Center of the American Indian

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.

Center of the American Indian
Established1978
Dissolved1992
LocationOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Coordinates35.5236°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 produced a quarterly journal, The Storyteller.[1] 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.,[2] 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.[3] Baseball legend Allie Reynolds (Muscogee Creek) served as board chairman. Artists Benjamin Harjo Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole and Sharron Ahtone Harjo (Kiowa) volunteered at the museum and served on the board.[3] Collector Arthur Silberman advised the museum.[4]

Selection exhibitions and publications

In 1990, the museum created a permanent exhibition Moving History: Native American Dance.[5] Kiowa artists Sherman Chaddlesone (1947–2014) and Allie Chaddlesone exhibited at CAI.[6]

Changing exhibitions, included:

  • Kachin-Tihus: Those Who Sit with the People (1991) with catalog[7]
  • Moving History: Evolution of the Powwow (1991) with catalog by Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa)[8]
  • Songs of Indian Territory: Native American Music Traditions (1989) with catalog and cassette tape by Willie Smyth
  • Children of Early America (1987) with catalog[9] by Daniel C. Swan[10]
  • Big War/Little War: Oklahoma Indians in the Civil War, 1861–1865 (1985) with catalog[11]
  • Making Medicine: Ledger Drawing Art from Fort Marion (1984) with catalog,[4] 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)[12]

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