In this personal narrative, the author shares her experiences in Washington DC while attending the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), and describes the events of the day as a life changing experience. She describes the mood surrounding the opening ceremonies as one of celebration. Never had so many people representing so many different Indigenous nations come together in the nation's capital. Indigenous peoples from North and South America exchanged smiles, photographic moments, and cultural acknowledgement of one another's beauty, pride, and celebrated the strength that lifted up them, despite centuries of colonization and oppression. The combination of the contemporary and the ancient, the telling of stories past and present, the dancing, singing, praying, and sharing, all combined to lift up and affirm the people who came in unprecedented numbers to celebrate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian. (Contains 1 endnote.)