Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With These 15 Dramatic Images of the Rich, Enduring Traditions of Native Americans

Since long before the United States was formed, the continent has been the home of Native American people, including the Lakota, Navajo, Sioux, Cherokee, Apache, Dakota and others. The names of those tribes still designate our waterways (the Potomac River, Lake Erie), national parks (Shenandoah and Denali) and even some states (Michigan and Ohio). Native American communities have, of course, contributed more than geographical names and remain a vital part of the fabric of American life.

About 7.4 million self-identified Native Americans live in the United States today, and many continue the rich and meaningful traditions of their heritage. is a photo editor at Smithsonian magazine. You can follow him on Instagram at @jeffcampagna. Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.