Long before modern agriculture, Indigenous communities transformed a wild grass into maize and developed the Three Sisters farming system. This knowledge spread across trade routes, shaped the Southwest, and still informs how we grow and store food today. Discover how Indigenous innovation continues to impact global agriculture through the Museum of Indigenous People’s “Contributions” exhibit.

The hanging canals near Mount Graham reveal a sophisticated Indigenous engineering system designed to move water across extreme terrain. Learn how these structures reflect innovation, precision, and deep environmental knowledge tied to the Contributions exhibit at the Museum of Indigenous People.

Case That Changed U.S. History. Elouise Cobell, also known as Yellow Bird Woman, exposed decades of mismanaged Native trust funds. Her work led to a $3.4 billion settlement and forced the U.S. government to confront systemic failures while creating lasting opportunities through land restoration and education for Native communities.

From the Trail of Tears to the Indian Citizenship Act to Minneapolis streets in 2026, the question asked of Native people has never really changed: do you belong here? The Museum of Indigenous Perspectives traces the unbroken pattern and explains why cultural integrity is the only honest answer.

Dr. Lois Ellen Frank (Kiowa), an award-winning chef, scholar, and educator, has helped bring Native American cuisine into the national conversation. Through research, cookbooks, and teaching, she highlights traditional Indigenous ingredients such as corn, beans, squash, and wild rice while exploring the cultural knowledge behind Native food traditions and the growing movement to reclaim Indigenous food sovereignty.

The history of Native nations in North America includes hundreds of treaties made between Indigenous governments and the United States. Many of those agreements were later violated or ignored. This article explores the legal doctrines, treaties, and historical events that shaped Indigenous land loss and sovereignty debates, and why these issues continue to influence discussions about justice, land rights, and tribal sovereignty today.

John Herrington, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, became the first Native American astronaut to walk in space during a 2002 mission to the International Space Station. His historic journey highlights Indigenous contributions to science and inspires Native youth to pursue careers in STEM while honoring cultural heritage and curiosity about the cosmos.

Mary Golda Ross (Cherokee, 1908–2008) was the first known Native American woman to work as an aerospace engineer. As a founding engineer of Lockheed’s secretive Skunk Works division, she contributed to early research on satellites and interplanetary flight paths to Mars and Venus. Her work helped shape the foundations of the U.S. space program and continues to inspire Native scientists today.

Baseball is often called America’s pastime, but the history of the game also includes the important contributions of Native American athletes. From Chiricahua Apache teams at Fort Sill to pioneers like Jim Thorpe and Louis Sockalexis, Indigenous players helped shape baseball at every level—from boarding school fields to Major League stadiums. Their stories reveal resilience, talent, and a legacy that deserves recognition as part of the broader history of the game.

Pablo Abeita of Isleta Pueblo was an influential Indigenous leader, diplomat, and advocate for Pueblo land rights in the early 20th century. Fluent in several languages and respected for his wisdom, Abeita served on the All Indian Pueblo Council and helped guide efforts that led to the Pueblo Lands Act of 1924, a landmark law that confirmed Pueblo ownership of their traditional lands.

Pablo Abeita of Isleta Pueblo was an influential Indigenous leader, diplomat, and advocate for Pueblo land rights in the early 20th century. Fluent in several languages and respected for his wisdom, Abeita served on the All Indian Pueblo Council and helped guide efforts that led to the Pueblo Lands Act of 1924, a landmark law that confirmed Pueblo ownership of their traditional lands.

Downtown Prescott recently welcomed the Road to 250 Arizona Traveling Museum and Liberty Bell Exhibit, bringing history to life through interactive displays and community engagement. The event opened with a land acknowledgment by Manuel Lucero of the Museum of Indigenous People, honoring the region’s deep Indigenous roots. As the first stop on a 15-county journey, Prescott set the tone for a statewide celebration of shared history and diverse voices.

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we also remember a lesser-known chapter of his legacy — his solidarity with Native communities. In Why We Can’t Wait, King condemned the nation’s founding injustices toward Indigenous peoples, naming the genocide and racial hierarchy embedded in American history. His commitment to justice extended beyond the African-American struggle. In the late 1950s, when the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama faced discriminatory school policie

Deep within the Grand Canyon lies Supai, the capital of the Havasupai Tribe. Because no roads reach the village, mail still arrives by mule along an eight-mile canyon trail. Known as Supai Mule Mail, this historic route—operated with the U.S. Postal Service since the 1930s—continues to deliver letters, packages, food, and medicine to one of the most remote communities in the United States.

The story of Sudjikwo'dime, also known as Walapai Charlie, offers a powerful look at leadership, resilience, and survival in Hualapai history. During a time of conflict, displacement, and rapid change in northern Arizona, Hualapai leaders worked to protect their people and preserve a connection to their homeland along the Grand Canyon—shaping the future of the Hualapai Tribe and leaving a lasting mark on Arizona history.

Long before modern archaeology took hold in Arizona, early scientific explorations were already uncovering the ancient history of the Verde Valley. Military surgeons Dr. Edward Palmer and Dr. Edgar A. Mearns documented sites such as Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well while stationed at Fort Verde after the Civil War. Their research helped bring attention to the remarkable cliff dwellings, irrigation systems, and cultural remains left by the Sinagua people centuries ago.