Attend Indigenous Cultural Events

 
a man wearing a Native American headdress speaking to a group of people
Cultural ambassadors speaking to visitors at Yellowstone Revealed 2022 by Mountain Time Arts.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

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. Today, there are at least 27 Tribes who have historic and modern connections to the lands and resources now found within the park.

Indigenous cultural events in Yellowstone:

Check the online calendar, NPS App, or at visitor centers for additional daily activities and events happening throughout the park.

 
a large sign in front of a log cabin building that reads: "Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center"

Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center

May 17-October 14, 2023 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Old Faithful area | View schedule of presenters

The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is a space where Indigenous artists, scholars, and presenters from the 27 Tribes associated with the park directly engage with visitors through formal and informal education. The center is a partnership between the National Park Service and Yellowstone Forever, with Indigenous consultation.

 
stars light up the night sky above illuminated teepees

Lighting of Teepees: An Era of Unity and Inclusivity by Pretty Shield Foundation

August 1-7, 2023 | North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana | Learn more

Yellowstone is honored to host for a second year the Lighting of Teepees, a collaborative effort with Pretty Shield Foundation and Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council. Visitors to the park are invited to view the seven teepees, illuminated nightly at sunset, at the Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, Montana, and learn about the historic and continued presence of American Indian Tribes in the Yellowstone region.

 
a group of people drumming

Yellowstone Revealed 2023 by Mountain Time Arts

August 10-12, 2023 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Madison Junction | View schedule of events

Yellowstone National Park is honored to host for a second year Yellowstone Revealed, a collaborative effort with Mountain Time Arts. Yellowstone Revealed 2023 will present an interactive, self-guided experience that combines art and storytelling. The experience will take visitors on a thought-provoking Indigenous narrative journey about the shared past, present, and future of teepee lodges sited where the Gibbon River joins the Firehole River to form the Madison River. Visitors to the park are invited to participate in this free experience.

 
a row of white teepees at sunset
Photos of Indigenous Cultural Events

View photos of Indigenous cultural events in Yellowstone National Park.

Map of the northwestern US showing 27 tribes that have ties to the Yellowstone area.
Associated Tribes of Yellowstone

27 Tribes have ties to the area and resources now found within Yellowstone National Park.

Three Nez Perce on horseback.
Native American Affairs

Many Tribes have a traditional connection to the land and resources of Yellowstone.

Historic colorized photograph of horses going under a large stone arch.
History & Culture

Explore the rich human and ecological stories that continue to unfold.

Two girls stand in front of a large Yellowstone National Park sign while their dad photographs them
Plan Your Visit

Yellowstone is seasonal. Plan your visit by learning about current conditions, seasons, road conditions, services, activities, and more.

Last updated: August 21, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168

Phone:

307-344-7381

Contact Us