Blog

Powwows are living Native gatherings shaped by generations of song, dance and cultural exchange. Learn about their history and how visitors can attend respectfully without treating participants or their traditions as attractions.

The Museum of Indigenous People’s 2026 Annual Backpack Drive prepared 950 backpacks and supply bags for Native students in Navajo Nation, Hopi, and San Carlos Apache communities.

Hopi artist Filmer Kewanyama transformed his painting Spiritual Life into a large mural inside the Museum of Indigenous People’s HOOP Room. Through water, corn, pueblo architecture, color, and visual storytelling, Hopi Spiritual Life presents a contemporary Hopi artist’s perspective on culture, community, spirituality, and the natural world.

CONTRIBUTIONS closes July 31, 2026, at the Museum of Indigenous People. Explore the Indigenous technologies, food systems, ideas, and living knowledge highlighted throughout the exhibit.

Some of the largest works inside the Museum of Indigenous People are easy to miss unless visitors look up. Diné Storm Pattern weavings hang above the exhibits, bringing generations of artistry and cultural knowledge into the museum’s historic stone galleries.

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.

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.

The Museum of Indigenous People was honored to receive an $11,550 one-time grant from 100 Men Who Care of Yavapai County. The award followed a Prescott community giving event where local nonprofits shared their work and attendees voted to support one organization.

In the harsh Arizona desert, the Hohokam built structures that were never meant to fade. Casa Grande stands as proof—engineered with local materials and deep environmental knowledge, not force. These adobe walls reflect more than survival; they reveal a culture where architecture, identity, and land were inseparable. What endures today is not just a structure, but a legacy still shaping how we understand resilience.

Hopi/Tewa potters Dot and Emerson Ami demonstrating traditional pottery techniques at the Museum of Indigenous People. Live pottery firing demonstration by Native artists using traditional methods.

The new Museum of Indigenous People 2026 Calendar of Events is here, filled with opportunities to gather, learn, celebrate, and connect with Indigenous culture throughout the year. Whether you’re planning: A family outing A homeschool or classroom field trip A meaningful New Year’s Eve celebration A cultural weekend experience A holiday tradition Or something special to share with out-of-town guests Our calendar makes it easy to plan ahead.