Make Prayer Ties for Native Veterans at the American Indian Museum

The museum hands its halls to Native military service with talks, a short film and hands-on tables from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Native American Women Warriors open the day presenting the colors at 10:30 a.m. and host a meet and greet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. At the tables you learn what tobacco offerings mean in Indigenous traditions and make a prayer tie to honor loved ones who served, with cloth, tobacco grown on museum grounds and ties provided by the museum. You can also color a Lakota star quilt, hear Dr. Christine Sims on Pueblo Code Talkers, and pick up veterans resource guides.

On the grounds stands the National Native American Veterans Memorial by Harvey Pratt, an elevated stainless steel circle on a carved stone drum. Four lances hold cloths tied by visitors and families for remembrance and healing. That is the memorial's sacred everyday practice, not something staged for Veterans Day. On Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., the museum lights the memorial flame with an Honor Song by Dennis and Ralph Zotigh and remarks by Sabrina Slonim of the Women Warriors. Following the flame ceremony, visitors may enter the memorial to attach their prayer ties to the lances.

Admission is completely free with no ticket required. Take Metro to L'Enfant Plaza or Federal Center SW, about seven minutes on foot. Inside, the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe serves fry bread tacos and indigenous dishes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the museum stays open until 5:30 p.m.