I think this is going to be amazing when it is finished. I hope they will be able to get the funding they need to continue work on it.
I just hope that after 2014, people aren't still asking what that big mound of dirt is and why it's not connected to the new I-40
This would be a good place for one of Metro's videos - I haven't seen photos of this in a long while.
OK, I'll put it on my list. I'd have to take my "man SUV" and not my "girly scooter" over that far, but I'll see if I can get over there in the next couple weeks.
You should ride a horse.
Doesn't get much more "manly" and is good for the environment too.
It's not really that far from MBG, but yeah, it's not really scooter turf once you clear DT/BT
good points lee, I'm all about being "green". Besides us Oklahomans ride horses and hunt buffalo most of the time anyways, what a good way to honor our ancestors.
kevin, yeah I'll ride it to boathouse row, but Eastern and E. Reno are a little sketchy.
UPDATE in Wed Oklahoman:
Capitol briefs: Lack of funds could delay museum project | NewsOK.com
Sen. Harry Coates said Tuesday that failure by the House to act on a $43 million dollar bond package in the closing hours of last week's session could cause construction on the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum to come to a standstill. ... Coates said the bond package was necessary to complete the $170 million center. ... Construction began on the project in 2006.
Yeah this is not good. This project has been out of money several different times. Can we find out a total tally of how much the public has committed to it to date and what Indian tribes have put in? Not that I am suggesting Indian tribes need to do more because I know that they HAVE given a lot to make this thing happen, but it would still be interesting to see.
The linked article said the State has put in $66M so far (didn’t mention the amount from Tribe’s)
On their website (year old info):
Capital Campaign Goal: 177.5 Million
Funds Raised to date: (Figures as of March 17, 2009)
State of Oklahoma $66.3M
Federal Government 7.5M
City of Oklahoma City 4.9M
Private, Tribal and Other Sources 4.2M
Total Funds Raised $82.9M
*Special thanks to the City of Oklahoma City for donating the project site for the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum.
And from Channel 5...
Money Woes Hit American Indian Center - Oklahoma City News Story - KOCO Oklahoma City
...if construction is forced to stop, taxpayers would have to cover the costs of maintaining the state-owned site.
“Worst case scenario, we stop construction and it costs the state more money each month that we go without construction,” she said.
She said it’s likely that construction will slow on the project instead of stop completely, and supporters will pressure lawmakers when the new session begins next year.
Once completed, it’s estimated the center would provide $3.8 billion impact to the state’s economy in the first 20 years.
It was scheduled for completion in 2014. If construction does come to a standstill it’s not known how long the delay would last.
Yeah. Underwhelmed.
Tribal $4.2 mil.
I would bet, that is less than one days take from all of the tribal casinos in Oklahoma.
Not to mention, it was a let's build it and we know we can get funding, they won't let us stop halfway sort of project.
Perhaps the Indian tribes with casinos could increase their donations.
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.
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 noticed the focus of the center in Oklahoma City will be on the tribes from the Eastern part of the state that were moved to Oklahoma. Maybe the cultural center should focus on all Native Americans in the U.S. and not just the eastern Oklahoma tribes. Have they received any funding from the Seminoles in Florida, Cherokees in North Carolina, or any of the tribes in the west and Pacific northwest? Is this really a national museum like the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center or an Oklahoma focused museum?
I hope this center can get the funding it needs, but why should the bulk of it come from Oklahoma taxpayers and not from private or national sources? I am interested to see how it plays out.
Bigray in Ok
Using your reasoning there would be no Red Earth Festival. After all why would members from one tribe attend the dances of another tribe especially if white tourist are present.. I haven't seen any figures for the amount they gave but based on your surprise they must think more of the project than you think they do.
I think it is a wonderful and worthy project,and based on the info I have seen, one that will be appreciated and valued by Native Americans and white tourist Americans alike.
How can one read that the $4.2 million came from private, tribal and other sources and assume that the entire amount came from the tribes?
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.
I'm not advocating that the tribes contribute any more to this but your characterization of the cultural center being for "white tourists" is way off base. I'm sure the majority of visitors will be white but it is very important for Native Americans as well to be kept aware of their heritage and I know that is an important aspect to the center.
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