Culture is defined as the established beliefs, social norms, customs, and traditions of a group of people. The same is true for American Indian culture. Factors like geography, history, generations of spirituality, stories, and traditions also shape the culture of any given tribe or people.
American Indian culture is sometimes thought of as a thing of the past. However, contemporary powwows, art, and language revitalization efforts tell a different story.
The Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center opened in 1991 on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School to promote the knowledge and understanding of the Northern Plains people — specifically the Lakota — as well as the ways this rich culture is being lived and shared today.