Visitors invited to learn about historic and continued presence of American Indian Tribes in the Yellowstone region

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Between Aug. 17-28, Yellowstone National Park will host multiple Tribal activities in the park to commemorate 150 Years of Yellowstone and Founders Day, the anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916. For over 10,000 years before Yellowstone became a national park, it was a place where Native Americans lived, hunted, fished, gathered plants, quarried obsidian and used thermal waters for religious and medicinal purposes. Currently, 27 associated Native American Tribes have historic and modern connections to the land and resources found within the park. The public is invited to join and learn about the historic and continued presence of American Indian Tribes in the Yellowstone region during several signature week activities.

Signature Week Activities

Yellowstone Revealed

Yellowstone is partnering with Mountain Time Arts to premiere “Yellowstone Revealed,” a series of public, place-based projects and artworks created by an inter-Tribal group of artists and scholars in locations throughout the park Aug. 17-28. All activities are free and open to the public.

Lighted Teepees: Resiliency of the People by Pretty Shield Foundation and Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council

Aug. 17-28: Seven teepees will be installed and illuminated nightly at sunset near the Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, Montana (North Entrance).

Revisiting Cultural Landscapes Through Stories by Dean Nicolai (Bitterroot Salish) and Tim Ryan (Salish)

Aug. 23-27: This project will include a series of interpretive hikes, demonstrations, and storytelling at various locations in Yellowstone such as Sheepeater Cliffs, Storm Point and Obsidian Cliff. The purpose of this series is to give park visitors insight into diverse Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing and connections to landscapes. Each day, different representative knowledge keepers will lead hikes and engage with visitors.

All Nations Teepee Village by Shane Doyle (Apsáalooke)

Aug. 23-27: At Madison Junction, 13 teepee lodges and 15 teepee rings will be featured to signify a new era of Indigenous inclusion and representation of the 27 associated Tribal Nations of Yellowstone National Park. This installation will come to life between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. with a community of Cultural Ambassadors sharing knowledge with visitors.

Aug. 23-25: Nightly performances will take place at 5 p.m.

REMATRIATE by Patti Baldes (Northern Arapaho/Northern Paiute)

Aug. 24 (Madison Junction) and Aug. 25 (Old Faithful): An artwork showcasing seven moving buffalo sculptures made of willow branches will debut at sunset with 14 dancers and 10 drummers bringing the buffalo to life. The focus of this project is land rematriation through buffalo restoration.

Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center

Yellowstone National Park and its official nonprofit partner, Yellowstone Forever, in collaboration with Tribal consultation, are piloting a Tribal Heritage Center within the park. The centre provides a public space where Native American artists, scholars, and presenters can directly engage with visitors through formal and informal education. Visit the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center, located at Old Faithful (formerly the Haynes Photo Shop), to learn from and interact with Tribal artists and demonstrators.

Aug. 19-20: Mason Runs Through (Assiniboine) will present storytelling drumming.

Aug. 25-27: April Martin (Northern Cheyenne) will present storytelling and hands-on demonstrations with sweetgrass.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Gathering

Aug. 25: The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes will hold a public gathering in the Old Faithful Lodge Recreation Hall (located behind the Old Faithful Lodge) to engage with visitors about the Tribes’ homeland. There will be morning remarks by Tribal Council Members and Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly, as well as informational booths, presentations, and dancing by Tribal members throughout the day.