Smithsonian report draws fire for claims about Native History exhibits

WASHINGTON – A new White House report titled Saving America’s Story has sparked strong backlash across Indian Country for its claims that several Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), promote what the report calls a “radical, activist ideology” in their portrayal of U.S. history.

The report argues that exhibits focusing on colonial violence, land loss, treaty violations, and federal policies toward Indigenous nations present an “unbalanced” narrative that undermines patriotic themes. It urges the Smithsonian to “restore balance” by placing greater emphasis on national unity and American achievement.

Native leaders across the Northern Plains and beyond say the report misrepresents both the purpose and accuracy of Smithsonian exhibits, which are built through direct tribal consultation and grounded in documented historical evidence.

Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said the report reflects a familiar pattern of political pressure aimed at reshaping Native history to make it more comfortable for non-Native audiences.

“Our history isn’t radical, it’s real,” Star Comes Out said. “If the truth makes people uncomfortable, that’s not the museum’s fault. That’s the history our ancestors lived through.”

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe historian Lanny Real Bird emphasized that the Smithsonian’s Native exhibits are among the few national spaces where Indigenous perspectives are centered.

“For generations, our stories were told by outsiders,” Real Bird said. “Now that tribes finally have a voice in how our history is presented, some people want to silence it again.”

Northern Cheyenne cultural educator Ben Flying Out warned that the report risks undermining decades of work to correct historical distortions.

“We fought hard to have Sand Creek, the Northern Cheyenne exodus, and our boarding school stories told accurately,” Flying Out said. “Calling that activism is just another way of avoiding responsibility.”

The controversy came as the United States prepared for the America 250 commemoration in 2026. Native leaders say Indigenous perspectives must remain central to any national reflection on the country’s founding and development. They argue that attempts to downplay or sanitize Native history undermine ongoing efforts toward truth, reconciliation, and public education.

For Northern Plains tribes, including Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations, the stakes are particularly high. Exhibits covering Wounded Knee, treaty violations, reservation-era policies, and boarding school histories are among the most scrutinized sections of the Smithsonian’s Native collections. Tribal historians say these stories are essential for understanding the region’s past and present.

The Smithsonian has not issued a formal response to the report, but museum professionals and cultural institutions have reaffirmed their commitment to working directly with tribes to present accurate, community-centered narratives. Tribal leaders across the Northern Plains say they will continue advocating for truthful representation, regardless of political pressure.

As the debate unfolds, the Smithsonian controversy highlights a broader national struggle over who gets to tell America’s story, and whose voices are prioritized in the country’s most influential cultural institutions.

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hopa at editor@nativesunnews.today)

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