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Wednesday 11am - 4pm Thursday 11am - 4pm Friday 11am - 4pm Saturday 11am - 4pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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The Institute for American Indian Studies

IAIS is a museum, as well as an education and research center in Washington CT. IAIS is open year-round, seven days a week (except major U.S.
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Join us in our mission to preserve and educate about the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Indigenous Cultures. The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) museum, education and research center in Washington, CT opened its doors in 1975 as an outgrowth of local efforts to recover New England's, then largely unknown, indigenous history. IAIS' core values of preservation, educatio

n and sharing of Native American cultures, traditions and community from deep history to contemporary times are the foundations of our programs, lectures, events, workshops and research. holidays) offering 4 exhibit galleries, a Children's Discovery Room, replicated outdoor 16th century Algonkian village, the Four Directions Gift Shop plus outdoor gardens and trails along our 15 acres of woodland landscape. Come explore the past, engage with the present, and embrace Mother Earth at the Institute for American Indian Studies. Walk in the footsteps of Native Americans past and present and experience Life in the Woodlands!

05/31/2026

In a recent editorial, Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) of Native News Online shares some thoughts on the meaning of Memorial Day. For Native peoples, Memorial Day brings awareness to the complexity of Native service in the American military, forcing us to question what it means to truly honor those who sacrificed their lives in defense of this land. “It is not enough to drape a flag over a coffin and call it patriotism,” Rickert writes, “True honor lies in how we care for those left behind. It lies in how we teach our children the full history of this nation—not just the victories—but the betrayals too.”

Despite the betrayals, Native Americans have been on the front lines in conflict after conflict at higher per-capita rates than any other ethnic group, demonstrating endurance, commitment, and pride. Read the entire article for Rickert’s thoughts on how we can truly honor the service of Native people: https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/on-memorial-day-remember-native-warriors-and-honor-a-greater-truth-2/

05/27/2026

Join us this weekend for our Spring Full Moon Walk at the Institute for American Indian Studies!

Did you know that many Indigenous communities traditionally tracked the lunar cycle using a turtle shell as a calendar? This May’s full moon (known by local tribes as the “Planting Moon”) marked the time to prepare Three Sisters gardens and give thanks for the coming growing season.

Walk our woodland trails with IAIS educators as we explore nighttime phenomena that people in the Eastern Woodlands have experienced for thousands of years. We’ll end the evening gathered around a campfire in our replicated Algonkian village.

Please bring a flashlight and dress appropriately for the weather and trail conditions.
Space is limited and pre-registration is requested.

Register online through our website!

05/24/2026

For just a few months during the summer of 1885, Sitting Bull (Tatánka Íyotake) joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show as a special attraction, compensated $50 a week (almost $2,000 in today’s money). His reasons for doing so and the way he carried himself during his segment was a direct challenge to the purpose of the show.

As this week's article explains, Sitting Bull used this opportunity to study White American society “and he found it bewildering.” The Hunkpapa Lakota leader refused to adhere to the racist caricature that Americans expected him to be and he did not bow down to grand displays of American military might. Instead, he carried himself with dignity and poise, admonishing the audience in Lakota or telling them of the struggles of his people in English. For just a few months during the summer of 1885, Sitting Bull was a “[moment] of truth inserted into a fantasy designed to reassure white America of its innocence.”

Access the full article “Tatánka Íyotake rides into Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and shatters the myth” by Ernestine Anunkasan Hopa through Native Sun News Today via the following link: https://www.nativesunnews.today/articles/tata-ka-iyotake-rides-into-buffalo-bills-wild-west-show-and-shatters-the-myth/

05/17/2026

As of this Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) applies to the remains of children who died while attending federally run boarding schools. This specific case was brought by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska to bring home Samuel Gilbert (19) and Edward Hensley (17), who had died over 125 years ago while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.

This development is a step towards enacting justice and providing closure and relief for those of the Winnebago Tribe. It also provides a precedent for other Native tribes, who can now lean upon this ruling in the future to bring their relatives back home.

The full case document is available in the following linked article by Stewart Huntington from Indian Country Today: https://ictnews.org/news/nagpra-ruling-brings-brings-joy-to-the-tribe/

05/10/2026

In recent decades, colleges throughout the United States have increasingly been hosting powwows where Native people can come together to celebrate and strengthen community bonds. University powwows become a “home away from home” for Indigenous college students and can become spaces for teaching about tribal communities in the area. As the former president of University of New Mexico’s Kiva Club, Alysia Coriz, says “Powwows are places for Native people to learn about voting, travel, exchange ideas, songs or rez jokes, snag and everything.” Not only do powwows bring folks together, but they can also inspire Native youth as they become exposed to campuses and envision themselves as part of these growing communities.

This week's article mentions the 54th Annual Dartmouth Powwow, which was held on May 9, followed up by a Luau for Native Hawaiian students. As it coincided with Mother’s Day weekend, the theme of this year’s powwow is “Honoring the Women Who Carry Us.”

Read the full story from Indian Country today by Kolby KickingWoman and Jourdan Bennett-Begaye at the following link: https://ictnews.org/arts-entertainment/college-and-university-powwows-have-become-pillars-for-communities-beyond-campuses/

05/05/2026

Throughout the United States and Canada, May 5th is recognized as a day of remembrance and action related to the ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and Two Spirit epidemic. Gaps in data make the true scope difficult to estimate, but the murder rate of Native women is more than ten times the national average on some reservations. Awareness and recognition are just the first steps towards addressing this issue. We commit to supporting Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives, such as the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Not Our Native Daughters, and Strong Hearts Native Helpline, engaged in critical work related to this issue throughout the year. We encourage our followers to do the same. Links to these organizations can be found in our bio. Photos 2-3 by Marvin Bowe.

04/26/2026

Two-Eyed Seeing, the braiding together of Indigenous and Western methods, is not just about knowledge production in institutions, but the way we relate to each other and the world around us. As discussed in this week’s article from “The Guardian,” Indigenous science, food ways, and land management practices that have been passed down through the centuries are proven to dramatically improve ecosystem health and increase biodiversity, in turn, increasing food yield. By collaborating with Western scientists, Two-Eyed Seeing can aid in the process of piecing together Native ancestral practices and histories to be re-integrated into communities and nations. Yet, Two-Eyed Seeing is only effective if Indigenous people are at the helm of the process, making decisions at every step of the way. Where Western scientific methods often merely reproduce what Indigenous peoples have already known for generations, Two-Eyed Seeing has the potential to deepen knowledge and enhance what can be accomplished.

Read more about the ethics surrounding Two-Eyed Seeing practices using the following link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/04/indigenous-knowledge-western-science-climate-ecosystems

04/23/2026

Dear IAIS Family,

Because of your generosity, this year’s Give Local campaign was a meaningful success for the Institute for American Indian Studies. Together, we were able to raise nearly $7,000 from 49 contributors in just 36 hours.

Thanks to supporters like you, we’re able to continue offering hands-on educational programs, preserve and share cultural knowledge, and create experiences that connect people of all ages to Indigenous history and lifeways. Whether you gave, shared our message, or helped spread the word, your support truly made a difference.

We’re especially grateful to be part of a community that believes in the power of education and cultural understanding across generations. The impact of your support will be felt by the thousands of students, families, and visitors who walk through our doors each year.

Thank you for being part of this work.

With gratitude,
The IAIS Team

04/21/2026

The Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills Give Local is an annual online fundraising campaign uniting donors, businesses, and local charities to provide much-needed support for our community, and it's happening right now! Donations are open for the next 36 hours! Please consider supporting IAIS by donating to our Give Local campaign before Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00pm.

Every dollar counts! Unique donations help us to unlock bonus funds and compete for prizes that further your impact. You can also help us by spreading the word to your family and friends. With your support, we can continue to honor Indigenous communities past, present, and future for generations to come.

Donations can be made at the following link: https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/institute-for-american-indian-studies

04/15/2026

Just 6 days until Give Local!

The Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills Give Local is an annual 36-hour online fundraising campaign uniting donors, businesses, and local charities to provide much-needed support for our community.

From field trips and summer camp to exhibits and cultural workshops, IAIS is a place where connections are made across generations. With your help, we can continue to grow, update our exhibits, support Indigenous voices, and keep these experiences accessible for all.

Mark your calendars for GIVE LOCAL, which runs from April 21 at 7:00am - April 22 at 7:00pm. Every donation counts! You can also participate by helping to spread the word.

Address

38 Curtis Road
Washington, CT
06793

Opening Hours

Wednesday	11am - 4pm
Thursday	11am - 4pm
Friday	11am - 4pm
Saturday	11am - 4pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Telephone

+18608680518

Website

http://iaismuseum.org/

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