Lacrosse returns to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, but its story began long before the modern Games. Indigenous nations, especially the Haudenosaunee, shaped one of North America’s oldest team sports.

Museum of Indigenous People Executive Director Manuel Lucero, Cherokee, was invited to provide a blessing ceremony at Prescott’s World’s Oldest Rodeo®. The moment honored Indigenous heritage, the history of the land, and the community connections that continue to shape Prescott today.

MIP celebrates the volunteers who have helped shape the museum over the years and invites new volunteers to join the mission, support museum growth, and help visitors connect with the Indigenous Cultures of the Southwest.

The Tour de France is known as one of the world’s ultimate endurance tests. But who are the Native American, First Nations, and Indigenous cyclists who have reached cycling’s biggest stage?

Powwows have a connection to the 4th of July, but not in the simple patriotic way many people expect. For many Native communities, Independence Day became a way to keep gathering during an era when federal policy tried to suppress Native ceremonies, dances, and religious life.

Long before chile peppers traveled across oceans and transformed global cuisine, Indigenous farmers in the Americas were cultivating, selecting, and sharing them. This story explores how peppers became one of the world’s most important Indigenous food contributions.

Indigenous art is more than just beautiful objects - it is a living expression of culture, history, and identity. When you explore Indigenous art, you connect with stories that have been passed down through generations, rooted deeply in the landscapes and traditions of the Southwest. Prescott, Arizona, is a unique place where these traditions continue to thrive, offering a rich experience of Native American heritage through artifacts, contemporary artworks, and community even

Learn how Ojibwe inventor Olivia Poole drew from cradleboard knowledge to create the Jolly Jumper, a lasting Indigenous contribution to modern baby care today.

Montana’s Indian Education for All is the only constitutional promise requiring Native American history, culture, and contributions in schools

Modern soccer was not invented in Mesoamerica, but Indigenous ballgame traditions across Mesoamerica and Arizona reveal a much older history of formal courts, rubber ball technology, public competition, ceremony, and community. Explore how the beautiful game fits into a deeper human story of sport and meaning.