In 2025, travellers have more opportunities than ever to experience Indigenous culture through art, food, music, storytelling, and sacred landscapes. From vibrant city events to serene desert canyons, every journey offers a deeper understanding of the spirit that has always animated this land.

 

A Month of Reflection and Celebration

 

Native American Heritage Month began as a single day of recognition in the early 20th century. Today, it spans the entire month of November, celebrating the resilience, creativity, and contributions of Native communities across the country.

 

It’s a time when museums open their doors to special exhibits, tribes host cultural festivals, and storytellers share the histories that have long been passed down through generations. For travellers, it’s an ideal moment to step beyond the usual itineraries and experience the country’s Indigenous roots first hand.

 

Whether it’s attending a powwow, exploring ancient cliff dwellings, or tasting Indigenous cuisine reimagined by modern Native chefs, there’s something profoundly grounding about engaging with the stories that predate modern borders.

 

 

Destinations That Tell the Oldest Stories

 

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

The Southwest: Ancient Landscapes and Living Traditions

 

The deserts and mesas of the Southwest hold stories older than time. Arizona and New Mexico, in particular, are home to some of the most iconic Indigenous landmarks and thriving Native communities in North America.

 

Travellers can wander through the breathtaking ruins of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado or Canyon de Chelly in North Eastern Arizona, where the sandstone walls still echo with the presence of the Ancestral Puebloans. In Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors can glimpse a living community that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.

 

Modern Indigenous art is flourishing in the region too. In Santa Fe, the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in nearby Albuquerque offer immersive exhibits celebrating both traditional and avant-garde Native expression. And in 2025, the Santa Fe Indigenous Peoples’ Market (held mid-November) will feature artists, dancers, and chefs from dozens of tribes across the continent.

 

Native American burial canoe memorial to Chief Comcomly, Oregon

The Pacific Northwest: Where Land and Spirit Meet

 

The Pacific Northwest — from Washington’s misty coasts to Oregon’s forested valleys — is steeped in the heritage of Coast Salish, Chinook, and other Native nations who have called this region home for millennia.

 

Travellers exploring Seattle can visit the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, where exhibits and storytelling bring the city’s original inhabitants to life. Nearby, the Suquamish Museum tells the story of Chief Seattle’s people, whose wisdom and environmental ethos still resonate today.

 

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, the Native Arts and Culture Foundation in Portland hosts workshops throughout November, where guests can learn traditional weaving, carving, and storytelling techniques directly from local artisans. A scenic drive along the Columbia River Gorge reveals ancient petroglyphs and village sites that tell the story of trade, connection, and spirituality long before European arrival.

 

Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota

The Great Plains: Echoes of the Buffalo Nation

 

Stretching from the Dakotas to Oklahoma, the Great Plains remain a vast and sacred landscape for many Indigenous nations, including the Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne, and Osage peoples.

 

In South Dakota, travellers can visit Crazy Horse Memorial, a monumental tribute still under construction — a testament to Native resilience and pride. The nearby Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, are considered sacred ground, offering hiking trails, interpretive centres, and a chance to reflect on the spiritual connection between people and nature.

 

Each November, Rapid City hosts a series of events celebrating Native culture — from traditional dance showcases to art markets that spotlight Indigenous beadwork and quillwork. Farther south, in Oklahoma, the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City is a must-visit destination. This stunning, modern facility tells the stories of the 39 tribal nations that call the state home, featuring immersive exhibits, performances, and Indigenous cuisine that bridges tradition and innovation.

 

The Seal of New York City - A figure of a Lenape man honours the original inhabitants of Manhattan

The Northeast: Ancient Roots in Modern Cities

 

It can be easy to forget that America’s largest cities were once Indigenous homelands. In the Northeast, Native history is woven into the urban fabric — and November is the perfect time to uncover it.

 

In New York City, the National Museum of the American Indian (part of the Smithsonian Institution) offers world-class exhibits and live events throughout the month, including storytelling sessions and contemporary Native art showcases. The museum’s location in Lower Manhattan — once Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people — reminds visitors that every skyscraper and street has deeper roots.

 

Farther north, in Maine, the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor explores the Wabanaki nations’ enduring connection to the land and sea. The museum’s annual “Wabanaki Winter Market,” held in late November, is one of the region’s best places to purchase handcrafted baskets, jewellery, and artwork directly from Native artisans.

 

Corn Harvest

Celebrating Through Flavour: Indigenous Cuisine Across America

 

One of the most delicious ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month is through food. Across the country, Indigenous chefs are reclaiming and reinventing traditional ingredients — from bison and wild rice to corn, beans, and foraged herbs.

 

In Minneapolis, Owamni by The Sioux Chef, founded by James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman (Oglala Lakota), continues to draw travellers for its bold approach to “decolonized” cuisine — meaning dishes free of colonial ingredients like wheat, sugar, and dairy. Expect wild game, corn tortillas, and vibrant sauces inspired by ancestral recipes.

 

In Phoenix, Coffee Pot Farms and the Heard Museum Café spotlight Native-grown ingredients, while in Santa Fe, Izanami and Sazón feature seasonal dishes sourced from local Pueblo farms. Meanwhile, pop-up dinners hosted by Indigenous chefs during November give travellers a chance to share stories and meals around communal tables — the most ancient form of cultural exchange.

 

Powwow. Native Americans dressed in full Regalia

Ways to Celebrate Respectfully

 

For travellers eager to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, mindfulness is key. Indigenous cultures are diverse, living, and deeply connected to place.

 

Here are a few simple ways to celebrate respectfully:

 

Support Native-owned businesses and artists. Whether buying jewellery, food, or artwork, your dollars help sustain communities and preserve traditions.

 

Learn the land’s history. Before visiting a new destination, look up whose traditional territory you’re entering. Tools like Native Land Digital make it easy to find and acknowledge Indigenous homelands.

 

Ask before photographing. Some ceremonies, regalia, and sacred spaces are not meant to be photographed.

 

Listen and engage. Attend storytelling sessions, guided tours, or talks — and listen deeply. Heritage Month is about understanding, not consuming.

 

By approaching each experience with curiosity and humility, travellers can help ensure that Indigenous culture is celebrated, not commodified.

 

Native American Memorial, Little Bighorn

Modern Voices, Timeless Stories

 

While November highlights Native American heritage, Indigenous voices are vibrant all year long. Modern Native artists, musicians, and filmmakers are bringing their stories to new audiences — from the acclaimed series Reservation Dogs to the rising popularity of Indigenous fashion on global runways.

 

Travellers seeking contemporary culture can explore festivals like the Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles or the Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. Both showcase Indigenous creativity in modern forms — proof that heritage is not static, but ever-evolving.

 

In 2025, many Native communities are also using digital storytelling and social media to reclaim narratives and share culture on their own terms. Following Native creators online — from artists to historians — is another way travellers can continue learning long after the journey ends.

 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque

A Journey Beyond the Map

 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month isn’t just about visiting new places — it’s about seeing the land, and its stories, in a new light. It’s about understanding that every canyon, prairie, and city was once — and still is — part of a living story that stretches back thousands of years.

 

For travellers in 2025, this is the perfect time to slow down, listen, and let the land speak. Whether standing before the red cliffs of Arizona, the misty forests of Washington, or the quiet rivers of Maine, one truth remains clear: the spirit of Native America is everywhere, woven into the very soil beneath our feet.

 

So this November, take the journey — not just across miles, but across time. Celebrate the people who first called this land home, and discover how their stories continue to shape the America we know today.