Guardians Institute was founded in 2006 by Herreast J. Harrison, M.A., in honor of her late husband, Big Chief Donald Harrison, Sr. Established to preserve, present, and perpetuate the cultural legacy of New Orleans, the Institute is dedicated to the holistic development of youth through literacy, Indigenous New Orleans cultural arts, and West African and New World oral traditions.

Guardians Institute serves as a vital cultural anchor and is home to the Donald Harrison, Sr. Museum and Legacy Performance Pavilion. The museum houses significant artwork, music archives, and historical artifacts from New Orleans’ First Family of Art and Culture—the Harrison family—alongside collections representing other distinguished cultural leaders and tradition bearers. Together, these resources safeguard intergenerational knowledge and provide educational access to living cultural traditions.

Through its programming, exhibitions, and community engagement initiatives, Guardians Institute advances cultural literacy, artistic excellence, and historical preservation. The Institute has curated dozens of exhibitions, seminars, lectures, presentations, and informances* both locally and internationally, extending the reach of New Orleans’ Indigenous cultural arts to diverse audiences around the world.

Rooted in tradition and committed to innovation, Guardians Institute continues to cultivate youth leadership, artistic mastery, and cultural stewardship for future generations.