Celebrating Native American Heritage

Native American History for May

The month of May has been marked by significant events in the history of Native Americans.

Key Native American Events - May 2026

Pow Wows & Cultural Gatherings
- Mni Wakan Oyate Wetu Wacipi 2026 (Devils Lake, ND) - May 2–3, 2026: Features grand entries, special dances (boys traditional, teen jingle, golden age), and a Kahomni special.
- McDonald Farm’s Culture Fest 2026 (Sale Creek, TN) - May 2–3, 2026: A cultural event honoring 8 generations of history.
- Pacific University & Beaverton/Hillsboro School Districts Indian Ed Pow Wow 2026 (Forest Grove, OR) - May 2, 2026: Features multiple grand entries and dance competitions.
- Elgin JOM 3rd Annual Spring Pow Wow 2026 (Elgin, OK) - May 2, 2026: Featuring Gourd dancing, Crown royalty, and a Honoring ceremony.
- Ponca Pow Wow Committee Spring Dance 2026 (Ponca City, OK) - May 2, 2026: A full day of Gourd, Wolf, and War dances.
Museum & Education Events
- Living Breath Indigenous Foods Symposium - May 1–2, 2026: Focusing on indigenous food sovereignty.
- Welcome to a Native Place (National Museum of the American Indian) - May 6, 2026: Tribal songs and cultural stories from Alaska to Florida.
- Meet the Author: Chef Sheldon Simeon (National Museum of the American Indian) - May 7, 2026: An event honoring Hawaiian cuisine and family recipes.
- Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass (New York, NY) - Ongoing through May 29, 2026.
Conferences & Action Weeks
- MMIW Week of Action (American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions) - May 5–9, 2026: Highlighting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with a history and genealogy focus.
- National American Indian Housing Council 52nd Annual Convention - May 3–6, 2026.
- 4th Annual Tribal Energy Evolution Summit - May 11–14, 2026.
- Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Mid Year Convention - May 17–21, 2026.
Other Events
- A.I. Within Tribal Gaming Enterprises Conference (Las Vegas, NV) - May 18–19, 2026: A focus on technology within tribal casinos.

MAY HARVEST SEASON

Native American harvests in May focus on early spring foraging and preparing for the growing season, with key harvests including morel mushrooms, nettles, and traditional greens like Sochan. May is also a critical time for planting the "Three Sisters" (corn, beans, squash)

and gathering medicinal plants, with some regions starting early fish or salmon harvesting.

Department of the Interior | Bureau of Indian Education +4

Sochan (Green-headed Coneflower): Cherokee tradition involves gathering these nutritious greens in early spring, with harvesting now allowed in specific national park areas.

Navajo Spinach (Cleome serrulata): Also known as Rocky Mountain bee plant, this was harvested by Southwest nations in spring/summer as a leafy green and medicine.
Morel Mushrooms: Highlighted as a key May harvest in some traditional calendars.

Medicinal/Utility Plants: Gathering red willow (cansa sa) in the spring for medicine and traditional crafts.
Planting Season: While focusing on gathering early greens, May is vital for planting, with early spring plants like asparagus and nettles also gathered.

Many indigenous communities align their harvests with local seasonal changes, which are celebrated as thanksgivings and crucial to maintaining cultural, nutritional, and medicinal traditions.