Cultural Preservation Department

Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes: Dakota, Lakota & Nakoda Peoples

Tribal Museum

Scan the QR Code for directions to our location!

Located at | First Ave W. | Poplar MT, 59255
Museum Hours | Monday - Friday | 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(closed for federal, tribal holidays, department events, and tribal administration days)

We aim to empower tribal people first, by having a space to examine tribal historic context through exhibits to create individual perspectives, boost dialogue, promote cultural practice renewals and anticipate positive action for the greater future. We strive to assist the rise of community curators, historians, and conservationists within the homes of our tribal people, as well as inspire curiosity, inquiry, and enhance intangible connections with collections to maintain a multi-generational understanding of our ancestors before us. The Fort Peck tribal museum is a home to many voices of our leaders before us.

The Fort Peck Tribal Museum sets expectations for best practices in the care, management, research, acquisitions, and interpretation of the Tribes' collections. This includes:

The Tribes own, exhibit or use collections that are appropriate to its purpose and general audience
The staff legally, ethically and effectively manages documents, cares for and use the collections for education
Museum conducts collections-related research according to appropriate scholarly standards
Director strategically plans for the use and development of the Tribes' collections and repatriation efforts
Provide public access to the museum, while ensuring the collections protection and preservation
Allocates its space and use its facilities to meet the needs of the collections, audience and staff
Appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety and security of people, its collections, objects, and the facility it uses

Educating Curators & Handling Objects

Director travels to multiple institutions to assist with handling and care recommendations of objects affiliated with the Fort Peck Tribes.

Museum Tours & Community Events

We hope to create more annual events as we strive to seek grant funding and community opportunities to share.

Functions of the Tribal Museum:

Tribal cultural protocols are first priority when handling and securing sacred or sensitive objects, set by the Cultural Resource Director.
Staff include the Museum Education Outreach Coordinator, to carry out day to day activities.
A system of documentation, records management and inventory is in effect to describe each object and its acquisition, current condition, location, and movement within the facility or during a traveling museum exhibit.
Regularly monitored for environmental conditions, damages, pests, loss, and natural disasters.
Safety and security procedures and plans for collections in the museum's custody are documented, practiced and addressed in the museum's emergency disaster preparedness plan
Collections care procedures for exhibits, in storage, on loan, and during travel are appropriate, adequate and documented.
The Fort Peck Tribes' stewardship extends to both the physical and intellectual control of its property.