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Free to Use and Reuse: Native American Heritage Month

Selected images represent the historical experiences and achievements of indigenous peoples across North America. A formal celebration of Native American heritage occurs each year in the United States in November. Unless otherwise noted, the images here are from the Prints & Photographs Division.

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  Loretta Yazzie, Eula M. Atene, and 3-month old Leon Clark (Navajo) pose in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2018.

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  Public forum: Native American women in action: many fronts, one struggle. Poster design by D. Barnes and M. Hatch, 1976.

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  Friday Night Grand Entry Starts. Leading the Grand Entry is David Blackbird, Omaha powwow, Macy, Nebraska. Photo by Carl Fleischhauer, 1983. American Folklife Center

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  Sequoyah holding the syllabary he created for writing the Cherokee language. Portrait print by John T. Bowen, 1838.

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  Alaska Native wedding, St. Michael, Alaska. Created around 1906. Photo by Huey and Laws, 1906.

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  U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Photo by Shawn Miller, 2019.

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  The Sioux Chief Red Cloud, in the Great Hall of the Cooper Institute, addressing a New York audience on the wrongs done to his people. Created in 1870. Wood engraving published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1820.

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  Navajo Tribal Council committee members listening to industry presentations, in the Council House in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Thomas O’Halloran, 1966.

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  Shirl Bates, of Chickasaw descent, photographed in Pueblo, Colorado, at a gathering of Native Americans. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2015.

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  Tipi with sign "American Indian Movement" on the grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. Photo by Warren K. Leffler, 1978.

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  Chief Joseph, Nez Percé. Photograph by Gill De Lancey, 1900

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  Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. Photo by Cunningham and Co., 1880-1890.

• Clale Northrup (Paiute Nation) and Barbara Ferguson at the McDermitt Paiute Indian Reservation Rodeo. Photo by Howard W. Marshall, 1981. American Folklife Center

• Front page of the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper from April 10, 1828.

• A Navajo blanket weaver. Created 1901.

• Navajo blanket. Photo created 1900-1920.

• Tootch-Wu-Wu, an Alaksa Native woman, from Hoonah, Alaska. Photo by Case and Draper, around 1907.

• 153rd Annual Omaha Tribal Pow-Wow Poster. Created 1983.

• Mural showing Navajo scenes by artist Gerald Nailor at the Interior Department Building, Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2012.

• Jim Thorpe, New York National League, at Polo Grounds, NY. Photo by Bain News Service, 1913.

• Daughter of Ethel Cavanaugh (Paiute Nation), holding fancy buckskin dress that she made. Photo by Thomas Vennum, 1978. American Folklife Center

• Cherokee Chief John Ross. Lithograph by John T. Bowen for McKenney & Hall, 1843.

• Choctaw men playing stickball. Lithograph from a painting by George Catlin, published 1844.

• Blackfeet (Sihasapa) woman and men painting history. Photo by Bain News Service, 1910s.

• Douglas Esau, a young traditional dancer. Photo by Dorothy Sara Lee, 1983. American Folklife Center

• Eagle Dancer. Silkscreen print by Woody Crumbo around 1952.

• Indigenous people outside a log building in Alaska. Photo created between 1900 and 1916.

• We remember Wounded Knee, 1890-1973. Poster created by Bruce Carter between 1973 and 1980.

• Joseph Fayadaneega, called the Brant, the Great Captain of the Six Nations. Engravign by John R. Smith from a painting by George Romney, around 1776.

• Muscogee Creek Nation leader Chitto Harjo. Photo by Duncan around 1903.

• The arrival of Englishmen in Virginia (Map of the coast with an Algonquin village shown on Roanoake Island). Engraving by Theodor de Bry from a watercolor by John White, 1590.

• Stancil Powell and Gus Welch. Photo by Bain News Service, around 1910.

• One of several murals by Hopi painter Fred Kabotie within the Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2018.

• Food stand, Omaha pow-wow, Macy, Nebraska. Photo by Carl Fleischhauer, 1983. American Folklife Center

• Ashishishe (also called Curly) was a Crow scout for the U.S. Army at the Battle of Little Bighorn–Custer's Last Stand. Photo by Richard Throssel (Cree), around 1907.

• Chilkat blankets. Photo created between 1900 and 1930.

• Gathering wild rice. Lithograph after Seth Eastman, around 1850.

• Baskets made by Alaska Natives. Photo created between 1900 and 1930.

• Osceola of Florida, a Seminole chief. Lithograph by George Catlin, 1838.

• Piegan encampment near Fort McKenzie in Montana. Lithograph after Karl Bodmer, 1842.

• Sign at Gate to Pow-Wow, Macy, Nebraska. Photo by Carl Fleischhauer, 1983. American Folklife Center

• Detail of mural showing a Pueblo woman with child by artist Velino Herrara at the Interior Department Building, Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2012.

• Participant in the "Million Indian March" on Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2003.