Bureau of Indian Affairs Museum Program

The Bureau of Indian (BIA) Affairs Museum Program curates and preserves a collection of over 3 million archeological artifacts, ethnographic objects, archives, and artwork reflecting the history of the BIA, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and Native American culture for present and future generations.

Under the authority of the Antiquities Act and associated regulations the BIA is responsible for the curation and preservation of significant archeological collections removed from Indian trust or restricted lands.

BIA Museum Collection

The BIA Museum Program collection includes objects that are valued for their artistic, cultural, historic, or scientific significance. These collections provide a tangible link to the cultural and natural heritage of American Indians, Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives.

The collection is located throughout the United States and exhibited in BIA regional offices and local agencies, BIE schools, as well as museums, cultural centers, universities and other repositories.

Online Exhibits

The BIA Museum curates online exhibits which showcase the museum’s wide-ranging collection of Native American artwork and artifacts. Exhibits range from explorations of Environmental Justice and Subsistence to commemorating the life and work of contemporary Creek and Cherokee painter Joan Hill.

New exhibits are added annually. You can explore all the BIA Museum Program’s past exhibits on our Online Exhibits collection.

Hall of Tribal Nations

The Hall of Tribal Nations is a permanent exhibit curated by the BIA Museum Program which proudly displays American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal flags from across the United States.

Located in the corridor of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in Washington DC, the Hall of Tribal Nations is a reminder of the United States’ nation-to-nation relationship with federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and the trust responsibilities to them.

Contact the Museum

The BIA Museum Program headquarters in Washington DC is not currently conducting public tours. We encourage you to enjoy our online exhibits and check back for upcoming public exhibitions.

The BIA Museum Program is not a collecting institution and does not accept donations to add to the collection at this time.

Museums requesting loans of items in the museum collection may contact the museum curators at MuseumProgram@bia.gov.

Scholars requesting records or access to collection items for research purposes may contact the museum curators at MuseumProgram@bia.gov.

For other inquiries or additional information, please contact the BIA Museum Program:

Tamara Billie / Chief, Branch of Cultural Resources

• Email: tamara.billie@bia.gov 
• Phone: (505) 879-9711

Rechanda Lee / Staff Curator

• Email: rechanda.lee@bia.gov 
• Phone: (505) 917-4041

Justin Giles / Staff Curator

• Email: justin.giles@bia.gov
• Phone: (202) 594-7032