American Flags in Indigenous Cultures

By Cosette Reeves

Museums encourage us to approach the world with curiosity, acknowledging it’s not the answers themselves but rather the pursuit of knowledge that matters. In many cases, the answers prove to be ambiguous, but the search for them can often lead to new facets of information one would not have considered otherwise. This is what happened to me. 

ET675.7 Beaded Vest: Sioux, Northwest Pipeline LLC: Donor, 1890 - 1900 Photo by NHMU

During my last visit to NHMU’s anthropology collection, I found myself captivated by an Indigenous beaded vest adorned with the American flag. NHMU Anthropology Collections Manger Dr. Anne Lawlor explained, while this motif was common among many tribes during the Reservation Era (late 1800s), its precise meaning remains uncertain. The idea was striking — an Indigenous-crafted garment bearing a symbol introduced by their oppressors.

I dove deeply into the subject and found only speculation — interpretations ranging from the flag being a gesture of amiability to a subtle expression of resistance. Seeking clarity beyond academic conjecture, I reached out to Virgil Johnson, a Goshute elder and Community at Large Representative on NHMU’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. What he shared with me reframed the question entirely and revealed a depth of meaning I had not anticipated. 

Flags as Assimilation

According to Fluidity of Meaning: Flag Imagery in Plains Indian Art (Schmittou & Logan, 2002), the flag motif emerged among Indigenous tribes in the late 19^th century, most prominently within Plains cultures. Over time, through travel and trade, it was incorporated into ceremonies and celebrations across many other tribes. However, according to Mr. Johnson, the flag held little significance for Indigenous peoples until World War I — at least not in the way it did for Euro-Americans. 

The presence of a flag does not automatically signal patriotism or a response to it. This reflects a Western interpretation, projecting Euro-American values onto Indigenous cultures. While the motif may have held symbolic or decorative meaning to some tribes, it did not inherently represent political ideology or allegiance. 

For Euro-Americans, by contrast, the flag functioned as a tool to unify people under one flag, one nation.  It was used, explained Mr. Johnson, to facilitate assimilation. Under the symbolic authority of the flag, Indigenous nations were folded into the American state, pressed to live by its laws and customs. The reservation system forcibly removed them from their lands, and they were pressured to abandon traditions in exchange for imposed citizenship.

3564 Beaded Gauntlets with Fringe, 1911. The British flag also made an appearance in some Indigenous regalia. Photo by NHMU

Historically, such symbolic imposition implies a claim of dominance — a concept exemplified by the Doctrine of Discovery. Planting the American flag on the moon served as one such declaration, while not legally, symbolically (Lowy Institute, 2019); gifting flags — or, as in Lewis and Clark’s case, coins — to Indigenous tribes operated in a similar fashion. 

Over time, Indigenous peoples learned what the flag represented within this system of power. Yet rather than accepting its meaning as solely imposed, they found ways to reframe it and make it their own.

Flags as Honor

ET650.95 Beaded Bag, Dolling, William Thomas: Donor, 1920 Photo by NHMU

A century later, the meaning of the flag shifted from an imposed symbol to one Indigenous communities could claim for themselves. During World War I, many Native men served in the military — before U.S. federal citizenship was even granted (National World War I Museum and Memorial, n.d.). Although Native soldiers were rarely afforded the same respect as their non-Native counterparts, their service proved invaluable. This military service ushered in a new era for Indigenous communities, shaping how the flag would later be understood.

Mr. Johnson noted military participation reinforced the warrior society traditions that were disrupted by the forced relocation to reservations. The role of the warrior just shifted from protecting their village to protecting the country as a whole. Today, the American flag appears in powwows and other celebrations not as a Euro-American symbol of assimilation, but in honor for those who served and defended this land. During the powwow’s Grand Entry, an eagle staff, tribal flag, state flag, and the American flag are all presented. 

ET604.1 Beaded Gauntlets with Fringe, Artist: Vida Bear, Goshute Photo by NHMU

“The idea of serving this country with loyalty assisted the native community,” Mr. Johnson explained. For veterans like his father, military service opened doors and offered perspective. They learned how to move within the Euro-American systems while maintaining their cultural identity. They learned how to function — and at times, even thrive — in a changing world without relinquishing who they were. 

Living Under Two Flags

Mr. Johnson’s father once told him, “You need to be educated. When you become educated, you level the playing field.”  His father embodied that principle — serving in World War II, earning a college education, and building a career in federal civil service. Mr. Johnson followed in his footsteps, learning to simultaneously walk what he calls “the red road” and “the white man road.” Raised on a reservation and receiving his K–12 education on the Dugway Proving Ground military base, he proceeded to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints (an important social marker in Utah), earn a master’s degree, and build a career that supported his family.

ET300.391 Baby Amulet, donated in 1998 by Taylor, Anthony H Photo by NHMU

He learned how to function within the world he was offered without abandoning where he came from.

Despite suffering from an abhorrent history marked by injustice, Indigenous communities have strategically engaged with Euro-American systems while holding their traditions close. Living under two flags is not a story of surrender but of adaptation, resilience, and continuity — a powerful example of what it means to move forward despite one’s circumstances.

Returning to the Vest 

Seen through this lens, the beaded vest adorned with the American flag no longer reads as a contradiction. It simply reflects a lived reality and all its complexities. Rather than searching for answers, I learned to listen for perspective, understanding that history is rich with nuance.