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Free to Use and Reuse: Native American Heritage

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.
Public forum: Native American women in action: many fronts, one struggle. Poster design by D. Barnes and M. Hatch, 1976.
Friday Night Grand Entry Starts. Leading the Grand Entry is David Blackbird, Omaha powwow, Macy, Nebraska. Photo by Carl Fleischhauer, 1983. American Folklife Center
Sequoyah holding the syllabary he created for writing the Cherokee language. Portrait print by John T. Bowen, 1838.
Alaska Native wedding, St. Michael, Alaska. Created around 1906. Photo by Huey and Laws, 1906.
U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Photo by Shawn Miller, 2019.
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.
Navajo Tribal Council committee members listening to industry presentations, in the Council House in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Thomas O’Halloran, 1966.
Shirl Bates, of Chickasaw descent, photographed in Pueblo, Colorado, at a gathering of Native Americans. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2015.
Tipi with sign "American Indian Movement" on the grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. Photo by Warren K. Leffler, 1978.
Chief Joseph, Nez Percé. Photograph by Gill De Lancey, 1900
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.