Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations

Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations examines the long history of diplomacy between the United States and American Indian Nations, from the colonial era to the present. The exhibition places treaties at the center of that relationship and emphasizes the influential roles of Native diplomats, leaders, and sovereign Indian Nations—figures often overlooked in conventional accounts of American history.

The exhibition includes objects connected to diplomacy, treaty-making, Native identity, and modern activism, including a Seneca woman’s outfit dating to approximately 1830–1870, the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, a Wendat wampum belt from approximately 1600–1650, and an AIM drum and related accessories from the 1970s. Visitors can also access treaty transcripts, videos, media coverage, a catalogue, and additional exhibition materials.

When: September 21, 2014–January 17, 2028

Venue: National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC

Tickets: Price not available

Focus: The history and legacy of U.S.–American Indian diplomacy, including treaties, Native sovereignty, and the continuing relationship between Indian Nations and the United States

Featured Objects: A Seneca woman’s outfit; the Treaty of Canandaigua from 1794; a Wendat wampum belt; and a 1970s American Indian Movement drum, amplifier, and accessories

Videos: “Nation to Nation: Introduction,” “The ‘Indian Problem,’” and “Sovereign Rights, Sovereign People”

Additional Resources: Treaty transcripts, a catalogue, media coverage, a press kit, and other exhibition materials