The Lakota words Aktá Lakota mean to honor the people. Each year we receive thousands of visitors to the museum from all over the globe that want to deepen their appreciation of Native American culture. As an outreach program of St. Joseph’s Indian School the Aktá Lakota Museum prides itself on not just providing that experience but creating an atmosphere conducive to learning and healing into the hearts of our visitors and the students we serve.
What makes our museum such a wonderful experience is our focus. We have an outstanding collection of cultural, historical and artistic works that relate specifically to the Northern Plains Indian Tribes, the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota, the ancestry of our students. Our historical collection honors the past with many objects dating back to the early 1800s while our contemporary collection contains premier examples of artistry that represents the creative spirit of today’s world. Additionally, we work closely with Indian artist and artisans, to present contemporary artwork that builds on cultural traditions while expressing itself in new ways.
Aktá Lakota highlights include:
A thirty-six foot wide diorama titled Lakota Buffalo Days dedicated to showing the importance of the buffalo to the Indian people;
Interactive displays encourage visitors of all ages to learn and take part in the culture through informal, hands-on activities;
Audio/visual observation areas transport the viewer into realities of daily experiences
An outdoor Medicine Wheel Garden exhibit that combines traditional and contemporary art forms to create a peaceful atmosphere for all who visit.
What you take away from your visit and what we instill in our students is the understanding that Lakota culture is not just a thing of the past. It's alive and thriving today. The Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural center is open year round and free to all that visit we are located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota, USA.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
From Interstate 90:
Take exit 263. Proceed north two miles – passing through downtown Chamberlain. St. Joseph’s Indian School’s entrance is on the road’s left (north) side.
Turn into campus and continue north to the four-way stop. Turn left onto Red Cloud Drive. The Aktá Lakota Museum will be located to your left. Please turn in and park at your convenience.
SCHEDULE A TOUR
Guided campus tours are available upon request at the receptionist’s desk. For more information, call 800.798.3452 or email us at aktalakota@stjo.org.
OUTDOOR GARDEN
Our Medicine Wheel Garden is just to the west of the museum along the river. The space provides students, alumni and visitors a peaceful and inspirational respite from their daily routines.
The Medicine Wheel is a sacred symbol to the Plains tribes. It represents all the knowledge of the universe, with each color and line signifying an essential element in the circle of life. The garden pays tribute to the healing power of water through its Mni Wiconi — Water is Life — water feature. For the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people, water has always been sacred.
Visitors may sit in quiet meditation among the native plants listening to the sound of the water feature, or stroll around the perimeter and enjoy the Lakota directional prayers displayed on interpretive panels resembling sacred buffalo hides.
HOURS OF OPERATION
May – October
Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open national holidays
Nov – April
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Closed weekends and national holidays
NO ADMISSION
