The inside scoop on the new First Americans Museum in OKC BY LINDSAY CUOMO . PHOTOS PROVIDED.
A shared history FAM’s mission is to honor the Indigenous people who inhabited Oklahoma before it was a state, before our nation was even established, as well as those who would later call Oklahoma home. “Today, 39 distinct tribal nations reside in Oklahoma,” shared Ginny Underwood, marketing and communications manager at FAM. “We are as diverse culturally and linguistically as the nations on the European continent.” Eight tribes have historical relationships with Oklahoma, from occupied villages to seasonal migration and hunting: Apache, Caddo, Tonkawa, Wichita, Comanche, Kiowa and Quapaw. Other tribal nations were removed and relocated such as the Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole, who were once assigned the land upon which the museum now resides.
The much-anticipated First Americans Museum will welcome visitors for the first time this September to learn about the shared history of the 39 tribal nations in Oklahoma today. Utilizing art, architecture, first-person narratives and multi-media experiences, the 40-acre complex guides families through the cultural diversity, authentic history and contributions of First Americans. Explore the galleries, watch Native films, taste traditional foods and Indigenous ingredients and engage in family-friendly programming that illuminates a uniquely Native perspective in this world-class museum.
“After nearly 200 years, our histories and cultural life ways are now interwoven into this landscape,” explained Underwood. FAM seeks to help visitors understand the individual and collective experiences by telling 39 sovereign stories in one place. Underwood said the galleries and attractions highlight a variety of first-hand experiences that relate to a single timeline. “It is Native people telling their story,” said Underwood. “There was a lot of community dialog that contributed to what the museum would look like and be like. We hope to be able to look at history, which is sometimes ugly, and reinforce the importance of different perspectives and understanding of our shared history.”
THE MUSEUM GROUNDS ALIGN WITH THE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS JUST AS FIRST AMERICANS HAVE DONE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / SEPT-OCT 2021 27
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