Six ways to experience Indigenous cultures in the USA
With the USA’s Native Nations finding new ways to share their culture with travellers, CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Sherry L Rupert reveals how you can connect with Indigenous communities across the country
Several years ago, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC, where I overheard a young girl ask her mother if there were still any “Indians” living in America. Her mother replied: “No, honey – all the Indians are gone.”
I didn’t know whether to cry or get angry, but I knew I had to continue my life’s mission to ensure cultural heritage storytelling remains at the forefront of tourism. I am honoured to lead the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), a 26-year-old Indigenous national non-profit, into the future of travel. My mission is to elevate generations of Indigenous storytelling within the multi-billion-dollar tourism industry, and to educate the world that we are very much still here.
With countless Indigenous experiences available in the US, people want to experience something ‘authentic’. Visiting our Indigenous communities is a departure from everyday America. We have 574 federally recognised Tribes across this nation – plus many more that are state-recognised or seeking recognition – each of whom are sovereign, with their own government, language, culture and traditions.
Our histories don’t appear in written form, because most of our stories were verbal, passed down through generations over thousands of years. It’s only now that many of our Native Nations are willing to be open and share them with travellers. Meanwhile, visitors are realising the profound significance of having Native people from a community tell their own authentic stories.
Curiosity is the key to a respectful visit. Many times, I hear non-Native people say: “I don’t want to ask the wrong question, so I don’t say anything.” My advice is to be inquisitive and ask questions. Non-Native visitors help build a beautiful bridge between societies, acknowledging a dark past while looking towards a brighter future together.
The following six Indigenous experiences represent a glimpse into the kind of meaningful cultural interaction that travellers can partake in across our Native Nations and communities in the US. No two communities are alike, and no two experiences are identical. We invite you to discover Native America and explore it with us.
Six ways to experience Indigenous cultures in the USA
1. Visit the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center in Oklahoma
Located in Vinita, right off historic Route 66, the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center offers travellers an immersive introduction to Cherokee history, art and culture. The centre is named after potter and ‘Cherokee National Treasure’ Anna Mitchell, who is widely known for having revived traditional South-Eastern-style pottery. It features permanent and rotating exhibits, including the late Mitchell’s own works, which are characterised by earth tones and organic patterns.
More information: visitcherokeenation.com
2. Hear the echoes of Nimiipuu ancestors in Idaho
Join a trip with Nez Perce Tourism and strike out with Indigenous Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) guides, who will immerse you in the rich culture and lifeways of the Tribe. Some tours include the chance to experience traditional drumming, round dances, songs and legends; others reveal the natural beauty of Nimiipuu Country, such as a four-hour-long jet-boat trip on the Snake River, during which you’ll learn why these waters are sacred to the Tribe. Or try your hand at whitewater rafting on the Salmon River, the longest free-flowing waterway in the contiguous US.
More information: nezpercetourism.com
3. Learn about the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in California
Originally established in 1991, and now forming part of a new Cultural Plaza in Palm Springs, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum provides a deep-dive into the heritage of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. You’ll see intricate Cahuilla baskets on display, experience immersive retellings of the Tribe’s creation and migration stories, and explore a library whose collection is focused on diverse Indigenous cultures. The Tribe also owns and runs various other important sites in Greater Palm Springs, including Tahquitz Canyon and Tahquitz Visitor Center, which has rock art and native wildlife.
More information: accmuseum.org
4. Explore Tlingit culture amid the Tongass National Forest in Alaska
Book a stay at Cape Fox in Ketchikan, which offers a bucolic hilltop location and the opportunity to learn more about Tlingit heritage. Artworks by Indigenous artists fill the rooms and suites, while an on-site museum explores the Tlingit culture. The most striking feature of all is the ‘Council of the Clans’ totem exhibit, which spreads out in front of the lodge. Partner tour companies can lead guests into the surrounding wilderness too.
More information: capefoxlodge.com
5. Immerse yourself in Sicangu Lakota Oyate heritage in South Dakota
An extended stay on the Rosebud Reservation – set amid sweeping prairie in southern South Dakota – allows travellers to embed themselves in Lakota culture. As part of an initiative run by Lakota Youth, visitors can stay on a sprawling cultural campus set close to the Missouri and Niobrara rivers, spending the night in tipis and bunkhouses. By day, you can embark on guided herb walks, ride horses and play traditional Lakota games.
More information: lakotayouthdevelopment.org
6. Have a traditional Navajo experience in Arizona
You’ll rest your head in a typical earth-and-log hogan (authentic Navajo dwelling) during a stay at the Shash Diné EcoRetreat, set within the scrub-scattered desert of northern Arizona. Try traditional Diné (Navajo) cuisine and learn to capture the epic landscapes on dedicated photography tours. Travellers are also a stone’s throw from natural spectacles such as Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon National Park.
More information: shashdine.com
