Welcome to a Native Place

—Native American Astronomy —

Native American Astronomy
Over thousands of years, Native peoples have studied the moon as a guide for agricultural and ceremonial cycles. For the Powhatan, the month known as May was called the Corn Planting Moon. They kept time by noting the lunar cycles on notched sticks or knotted strings.

According to most traditional Native teachings, humans are related to all other beings and deeply connected to plants, animals, and the land. The Lakota, for example, affirm their prayers with a phrase that shows their understanding of this concept: mitakuye oyasin, meaning "all my relations."
Translations in Virginia Algonquian, Tuscarora, Catawba, and Munsee Delaware courtesy Dr. Blair Rudes, University of North Carolina.

Knowing This Place
We invite you to walk around the museum grounds and find the panels that explain the meanings of each environment. You will learn about the many ways that Native peoples changed and were influenced by the forest, meadow, wetlands, and croplands.

"Everything is alive and is making choices that determine the future, so the world is constantly creating itself."
Vine Deloria, Jr. (Standing Rock Sioux)

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Show me all markers in:  Washington, DC  |  20024  |  District Of Columbia  |  United States of America

Nora Naranjo-Morse
Meadow
Lunar Calendars
Nora Naranjo-Morse
Cardinal Direction Marker: South
Cardinal Direction Marker: West
Traditional Croplands
Sunflower · Wádxaweew (wah-ha-way-oh)
Sassafras · Wináhk (Wee-nock)
Can you hear the echo of the water bouncing off the rock?

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