A wide shot of the Canada Pavilion at EPCOT. It is sunny outside and the sky is clear blue. A wooden cabin, large caved totem poles, and a castle-like building are visible.

Where to Enjoy Art for Native American Heritage Month at Walt Disney World Resort

November is Native American Heritage Month and to help you celebrate we’ve compiled a list of places you can view stunning art inspired and created by Native Americans across Walt Disney World Resort. Whether a full-fledged gallery dedicated to Native communities or thematic décor across Disney’s Parks and hotels, we’re here to help you plan some must-see stops on your next visit.

Wide shot of The American Heritage Gallery at EPCOT. There are various art pieces inside glass display cases on either side of a doorway with “The American Heritage Gallery” above the door in gold lettering. Inside the exhibit are red, white, and blue murals and screens.

EPCOT American Heritage Gallery
Find the American Heritage Gallery inside the American Adventure Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase. This impressive gallery represents Native communities from seven regions across the United States and showcases historical artifacts alongside contemporary works of American Indian art. Featured artists include fashion designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo), dollmaker Glenda McKay (Ingalik-Athabascan), and Juanita Growing Thunder (Assiniboine Sioux) from the Growing Thunder family of Montana. The American Heritage Gallery is a unique storytelling experience where you can view interactive displays that help you further explore the art, artifacts, and history through narration by some of the featured artists!

A nighttime shot of the trading post at EPCOT’s Canada Pavilion. The hand carved totem poles are illuminated with up-lighting and the door to the Trading Post store is open with light shining from inside.

The Canada Pavilion Carved Totem Poles
Discover the details behind the hand-carved totem poles in the Canada Pavilion inside EPCOT’s World Showcase. Tsimshian artisan David Boxley created his first totem pole for the Canada Pavilion’s Trading Post in the ’90s and created two more in 2017. The recognizable Eagle Totem Pole represents a famous cultural folktale in which a boy finds an eagle caught in a net and frees it. Years later, when hunger strikes the boy’s tribe, he walks on the same beach, only to find the eagle there waiting for him with food as payback for his kindness. Boxley’s Whale Totem Pole tells the tale of the first potlatch, a ceremonial feast celebrated by the Nagunaks and creatures of the sea. Make sure to stop and admire Boxley’s incredible hand-crafted totem poles and other Native American-inspired décor paying homage to Native communities on your next visit to EPCOT!

Wide view of the Wilderness Lodge lobby. Large, themed chandeliers hang from the ceiling with silhouettes of bison and other animals. Large wooden poles hold up the ceiling and carved totem poles adorn the walls. The lobby is empty, but you can see chairs, couches, and rugs available for guests to sit on.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Lobby
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a resort hotel inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges and celebrates American craftsmanship and the beauty of the untamed wilderness. While this hotel offers many unique experiences, such as nature trails and scenic overlooks, there is also plenty of Native American-inspired art to see in the lobby. Amid ceiling-high totem poles, headdresses, and various replicas of Native artifacts and art pieces, take the time to enjoy the hidden gems at this unique resort.

We hope you take time to stop by these notable spots at Walt Disney World to enjoy these Native American art pieces. Have you visited the American Heritage Gallery before? Or admired Canada Pavilion’s incredible totem poles? Let us know on social media and keep reading D23.com for more information on Disney Parks year-round!