First Americans Museum

[Spartan]

Anyone notice the article in the Oklahoman recently about the new tribal cultural center the Chickasaw's have built in Sulpher. It looks really cool, I look forward to visiting it. This may be part of the problem with funding the center in Oklahoma City. The tribes are more concerned about looking after the interests of their home turf and not as interested in funding something of this nature.

I did see that Sulpher project and it looked really cool. It kind of has the appearance of a downtown mixed-use development. I think they're including a new hotel in it as well.

[metro]

For those interested, here is link to the Chickasaw Cultural Center being referenced. Very nice.

Chickasaw Cultural Center

[BDP]

Why do the tribes care about a generic Indian museum not in their tribal national area? Most, if not all, the tribes have their own tribal specific museum at their tribal headquarters. I'm shocked they gave up as much money as they did. A "cultural center" for white tourists in Oklahoma City provides about zero benefits to the tribes or their members.

Why do Jews want a Jewish Heritage Museum or Holocaust museum that's not in Israel? If they have one in their city, why would they contribute to the one(s) in Israel?

This is a national museum that is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. It will have a broader draw and wider reach than any individual tribe museum located at a tribal headquarters. It is a perfect opportunity for tribes to share and educate many non-native Americans, including white tourists, about their heritage and culture. It is a great way for the tribes to uniformly show that there is more to their legacy than casinos and tax free goods. The reality is that specific museums at tribal headquarters serve as a great way to educate their own people about their specific roots and history, as well as archive their artifacts. The AICCM will be a great way to educate everyone about the American Indian experience from many perspectives.

Yeah, I can't understand why they would want to support that...

[OUSoonerfan3]

For those interested, here is link to the Chickasaw Cultural Center being referenced. Very nice.

Chickasaw Cultural Center

I worked on that job for 6 months. When its finished, it will be a treasure.

[ourulz2000]

They better finish this thing in OKC.

[Steve]

Look, an individual attending a pow-wow is one thing. But most Native Americans are still poor, often very poor. And for tribes to divert funds that could help tribal members to a project not even directly related to their people is just something that is not going to happen very often. You can think that the tribes are all rich awash in cash from the casinos, but that's not really how it works. Some small Tribes do get rich on casinos, but those aren't Oklahoma tribes. If the Cherokees make a $100 million profit on their casinos in a year it's still only $400 per tribal member. Do you really think that they are then going turn around and give $10 million or something to a musuem 150 miles from Tahlequah? Tribes are correctly focused on helping members of the tribe. It's just how it is.

The center will get some marketing money from the Chickasaws and Choctaws because they have nearby casinos, but that's it.

That's a lot of stereotypes for one post. I'll leave it to a Native American to take issue with all the different things you've typed onto the Internet. Oklahoma City is surrounded by several different Indian nations, has a Native American population of its own, and is at the junction of three major cross-country highways. And it's my understanding the tribes would like to see their culture shared with everybody, not just among themselves.
Now, quiz time folks: what do tourism, horse ranches, chocolate, banking, radio, health care and historic preservation all have in common?

[metro]

They better finish this thing in OKC.

well they kind of have to, it's not like they can pick up a 90 ft tall mound of dirt and existing structures and move them out of state, especially on a project they have about only 50% funded, if they're having funding issues, they're not going to abandon their to date investments.

[metro]

That's a lot of stereotypes for one post. I'll leave it to a Native American to take issue with all the different things you've typed onto the Internet. Oklahoma City is surrounded by several different Indian nations, has a Native American population of its own, and is at the junction of three major cross-country highways. And it's my understanding the tribes would like to see their culture shared with everybody, not just among themselves.
Now, quiz time folks: what do tourism, horse ranches, chocolate, banking, radio, health care and historic preservation all have in common?

they are all businesses the tribes are involved with, the chickasaws in particular.

[earlywinegareth]

I've questioned the viability of this project from day 1. Meshing tribal culture into one building doesn't make sense. Each tribe is culturally & socially unique. To get a feel for that uniqueness I think you have to go visit each's tribal headquarters/museum. To get a good feel about the Cherokee, you have to go to Tahlequah...for the Osage, visit Pawhuska, etc.

[ourulz2000]

I've questioned the viability of this project from day 1. Meshing tribal culture into one building doesn't make sense. Each tribe is culturally & socially unique. To get a feel for that uniqueness I think you have to go visit each's tribal headquarters/museum. To get a good feel about the Cherokee, you have to go to Tahlequah...for the Osage, visit Pawhuska, etc.

While that sounds great, let's be honest thought - no standard family of 5 is going to go drive around the state of Oklahoma to each museum in their lifetime. While it may bother some to have everything at one place, it makes a lot of sense for OKC visitors and even just showing newer Oklahoma generations about the overall culture.

[earlywinegareth]

While that sounds great, let's be honest thought - no standard family of 5 is going to go drive around the state of Oklahoma to each museum in their lifetime. While it may bother some to have everything at one place, it makes a lot of sense for OKC visitors and even just showing newer Oklahoma generations about the overall culture.

Point being it will lack authenticity and I bet if you ask Natives what they think about it, they will say it's for the whites, not them.

[ourulz2000]

Point being it will lack authenticity and I bet if you ask Natives what they think about it, they will say it's for the whites, not them.

I hear you on that, and would understand their concern if that's their thoughts on the issue. My only counter is that this is a chance for recognition on a front and center scale just off a major highway in a major city. Some kid that goes to Edmond North (just throwing out a random school) will never go to northeast Oklahoma small town museum (museum, boring?), but they'll see this huge attraction just outside downtown, and think - "that's cool, I'm gonna check it out." Maybe that will put a desire in them to see more somewhere else.

[Kerry]

To get a good feel about the Cherokee, you have to go to Tahlequah

Umm, you have to go to Cherokee, NC.

[BDP]

Point being it will lack authenticity and I bet if you ask Natives what they think about it, they will say it's for the whites, not them.

Even if it was, what would be wrong with that? I'm pretty sure that whites probably need more education on Native American culture than many Native Americans do.

I don't get it. Since when are museums supposed to only be for a specific group or demographic? That sounds backwards to me.

[SOONER8693]

Even if it was, what would be wrong with that? I'm pretty sure that whites probably need more education on Native American culture than many Native Americans do.

I don't get it. Since when are museums supposed to only be for a specific group or demographic? That sounds backwards to me.

Agree 100%.

[earlywinegareth]

[QUOTE=BDP;336455]Even if it was, what would be wrong with that? I'm pretty sure that whites probably need more education on Native American culture than many Native Americans do.
QUOTE]

It's like someone wanting authentic mexican food and going to taco bell.

[earlywinegareth]

Umm, you have to go to Cherokee, NC.

Umm, no...that's the eastern band.

[Spartan]

That's a lot of stereotypes for one post. I'll leave it to a Native American to take issue with all the different things you've typed onto the Internet. Oklahoma City is surrounded by several different Indian nations, has a Native American population of its own, and is at the junction of three major cross-country highways. And it's my understanding the tribes would like to see their culture shared with everybody, not just among themselves.
Now, quiz time folks: what do tourism, horse ranches, chocolate, banking, radio, health care and historic preservation all have in common?

Indian enterprises?

[BDP]

It's like someone wanting authentic mexican food and going to taco bell.

So the exhibits in this museum won't be authentic? How so?

Are they not authentic at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, either?

[metro]

Point being it will lack authenticity and I bet if you ask Natives what they think about it, they will say it's for the whites, not them.

I'd disagree. I had the priveledge of working as security at the ground blessing ceremony several years ago, I believe back in 2007. Talked to many of the tribe members. They all seemed to be very proud. There were governors there including the famous "Bill Annoatubby" of the Chickasaw Nation, which as pointed out earlier, are also building their own world-class museum near Sulpher. I think the two can co-exist and still be something tribes are proud of.

[Shake2005]

I don’t questions that tribes are supportive of the center and would like to see it work. They may even help with exhibits and artifacts but as for giving real cash, I don’t see it. A lot of the tribes are pretty broke, Casino revenues are way down and even if they weren’t they have far more programs and needs than they can fund. Tribes simply aren’t going to give a couple million dollars to a museum far outside their national areas for a 150-200 square foot display.

[gen70]

I just hope that the Cultural Center in OKC is better than the one in Cherokee N.C..
I went to the one in Cherokee and felt like the tribe is getting even for past injustice.
It was boreing and no one in my family enjoyed it. It was a tourist trap and a rip off in
my opinion.

[Spartan]

I don’t questions that tribes are supportive of the center and would like to see it work. They may even help with exhibits and artifacts but as for giving real cash, I don’t see it. A lot of the tribes are pretty broke, Casino revenues are way down and even if they weren’t they have far more programs and needs than they can fund. Tribes simply aren’t going to give a couple million dollars to a museum far outside their national areas for a 150-200 square foot display.

Three simple points:

1. Doesn't the state have more important priorities as well? You of all people know that, given the lack of funding for Tulsa roads, and now I-44 in Midtown has a massive sinkhole in it.
2. Doesn't OKC have more important priorities? We've put as much money into this thing as the state and I can name off at least 50 neighborhoods that could put that money to far better use, no offense to any Indians.
3. You mention exhibits. (Not a question for Swake) Is there any chance that exhibits are being factored into the enormous cost for this thing? Is that the measly $4 mil from the tribes or would that suggest that more is to come? How much are Indian artifacts even worth, financially??

[cattleman]

Perhaps the Indian tribes with casinos could increase their donations.

Dont you think that they have already paid enough?

[Spartan]

2% for a project honoring their heritage...yeah we don't want them to commit themselves too much here.