3rd Street Southwest & Maryland Avenue Southwest

Join the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to welcome Kanepo Ka Lua, the museum’s new Western cardinal marker, to Washington, DC with a hoʻolauleʻa (Hawaiian celebration). Free, Saturday, May 16, 11 AM–5 PM. 
Bring the whole family to celebrate Kanepo Ka Lua with curator tours, music by The Aloha Boys, hula performances by Halau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi, kapa workshops with Page Chang, and other hands-on activities. Visit AmericanIndian.si.edu/calendar for the event’s schedule.

Local Event: Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kanepo Ka Lua

District of Columbia

Washington DC

District Of Columbia

Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kanepo Ka Lua

Join the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to welcome Kanepo Ka Lua, the museum’s new Western cardinal...

Come to the National Museum of the American Indian for an in-gallery talk that brings visitors together with curators and other experts for deeper consideration of specific artworks currently on view in the museum. Join Rebecca Trautmann, curator of <a href="https://americanindian.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/item?id=1011" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe</a>, for a conversation with interdisciplinary artist and carver, Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich (Koyukan Dené/Iñupiaq), the museum’s 2025-2026 Native Arts Fellow. Together, they’ll offer visitors a closer look at specific artworks in the exhibition and discuss the connections between Ivalu and Lowe’s art practices.
<a href="https://ggaadimitsivalu.com/about" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu</a>
(she/her) is a Koyukon Dené and Iñupiaq carver, interdisciplinary artist and educator working and subsisting in South-Central Alaska on Denaʼina homelands. Honoring her arctic and subarctic ancestral homelands, Ivalu's work represents what has tied her and her ancestors to the North. Ivalu received her BFA in Native Art from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, her MFA in Studio Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts and is currently a Term Instructor of Art for the University of Alaska Anchorage. Awarded with the Native Arts Fellowship at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) from August 2025 through July 2026, Ivalu will be researching and visiting with carved and adorned cultural belongings from her homelands. This work is connected with the tangible ancestral discourse that is within carved cultural belongings and the designs to make tracing and echoes of what the ancestors made. This research will take the form of photographs, sketches, tracings, writings, film, and templates through visiting the tangible cultural belongings or archives. Following the conclusion of this fellowship, Ivalu will focus on building a cabin at a fish camp to stay connected to what feeds her and her work. 
 
Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.
Image: Photo by Norwood Photography for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Local Event: Closer Look: Water’s Edge

Closer Look: Water’s Edge

Come to the National Museum of the American Indian for an in-gallery talk that brings visitors together with curators and other...

On Memorial Day, honor Indigenous service members who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This year, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian honors the legacies of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne, 1933-2025) and Harvey Phillip Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, 1941-2025) and their invaluable contributions to the museum. 
Hear from Native veterans, make prayer ties to remember loved ones, and pay your respects during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
SCHEDULE
<ul>
 <li>10:30 AM | Opening Prayer, National Anthem, Posting of the Colors, Welcome Remarks</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>10:30 AM-5:30 PM | Hands On: Prayer Ties and information table about the National Native American Veterans Memorial</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>10:30 AM–5 PM | Veterans Hospitality Suite</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>1 PM | Veterans Remembered: Family Tributes</li>
 <li>1:30 PM | Remembering Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Harvey Phillip Pratt (Panel Conversation)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>3 PM | Wreath Laying Ceremony at the National Native American Veterans Memorial</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>4:30 PM | Retiring of the Colors</li>
</ul>
 
*Programs and schedule subject to change, additional details to be announced. 
Major funding provided by The Boeing Company.

Image: Photo by Norwood Photography for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Local Event: Service and Sacrifice: Memorial Day 2026

Service and Sacrifice: Memorial Day 2026

On Memorial Day, honor Indigenous service members who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed...

Come to the National Museum of the American Indian and hear curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) giving a closer look at the museum’s special installation Making a Statement, which demonstrates how Native women combine traditional design elements with modern military symbolism to demonstrate cultural pride and honor military service. The installation features a historical Lakota beaded dress decorated with elaborate patriotic American imagery and a blue jingle dress made by members of the Native American Women Warriors to show pride in their Indigenous heritage and to emphasize the role of Native women in the military. Then, get hands-on to learn more about beadwork, jingle cones, and other design elements related to Native dressmaking in the museum’s Teaching Collection.
Image: Photo by Norwood Photography for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Local Event: Closer Look: Making a Statement

Closer Look: Making a Statement

Come to the National Museum of the American Indian and hear curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) giving a...

Marielba Alvarez

Washington Metropolitan Area

Georgetown

Arlington County

Arlington

Rosslyn

Virginia

Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn

Clarendon

Michael O'Connell

Prince George's County

Hyattsville

Maryland

Montgomery County

Takoma Park

Ballston

Alexandria city

Del Ray

Riverdale Park-University Park

National Museum of the American Indian

Join Hālau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi&nbsp;to commemorate the arrival of a sacred Hawaiian artifact at the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian as part of Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Alexandria, Vir.-based Hawaiian cultural school will perform on at 12 noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on May 16.
Led by Kumu Hula Manu Ikaika, the musicians and dancers of Hālau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi will demonstrate a variety of Hawaiian instruments and implements including the ulili (Hawaiian gourd yoyo), handmade by the dancers. Other implements demonstrated in the performance will include the pahu (large standing drum used for chant and hula accompaniment), the ipu and ipu heke (hollowed gourds used as handheld drums), ‘ohe hano ihu (bamboo nose flutes), ‘uli’uli (feathered gourd rattles), ‘ili’ili
(hand-held river rocks), pū’ili (slit-ended bamboo sticks), kālā’au
(tapping sticks), ukulele and more!

Local Event: Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua

Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua

Join Hālau Hoʻomau I ka Wai Ola O Hawaiʻi to commemorate the arrival of a sacred Hawaiian artifact at the National Museum of...

Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA

Experience the wisdom of Ayurveda and discover natural ways to support your health and well-being at Vedic Health’s Free Ayurvedic Clinic Day.
During this special event, you will receive a personalized introductory assessment from expert Vaidyas (Ayurvedic practitioners), who will offer guidance on your dosha balance, diet, and simple lifestyle practices to help you feel your best. Bring your questions and explore how Ayurvedic principles can support greater balance, vitality, and long-term wellness.
Each participant will have 10-minutes with each Vaidya (total 30 min), including time with each Vaidya for a general dosha assessment, dietary recommendations, and practical well-being strategy. Please arrive 15–20 minutes early to check in and be ready for your session, as late arrivals will lose their reserved spot.
Join founder Amita Jain and her team for an eye-opening experience that may transform the way you think about health and self-care. This event is free and open to the public of all ages, but space is limited
and advance registration is required. Reserve your spot at <a href="https://www.vedichealth.org/free-clinic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.VedicHealth.org/free-clinic</a>.
We recommend bringing a notebook and pen so you can capture helpful insights and recommendations from your visit.
Come early and step into the Meditation Museum’s Meditation Immersive Room to relax, reset, and enjoy a calming meditative experience that prepares your mind and body for greater peace, clarity, and healing.
Disclaimer: This offering is not a medical or health evaluation. Vaidyas will not discuss specific health conditions. The session is intended for general educational purposes only and as an introduction to Ayurveda. For in-depth consultations, please visit the <a href="https://www.vedichealth.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Vedic Health Ayurvedic Center</a> in Rockville. Vaidyas are trained experts in Ayurveda and are not licensed medical physicians.
Sun., May 17th, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register for an available time slot at:<a href="https://www.vedichealth.org/free-clinic" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;https://www.vedichealth.org/free-clinic</a>

Local Event: Free Ayurvedic Clinic Day with Vaidya Amita Jain & the Vedic Health Center Team

Silver Spring

Free Ayurvedic Clinic Day with Vaidya Amita...

Experience the wisdom of Ayurveda and discover natural ways to support your health and well-being at Vedic Health’s Free...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Marielba Alvarez, Neighbor

Posting Activity

Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kanepo Ka Lua

MAY

16

11:00 AM

Washington DC, DC

Closer Look: Water’s Edge

MAY

21

1:00 PM

Washington DC, DC

Service and Sacrifice: Memorial Day 2026

MAY

23

10:30 AM

Washington DC, DC

Closer Look: Making a Statement

JUN

20

4:00 PM

Washington DC, DC

Hoʻolauleʻa: Welcoming Kānepō Ka Lua

Free Ayurvedic Clinic Day with Vaidya Amita Jain & the Vedic Health Center Team