Making a Statement

Making a Statement is a special installation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the National Museum of the American Indian, it explores Indigenous heritage and the military service of Native American women through two dresses created roughly a century apart.

The installation pairs an early 20th-century Lakota beaded dress, likely made for a Fourth of July celebration, with a 2010 color guard dress created for the Native American Women Warriors. Their patriotic imagery, contemporary and traditional design elements, and connections to the experiences of their makers convey stories about identity, cultural continuity, and the responsibilities Native women hold within their communities.

When: May 15, 2026–Spring 2027

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

Description: The installation features a Lakota dress dating from approximately 1900–1910 and a Native American Women Warriors color guard dress from 2010. The Lakota garment is decorated with elaborate American patriotic imagery and was probably produced for a Fourth of July celebration. The contemporary dress honors the military service of Native women in the United States Armed Forces.

Featured artists and organizations: The 2010 color guard dress was made by Mitchelene BigMan, an Apsáalooke (Crow)/Hidatsa artist, and Toni Eaglefeathers, a Northern Cheyenne artist, for the Native American Women Warriors.

Objects: The Lakota presentation includes a dress, dating to 1900–1910 and associated with North Dakota or South Dakota, along with a circa-1900 Lakota belt from South Dakota. The Native American Women Warriors presentation includes the 2010 color guard dress and a matching 2010 belt.

Materials: The Lakota dress may be made of cowhide, glass beads, and sinew; its belt uses commercial leather, a buckle, and German silver conchos. The 2010 color guard dress incorporates synthetic fabric, cotton cloth, metal cones, garment patches, sequins, and thread. Its belt is made of leather with German silver conchos.

Collection and loan details: The museum received the 2010 color guard dress as a donation from Mitchelene BigMan in 2014. The accompanying 2010 belt is an anonymous loan dated 2026.

Tickets: Price not available