Post by Okwes on May 16, 2007 9:27:57 GMT -5
Recovering lost history
By S.E. RUCKMAN World Staff Writer
Creeks aiming to buy back Council House
OKMULGEE -- It is considered a sandstone jewel for both the Muscogee (Creek)
Nation and the city of Okmulgee. Nestled in downtown, the Creek Council
House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story
building is a remnant of the Creek Nation's early government after the tribe
was
relocated to Oklahoma Territory from Georgia. It was once fashioned of logs.
To the current national council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, it is the
symbolic remnant of their past that they want back in tribal possession. To
city
officials, the council house is inextricably linked with Okmulgee's
municipal image.
"When you think of Okmulgee, you think of the Creek Council House," said
Dana
Sigmon, Okmulgee's community development director.
Indeed, local billboards and city signs bear the building's likeness.
Both sides feel a sense of ownership, but the city is the current owner.
The Creek National Council solidified its intentions to reacquire the
building while reviewing a $25,000 appropriation to the Okmulgee Area
Development
Corp. on Jan. 27. Tribal councilors stipulated that the money would not be
dispersed until the city began earnest negotiations on the sale of the old
council building.
Tribal councilors said talks with city officials about a sale have stalled
out over the years.
The recent influx of gaming revenue from its casinos has put the tribe in a
position to accomplish a long-held goal to buy back the historical
government
center that they feel was taken from them in an era of negative Indian
policy, said Creek Speaker of the House George Tiger.
The city bought the building in 1919 from the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Sigmon said.
The building had become BIA property under the Curtis Act of 1906, which
dissolved all the Five Civilized Tribes' governments and their government
properties at the moment of Oklahoma statehood.
The historical building now holds the Creek Council House Museum, which is
run by a city entity, the Creek Council House Museum Board. Most of the
artifacts within the Council House Museum are owned by the 58,000-member
tribe.
Sigmon sits on the 12-member museum board. She said the city is proud of the
purchase it made for around $100,000 about 88 years ago. The city, through
the board, maintains upkeep on the Creek Council House Museum.
"It's important to Creek citizens and their heritage, but it's important to
the city of Okmulgee, too. Many of the townspeople feel a sense of ownership
for it," she said.
Sigmon is referring to a $1.5 million building renovation in 1992. That
makeover was funded partially by a Mabee Foundation grant, donations and
city
funds.
Both sides say negotiations for the building are "in the early stages."
Tribal officials aren't committing to how much they will give for their old
council building.
The curator of the museum, Ted Isham, a Creek tribal member, said any price
affixed to the historical building would not reflect its true worth.
"How do you put a dollar value on something that's priceless?" he said. "You
can't put a price tag on our people and this (building) is part of who we
are."
S.E. Ruckman 581-8462
__se.ruckman@_se.ruckman_se_ (mailto:_se.ruckman@tulsaworld.com) _
(mailto:_se.ruckman@tulsaworse.ruc_ (mailto:se.ruckman@tulsaworld.com) )
By S.E. RUCKMAN World Staff Writer
Creeks aiming to buy back Council House
OKMULGEE -- It is considered a sandstone jewel for both the Muscogee (Creek)
Nation and the city of Okmulgee. Nestled in downtown, the Creek Council
House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story
building is a remnant of the Creek Nation's early government after the tribe
was
relocated to Oklahoma Territory from Georgia. It was once fashioned of logs.
To the current national council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, it is the
symbolic remnant of their past that they want back in tribal possession. To
city
officials, the council house is inextricably linked with Okmulgee's
municipal image.
"When you think of Okmulgee, you think of the Creek Council House," said
Dana
Sigmon, Okmulgee's community development director.
Indeed, local billboards and city signs bear the building's likeness.
Both sides feel a sense of ownership, but the city is the current owner.
The Creek National Council solidified its intentions to reacquire the
building while reviewing a $25,000 appropriation to the Okmulgee Area
Development
Corp. on Jan. 27. Tribal councilors stipulated that the money would not be
dispersed until the city began earnest negotiations on the sale of the old
council building.
Tribal councilors said talks with city officials about a sale have stalled
out over the years.
The recent influx of gaming revenue from its casinos has put the tribe in a
position to accomplish a long-held goal to buy back the historical
government
center that they feel was taken from them in an era of negative Indian
policy, said Creek Speaker of the House George Tiger.
The city bought the building in 1919 from the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Sigmon said.
The building had become BIA property under the Curtis Act of 1906, which
dissolved all the Five Civilized Tribes' governments and their government
properties at the moment of Oklahoma statehood.
The historical building now holds the Creek Council House Museum, which is
run by a city entity, the Creek Council House Museum Board. Most of the
artifacts within the Council House Museum are owned by the 58,000-member
tribe.
Sigmon sits on the 12-member museum board. She said the city is proud of the
purchase it made for around $100,000 about 88 years ago. The city, through
the board, maintains upkeep on the Creek Council House Museum.
"It's important to Creek citizens and their heritage, but it's important to
the city of Okmulgee, too. Many of the townspeople feel a sense of ownership
for it," she said.
Sigmon is referring to a $1.5 million building renovation in 1992. That
makeover was funded partially by a Mabee Foundation grant, donations and
city
funds.
Both sides say negotiations for the building are "in the early stages."
Tribal officials aren't committing to how much they will give for their old
council building.
The curator of the museum, Ted Isham, a Creek tribal member, said any price
affixed to the historical building would not reflect its true worth.
"How do you put a dollar value on something that's priceless?" he said. "You
can't put a price tag on our people and this (building) is part of who we
are."
S.E. Ruckman 581-8462
__se.ruckman@_se.ruckman_se_ (mailto:_se.ruckman@tulsaworld.com) _
(mailto:_se.ruckman@tulsaworse.ruc_ (mailto:se.ruckman@tulsaworld.com) )