Indigenous Star Knowledge
The first American sky.
For centuries, Native American star knowledge has guided Indigenous everyday life.
Star knowledge
Wisdom, passed forward.
A planetarium that keeps the wisdom of generations alive.
It will honor ancient Indigenous traditions and the Indigenous pilots, engineers and astronauts who carried the sky’s stories into space.
Beneath the dome
Indigenous constellations, projected.
The dome will fill with Indigenous constellations and the stories told about them. Visitors will learn how Indigenous peoples read the heavens for faith, for finding the way and for understanding the world, as taught across many generations.
Made with care
Shaped with Indigenous advisors.
It will be designed in close consultation with Indigenous cultural advisors, sharing ancient knowledge through modern projection.
In your hand
The sky, on your phone.
A phone app will trace Indigenous constellations over the real night sky and share what they mean.
I · Constellations
Lines drawn between the stars.
Indigenous constellations, spiritual beliefs, navigation and cosmology: star knowledge passed down through generations.
II · Stories
Every figure holds a story.
Through shared stories, visitors learn how Indigenous peoples viewed the heavens, and the teachings carried across many generations.
III · Guidance
A sky to live by.
Spiritual beliefs, navigational practices and cosmological teachings, read in the same sky we see tonight.
IV · The dome
The sky, set in the dome.
A planetarium that preserves and passes forward generational wisdom, designed in close consultation with Indigenous cultural advisors.
The Hall of Explorers
From the stars to space.
Beyond the dome, the Hall of Explorers celebrates Indigenous Americans in aviation and space.
“Your life’s work is going to be landing men on the Moon.”
Jerry Elliott High Eagle, Osage and CherokeeHis mother’s answer: “Keep the vision. Keep the dream!”
- 2002
Commander John Herrington, USN
Chickasaw Nation
The first Native American in space, aboard Endeavour.
- 2022
Colonel Nicole Aunapu Mann, USMC
Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes
The first Native American woman in space, on SpaceX Crew-5.
- WASP
Millie Rexroat
Oglala Lakota
WASP pilot.
- Rockets
Mary Golda Ross
Cherokee
Rocket engineer.
- Apollo 13
Jerry Elliott High Eagle
Osage and Cherokee
Honored for his part in Apollo 13.
Lakota prayerMitakuye Oyasinwe are all related
Gallery
Support the memorial
Help light the dome.
Your gift helps pass star knowledge to the next generation.