Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1991 |
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| Location | 1301 N Main St, Chamberlain, South Dakota |
The Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center is a special place in Chamberlain, South Dakota. It is a private museum that helps people learn about the Lakota people and their amazing culture. The museum opened in May 1991. Its main goal is to honor and protect the Lakota culture for students at St. Joseph's Indian School. It also helps everyone who visits understand and appreciate this rich history.
The museum's mission is to share knowledge about the cultures of Native Americans from the Northern Plains. They do this by keeping and showing both old and new works of art. The Aktá Lakota Museum has one of the best collections of Northern Plains Native American art and historical items in South Dakota.
Contents
History of the Museum
The Aktá Lakota Museum first opened its doors in May 1991. It is located in a unique octagon-shaped building. This building has about 14,000 square feet of space for exhibits. It was originally built in 1968 as classrooms for St. Joseph's Indian School.
Lakota Philosophy and Exhibits
The museum's design and exhibits are inspired by Lakota philosophy. They use the four cardinal directions of the medicine wheel. Each direction helps tell a part of the Lakota story:
- East ("Camp Circle"): This section shows what Lakota culture was like before Europeans came to America. It explains how different tribes and groups lived together.
- South ("Two Worlds Meet"): Here, you can learn about the arrival of European explorers, missionaries, traders, and settlers in the early 1800s.
- West ("Broken Promises"): This part of the museum talks about the interactions between the Lakota people and the United States Government. It also explains how reservations were formed.
- North ("Continuity and Change"): This section highlights how the Lakota culture has adapted and continues to thrive today.
Recent Additions and Features
In 2013, a new area was added to the museum. It is called the Tokéya Uŋkí Nájiŋpi Historical & Alumni Center. This section shares the history and achievements of the staff and students from St. Joseph's Indian School. In 2014, the museum also added the Medicine Wheel Garden exhibit on its west side. A great thing about the Aktá Lakota Museum is that there is no fee to enter.
Museum Collections
The Aktá Lakota Museum has a large collection of about 2,500 objects. These items include many Lakota artifacts from the 1800s found in the local area. The museum also features modern artworks by Native artists.
Featured Artists and Works
The museum owns six works by the famous Dakota artist Oscar Howe. One of his most important pieces is the Indian Christ. This artwork was woven into a tapestry by Grete Bodegaard Heikes. You can find it in the Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel. The museum's collection also includes works by other talented artists. These include Dyani White Hawk, Arthur Amiotte, Keith BraveHeart, and Robert Penn. Robert Penn was a student of Oscar Howe.
