Making a Statement

Making a Statement is a special installation at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibition highlights Indigenous heritage and honors both active-duty and retired Native American servicewomen. At its heart are two dresses made one hundred years apart: an early 20th-century Lakota beaded dress decorated with patriotic American imagery and a contemporary color guard dress worn by members of the Native American Women Warriors (NAWW). The Lakota dress, likely created for a Fourth of July celebration, and the NAWW dress, which recognizes the military service of Native women, embody the ways Native dressmakers have drawn on personal experience to blend new and traditional designs. Together they carry powerful stories about identity, cultural continuity, and the roles Native women serve within their communities.

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

Dates: May 15, 2026 through Spring 2027.

Price: Price not available.

Description: This special installation features an early 20th-century Lakota beaded dress (1900–1910, possibly cowhide, glass beads, and sinew, from North Dakota or South Dakota) and a 2010 color guard dress made by Mitchelene BigMan (Apsáalooke [Crow]/Hidatsa) and Toni Eaglefeathers (Northern Cheyenne) for the Native American Women Warriors. The Lakota dress is decorated with elaborate patriotic American imagery, while the NAWW dress is made of synthetic fabric, cotton cloth, metal cones, garment patches, sequins, and thread. Both dresses are displayed with period belts: the Lakota belt (ca. 1900) of commercial leather and German silver conchos, and the NAWW belt (2010) of leather and German silver conchos. The installation is part of the museum’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Exhibition Type: Special installation within the museum’s larger exhibition program.

Object Highlights: Lakota dress (1900–1910), Lakota belt (ca. 1900), Native American Women Warriors color guard dress (2010, donated by Mitchelene BigMan in 2014), and belt (anonymous loan, 2026).

Accessibility: Not specified. The museum is a Smithsonian institution and generally offers accessible facilities; check with the venue for details.

Note: The exhibition is open during regular museum hours; no timed tickets or reservations are mentioned.