Native American history, culture and identity.
South Dakota Host and Partner Sites.
September 12 – October 31, 2026 – SDSU Briggs Library, Brookings
November 7, 2026 – January 9, 2027 – Aktá Lakota Museum, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain
January 16 – March 6, 2027 – The Heritage Center, Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge
March 13 – May 1, 2027 – AH Brown Library, Scherr Howe Event Center, Mobridge
May 8 – June 26, 2027 – W.H. Over Museum, USD, Vermillion
