Center of the American Indian

Center of the American Indian
Map
Established1978
Dissolved1992
LocationOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Coordinates35°31′25″N 97°28′30″W / 35.5236°N 97.4751°W / 35.5236; -97.4751
Typecultural museum
Executive directorMary Jo Watson (1984–88)
ChairpersonAllie Reynolds (1984)

The Center of the American Indian (CAI) was an intertribal, Native American-led museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was housed in the second floor of the Kirkpatrick Center.[1]

The Center of the American Indian produced a quarterly journal, The Storyteller.[2] The CAI held workshops, language classes, and symposia, such as "We Always Had Plenty: Native Americans and the Bison" held in 1989.

CAI helped launch the Red Earth Festival in 1987. In 1992, the Center of the American Indian merged into Red Earth Inc.,[3] marking the end of its Native American leadership.

Personnel and supporters

Mary Jo Watson (Seminole) served as director of the museum from 1984 to 1988.[4] Baseball legend Allie Reynolds (Muscogee, 1917–1994) served as board chairman. Artists Benjamin Harjo Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole, 1945–2023) and Sharron Ahtone Harjo (Kiowa) volunteered at the museum and served on the board.[4] Collector Arthur Silberman advised the museum.[5]

Volunteers formed the Friends of the center. Gallerist and dealer Imogene Mugg helped organize exhibition receptions.[1]

Selection exhibitions and publications

In 1990, the museum created a permanent exhibition Moving History: Native American Dance.[6] Artists Sherman Chaddlesone (Kiowa, 1947–2014) and Allie Chaddlesone (Kutenai) exhibited at CAI.[7]

Changing exhibitions, included:

  • Kachin-Tihus: Those Who Sit with the People (1991) with catalog[8]
  • Moving History: Evolution of the Powwow (1991) with catalog by Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa)[9]
  • Songs of Indian Territory: Native American Music Traditions (1989) with catalog and cassette tape by Willie Smyth
  • Mothers and Descendants (1987), group exhibition of women artists, including Shan Goshorn (Eastern Band Cherokee, 1957–2018), and their children, guest-curated by Mary Lou Davis (Caddo/Cherokee)[1]
  • Children of Early America (1987) with catalog[10] by Daniel C. Swan[11]
  • Big War/Little War: Oklahoma Indians in the Civil War, 1861–1865 (1985), with catalog[12]
  • Making Medicine: Ledger Drawing Art from Fort Marion (1984) with catalog,[5] celebrating the ledger art of St. David Pendleton Oakerhater (Southern Cheyenne, c. 1847–1931).
  • Full Blooded (1984), solo exhibition of work by Edgar Heap of Birds (Southern Cheyenne)[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Indian Women Art Exhibit to Open Today". The Oklahoman. 6 December 1987. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. ^ The Storyteller. OCLC 950476590. Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via Worldcat.
  3. ^ "Overview and Mission". Red Earth. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Indian Center Chooses Director". The Oklahoma. 24 May 1984. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Silberman: Introduction". National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  6. ^ "American Indian Dance Exhibit to Open at Kirkpatrick Center". The Oklahoman. 28 September 1990. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ Condit, Nancy P. (10 August 1986). "Indian Tribes to Honor Heritage at Annual Expo". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ Kachin-Tihus : Those Who Sit with the People. OCLC 82289480. Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via Worldcat.
  9. ^ Zotigh, Dennis (1991). "Moving History: Evolution of the Powwow". Google Books. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  10. ^ Children of Early America. OCLC 82333786. Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via Worldcat.
  11. ^ "Publications". Daniel C. Swan. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  12. ^ Big war/little war : Oklahoma Indians in the Civil War, 1861-1865. OCLC 56793326. Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via Worldcat.
  13. ^ Heap of Birds, Edgar. "Hock E Aye VI Edgar Heap of Birds CV" (PDF). Garis & Hahn. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2021.