The mission of the Aktá Lakota Museum is to promote the knowledge and understanding of the cultures of Northern Plains Native Americans through the preservation of historical and contemporary works of art.

The Aktá Lakota Museum has one of South Dakota’s most comprehensive collections of Northern Plains Native American artwork and historical artifacts.

[1] The museum is influenced by Lakota philosophy including using the four cardinal directions of the medicine wheel: East ("Camp Circle") represents Lakota culture prior to Euro-American contact and exhibits explain historical relationships between tribes and bands; South ("Two Worlds Meet") details the arrival of Euro-American explorers, missionaries, traders and settlers in the early 1800s; West ("Broken Promises") represents interactions with the US Government and the formation of reservations; and North ("Continuity and Change") showcases the adaptation of the Lakota as their culture continues on.

[5] They have a number of Lakota artifacts dating back to the 1800s from the surrounding area[4] as well as contemporary works by Native artists.

[5] Also in their collection are the works of Dyani White Hawk,[7] Arthur Amiotte,[8] Keith BraveHeart,[9] and Robert Penn, a protégé of the late Oscar Howe.