Welcome to our series recognizing the wonderful local nonprofit organizations that play a major role in contributing to the Washington community. Read on for our spotlight on the Institute for American Indian Studies!
The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) is a museum and research center that was founded in Washington in 1975. IAIS is dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Native American culture, and educating visitors through research, exhibits, special events, and workshops for individuals of all ages. Here are 5 fun ways you can enjoy and experience this local treasure!
1. Tour the Exhibitions
The museum’s exhibits allow visitors to travel through time, displaying astounding artifacts and presenting information about Native Americans since time immemorial through the present day.
Quinnetukut: Our Homeland, Our Story Exhibit: This core exhibition follows the 10,000 year long story of Connecticut’s Native American Peoples from the distant past to their lives and culture today.
Algonkian Village: The replicated village at IAIS depicts the features common to an Algonkian village of 350 to 1000 years ago. Visitors can take one of their self-guided trails to explore the seasonal world of Woodland Indian peoples, ending the adventure in the village.
Children’s Discovery Room: The Children’s Discovery Room is an exhibit designed specifically for kids, providing a fun and stimulating learning experience, showing visitors what life would have been like for them had they been a Native American living in the Woodlands 600 years ago.
“Nebizun: Water Is Life” Exhibit – On display through the end of March 2023: This temporary exhibit features artwork by Abenaki artists of the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River Valley regions to illustrate the Abenaki relationship to water, their awareness of water as a fundamental element, and their concern that pollution of water can change our traditional lifeways and the health of all beings.
Learn more about current exhibits