How to Learn Native American History at the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) stands as one of the most significant cultural institutions in the American West, housing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Native American art in the United States. For those seeking to understand the depth, diversity, and enduring legacy of Indigenous cultures across North America, the museum offers an unparalleled educational experience. Learning Native American history at the Denver Art Museum is not merely about viewing artifacts—it is about engaging with living traditions, confronting historical narratives, and honoring the voices of Native peoples who continue to shape their identities today. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap for visitors, students, researchers, and culturally curious individuals to meaningfully explore and absorb Native American history through the museum’s exhibitions, programs, and resources.

Native American history is often misrepresented, oversimplified, or erased in mainstream education. The Denver Art Museum, through decades of collaboration with tribal communities, has become a leader in ethical curation and Indigenous-centered storytelling. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you will move beyond passive observation and enter into a deeper, more respectful dialogue with the art, history, and contemporary realities of Native nations.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Plan Your Visit Around Native American Exhibitions

Before arriving at the Denver Art Museum, research the current and upcoming exhibitions focused on Native American art and history. The museum’s permanent collection includes over 18,000 objects from more than 250 Indigenous nations, spanning from the Arctic to the Southwest. Key galleries to prioritize include:

• The Frederic C. Hamilton Building – Home to the Indigenous Art of North America collection, featuring monumental works from the Plains, Southwest, Northwest Coast, and Arctic regions.
• The North American Indian Art Galleries – These galleries are arranged thematically and geographically, offering context for materials, techniques, and spiritual significance.
• Temporary Exhibitions – Regularly rotating shows often spotlight contemporary Native artists or historically underrepresented communities. Check the museum’s website for current offerings.

Plan your visit on a day when guided tours are offered. Many tours are led by museum educators with specialized knowledge in Native American art and are often co-developed with tribal consultants. These tours provide context that labels alone cannot convey.

Step 2: Begin with the Foundational Context

Upon entering the Indigenous Art of North America galleries, take time to read the introductory panels. These panels explain the museum’s curatorial philosophy, the diversity of Native nations, and the importance of distinguishing between tribal identities. Avoid generalizations such as “Native American” as a monolithic term. Instead, recognize that over 570 federally recognized tribes exist in the U.S. alone, each with distinct languages, governance systems, and artistic traditions.

Focus on understanding the relationship between environment and material culture. For example, the use of porcupine quills in Great Lakes beadwork, the significance of turquoise in Southwestern jewelry, or the role of buffalo hides in Plains ceremonial regalia. These materials are not merely decorative—they are tied to cosmology, trade networks, and ecological knowledge passed down for generations.

Step 3: Engage with Labels and Interpretive Texts Critically

Many museum labels are written from a colonial perspective, even unintentionally. Learn to read between the lines. Look for phrases like “tribal origin unknown” or “circa 1800”—these often reflect gaps in documentation caused by forced displacement and cultural suppression. The Denver Art Museum has made significant strides in partnering with tribal historians to revise outdated interpretations.

Pay attention to labels that include the names of specific tribes, artists (when known), and community affiliations. For instance, a piece labeled “Navajo (Diné) silver and turquoise necklace, made by Clara Nez, 1952” carries far more meaning than one labeled “Southwestern Indian necklace.” The latter erases identity; the former honors it.

When in doubt, ask museum staff: “Can you tell me which tribal nation this object comes from and how it was used in its original context?” This simple question signals respect and invites deeper dialogue.

Step 4: Attend Public Programs and Lectures

The Denver Art Museum regularly hosts lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and panel discussions centered on Native American history and contemporary issues. These programs often feature Indigenous scholars, artists, elders, and activists who speak from personal and cultural authority.

Examples of past programs include:

• “Contemporary Indigenous Fashion: Reclaiming Identity Through Textiles” with designer Wendy Red Star
• “Oral Histories of the Ute People: Land, Language, and Legacy” with Ute Mountain elder and historian Dr. Shirley A. Smith
• “The Sacred Geometry of Pueblo Pottery” with Hopi ceramicist and educator Tony Chavarria

Sign up for the museum’s email newsletter or check their events calendar monthly. Many programs are free with museum admission and often include Q&A sessions—don’t hesitate to ask thoughtful questions.

Step 5: Explore the Native American Art Study Center

Located on the third floor of the Martin Building, the Native American Art Study Center is a research facility open to the public by appointment. Here, visitors can view objects from the museum’s collection that are not currently on display—many of which are sacred, fragile, or culturally sensitive and therefore not exhibited publicly.

Appointments are free and can be scheduled through the museum’s website. When visiting the Study Center, you may handle (with supervision) objects such as ceremonial masks, beadwork samples, and historic textiles. This tactile experience offers insight into craftsmanship, material weight, and cultural intention that cannot be gained through glass cases.

Staff at the Study Center are trained to provide culturally appropriate context. They will explain why certain objects are not displayed, how repatriation efforts have changed museum practices, and how communities continue to steward their heritage.

Step 6: Participate in Hands-On Workshops

The museum offers seasonal workshops led by Native artists that connect visitors with traditional techniques. Past offerings have included:

• Willow basket weaving with Northern Paiute artisans
• Navajo weaving on a traditional loom
• Native beadwork design using traditional patterns
• Storytelling circles with tribal elders

These workshops are not “craft activities” designed for tourists—they are cultural exchanges rooted in reciprocity. Participants are often asked to listen more than they speak, to respect protocols around materials (such as not touching sacred colors or patterns without permission), and to acknowledge the living nature of these traditions.

Registration is required, and spaces are limited. These programs fill quickly, so sign up as soon as they are announced.

Step 7: Visit the Museum’s Native American Resource Library

Adjacent to the Study Center is a curated library of books, journals, oral histories, and archival materials focused on Native American history, art, and sovereignty. This collection includes rare publications from the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as contemporary scholarly works authored by Indigenous scholars.

Notable titles include:

• Native American Art in the Twentieth Century by W. Jackson Rushing
• Our People, Our Land, Our Images: International Indigenous Photographers by Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie
• Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Library access is free, and no appointment is needed during regular hours. Take notes, photocopy relevant pages (within copyright limits), and consider borrowing books through interlibrary loan if you cannot take them home.

Step 8: Connect with the Museum’s Tribal Advisory Council

The Denver Art Museum has established a formal Tribal Advisory Council composed of representatives from over 20 Native nations. Their role is to guide acquisitions, exhibitions, educational content, and ethical practices. While the council meets privately, the museum publishes summaries of their recommendations and decisions on its website.

Review these documents to understand how tribal voices shape the museum’s mission. For example, the council’s influence led to the removal of sacred objects from public display, the return of ancestral remains under NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), and the inclusion of Indigenous languages on all exhibition labels.

Understanding these institutional changes reveals how museums are evolving from colonial repositories into spaces of reconciliation and collaboration.

Step 9: Reflect and Document Your Experience

After your visit, take time to reflect. Journal your thoughts. What surprised you? What challenged your assumptions? Which artworks or stories resonated most deeply? Write down questions you still have.

Consider creating a personal learning portfolio. Include:

• Photos of objects (if permitted)
• Quotes from labels or audio guides
• Names of artists and tribal affiliations
• Connections you made between historical and contemporary Native art

This practice transforms a one-time visit into a sustained educational journey. Share your reflections with others—friends, classmates, or online communities—to deepen collective understanding.

Step 10: Support Native Communities Beyond the Museum

Learning Native American history is not confined to museum walls. Use your experience as a springboard to support Indigenous communities in tangible ways:

• Buy art directly from Native artists through verified platforms like NativeTech or the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
• Donate to tribal education funds or language revitalization programs.
• Advocate for accurate Native history in public school curricula.
• Follow and amplify Native voices on social media: artists, historians, activists.

True learning leads to action. The Denver Art Museum does not exist in isolation—it is part of a larger ecosystem of Indigenous resilience and cultural continuity. Your engagement should extend beyond the museum’s doors.

Best Practices

Practice Cultural Humility

Cultural humility means approaching Native American history with openness, awareness of your own biases, and a willingness to be corrected. Avoid speaking for Native peoples or assuming you understand their experiences. Listen more than you speak. When in doubt, say, “I’m still learning.”

Respect Sacred Objects and Spaces

Some objects on display may be ceremonial or spiritually significant. Do not take photos of these items if signage prohibits it. Do not touch displays. Do not make jokes or treat artifacts as novelty items. Silence and stillness are forms of respect.

Use Accurate Terminology

Use specific tribal names (e.g., Lakota, Hopi, Tlingit) instead of generic terms. Use “Indigenous” or “Native American” only when referring broadly. Avoid outdated or offensive terms like “Indian,” “tribe” (unless used by the community itself), or “primitive.”

Recognize Living Cultures

Native American history is not confined to the past. Contemporary Native artists, writers, and leaders are shaping culture today. Look for modern works in the museum’s collection—ceramic sculptures, digital media, fashion designs—and understand that tradition and innovation coexist.

Avoid Romanticization and Stereotypes

Reject the myth of the “noble savage” or the “vanishing Indian.” These tropes dehumanize and erase complexity. Native peoples are not relics—they are dynamic, diverse, and politically active communities navigating modernity while preserving heritage.

Understand the Impact of Colonization

Every object in the museum has a story of displacement, resistance, or survival. Learn about the Trail of Tears, boarding schools, land theft, and forced assimilation. These are not abstract historical events—they are the roots of the cultural loss and resilience you witness in the galleries.

Engage with Indigenous Perspectives, Not Just Academic Ones

While scholarly books are valuable, prioritize Native-authored sources. Seek out memoirs, poetry, oral histories, and films made by Indigenous creators. The museum’s resource library and programs are excellent starting points.

Be Patient and Return Often

Native American history is vast and layered. One visit will not be enough. Return seasonally to see new exhibitions, attend new talks, and deepen your understanding. Let your learning be a lifelong practice, not a checklist.

Tools and Resources

Official Museum Resources

• Denver Art Museum Website – denverartmuseum.org – Features exhibition calendars, virtual tours, educational downloads, and tribal partnership updates.
• Indigenous Art of North America Online Collection – Searchable database of over 10,000 objects with high-resolution images and updated provenance information.
• Audio Guides – Available in the app or via kiosks; includes narration by Native curators and community members.
• Family Activity Kits – Designed for children and adults, these kits include discussion prompts, art-making activities, and language cards from Native languages.

External Digital Resources

• Native Land Digital – native-land.ca – Interactive map showing ancestral territories of Indigenous nations across North America.
• Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian – americanindian.si.edu – Offers free online exhibitions, webinars, and educational toolkits.
• First Peoples Fund – firstpeoplesfund.org – Supports Native artists and cultural entrepreneurs; features artist profiles and interviews.
• Native American Rights Fund – narf.org – Provides legal resources on tribal sovereignty and land rights.
• YouTube Channels – Search for “Native American Art History” or “Indigenous Storytelling” to find documentaries and artist talks.

Books and Academic Journals

• Native American Art: A Visual History – by Peter A. J. L. H. Brown
• Art of the Northwest Coast – by Aldona Jonaitis
• Native American Women in Art – by Dr. Margaret Archuleta
• Journal of the Southwest – Academic journal featuring peer-reviewed research on Indigenous cultures of the American Southwest.
• Wicazo Sa Review – Scholarly journal focused on Native American studies, literature, and history.

Mobile Apps and Digital Tools

• DAM Mobile App – Includes interactive maps, audio tours, and real-time updates on gallery closures or special events.
• Google Arts & Culture – Features virtual walkthroughs of the Denver Art Museum’s Native American galleries.
• Language Learning Apps – Try “Diné Bizaad” for Navajo or “Ute Language App” to connect language with cultural context.

Community Organizations to Partner With

• Denver Indian Center – Offers cultural events, language classes, and community gatherings.
• Native American Community Academy – A K–12 school in Denver with a curriculum rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Colorado Native American Heritage Commission – State agency that provides educational materials and public history resources.

Real Examples

Example 1: The “Woven Histories” Exhibition (2023)

In 2023, the Denver Art Museum curated “Woven Histories: Textiles from Native North America,” featuring over 100 textiles from 40 tribes. One standout piece was a Navajo wedding blanket from the 1870s, originally traded between Navajo weavers and Spanish settlers. The exhibition included a digital overlay showing the textile’s dye sources—indigo from trade routes, cochineal from Mexico—and an audio recording of a Diné weaver explaining the spiritual significance of the diamond patterns.

Visitors were invited to sit in a circle and listen to oral histories about weaving as a form of prayer. One visitor, a college student from Ohio, later wrote: “I thought weaving was just craft. I didn’t realize each stitch carried a prayer for balance, for family, for the earth. That blanket wasn’t made to be hung on a wall. It was made to be worn by a bride walking into a new life.”

Example 2: The Repatriation of the Ute Bear Claw Necklace

In 2021, the museum returned a sacred Ute bear claw necklace to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe after a two-year collaboration. The necklace, acquired in 1903, had been displayed for decades as “a decorative item from the Southern Utes.” Tribal elders explained it was worn only by ceremonial leaders during healing rites and was never meant for public display.

The repatriation ceremony was filmed and later made available on the museum’s website. It included traditional songs, speeches in the Ute language, and a moment of silence. The museum then created a new label in the gallery: “This object was returned to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in 2021. We honor their sovereignty and their right to protect sacred items.”

For visitors, this moment transformed the museum from a passive archive into an active participant in justice.

Example 3: A High School Class’s Project

A group of students from Denver’s East High School visited the museum as part of a Native American history unit. They selected five objects from the collection, researched their origins, and interviewed a Northern Arapaho elder who visited the museum as a guest speaker. The students then created a podcast series titled “Voices Beneath the Glass,” which was featured on the museum’s website and played during Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

One student said: “We used to think history was something in books. Now I know it’s in the hands of people still alive. I’m not just learning about Native Americans—I’m learning from them.”

FAQs

Can I take photos inside the Native American galleries?

Photography is generally permitted for personal, non-commercial use, unless a specific object is marked as sacred or restricted. Flash photography is always prohibited to protect fragile materials. Always check signage or ask a staff member if unsure.

Is the Denver Art Museum’s collection fully repatriated?

No. While the museum has returned hundreds of items under NAGPRA and continues to collaborate with tribes on repatriation, some objects remain under legal or cultural review. The museum publishes its repatriation progress annually on its website.

Are there guided tours in Native languages?

Currently, audio guides include translations in Navajo, Ute, and Lakota. The museum is expanding multilingual offerings based on community feedback.

Can I bring my children? Are there kid-friendly resources?

Yes. The museum offers family activity kits, interactive touch tables, and storytelling sessions designed for children. Many exhibits include tactile elements and simple explanations suitable for young learners.

How does the museum ensure accuracy in its interpretations?

The museum works with Tribal Advisory Councils, commissions Native scholars to write labels, and conducts community reviews of all new exhibitions before opening. They also participate in the American Alliance of Museums’ Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Guidelines.

What if I’m not Indigenous—can I still learn here?

Yes. The museum welcomes all visitors with respect and curiosity. Learning Native American history is not about claiming identity—it’s about honoring it. Your role is to listen, reflect, and support.

How can I support the museum’s Native American initiatives?

Donate to the Native American Art Endowment, volunteer for public programs, attend benefit events, or advocate for tribal education in your community. Your support helps sustain these vital efforts.

Conclusion

Learning Native American history at the Denver Art Museum is not a passive experience—it is an act of cultural reclamation, ethical engagement, and personal transformation. The museum does not offer a sanitized version of history. Instead, it provides a space where Indigenous voices lead, where artifacts speak of resilience, and where visitors are invited to become part of a larger movement toward truth and reconciliation.

By following the steps outlined in this guide—planning thoughtfully, engaging critically, listening deeply, and acting beyond the museum—you move from being a spectator to becoming a steward of Indigenous knowledge. You honor not only the past but the living, breathing cultures that continue to thrive despite centuries of erasure.

Every object in the Denver Art Museum has a story. Many of those stories were once silenced. Now, they are being told—not by outsiders, but by the people who carry them in their blood, their language, and their hands. Your responsibility is not to interpret them for others, but to receive them with humility, to carry them forward with integrity, and to ensure they are never forgotten again.

Visit. Listen. Learn. Return. Repeat.