Kicks the Iron. Sioux. Early 1900s. Photo by F.B. Fiske. Source - State Historical Society of Nebraska

Russell Means, Oglala Lakota Nation (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012)

“Before I was six years old, my grandparents and my mother had taught me that if all the green things that grow were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all the four-legged creatures were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all the winged creatures were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all our relatives who crawl and swim and live within the earth were taken away, there could be no life. But if all the human beings were taken away, life on earth would flourish. That is how insignificant we are.”

Joseph White Bull. Dakota man. 1940. Photo by Rise Studio.

Half of all US states, 25, are named after Native Americans. Here they are:
1. Alabama: Named after the Alabama tribe, or Alibamu, a Muskogean-speaking tribe. Sources are divided between the meanings "clearers of the thicket" or "gatherers of herbs."
2. Alaska: Named after the Aleut word “alaxsxaq,” meaning “the mainland”
3. Arizona: Named after the O'odham word “al ĭ ṣonak,” meaning “little spring”
4. Connecticut: Named after the Mohican word “quonehtacut,” meaning “place of the long tidal river”
5. Hawaii: Original Hawaiian word meaning “homeland”
6. Illinois: Named after the Illinois word “illiniwek,” meaning “men”
7. Iowa: Named after the Ioway tribe, whose name means “gray snow”
8. Kansas: Named after the Kansa tribe, whose name means “people of the south wind”
9. Kentucky: Origins unclear, may have been named after the Iroquoian word “Kentake,” meaning “in the meadow”
10. Massachusetts: Named after the Algonquin word “Massadchu-es-et,” meaning “big-hill-little-place.”
11. Michigan: From the Chippewa word “Michigama,” meaning “big lake.”
12. Minnesota: Named after the Dakota Indian word “Minisota” meaning “white water.”
13. Mississippi: Named after the river that was named by the Choctaw, meaning “big water” or “father of waters.”
14. Missouri: Named after the Missouri tribe whose name means “those who have dug canoes.”

Every piece of clothing worn by these women and children tells a story. The beads, the feathers, the intricate patterns aren’t just decorations, they represent generations of wisdom, spirituality, and connection to the land.

Pow-Wows, where these beautiful garments are often worn, are sacred gatherings. They bring people together through dance, song, ceremony, and community. It’s a time to honor ancestors, strengthen family bonds, and celebrate identity with pride.

In this image, you don’t just see smiles you feel unity, the strength of tradition, and the joy of passing down a living culture to the next generation. A people standing strong, proud, and radiant.