Center of the American Indian explained

Center of the American Indian
Coordinates:	35.5236°N -97.4751°W
Established:	1978
Dissolved:	1992
Location:	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Type:	cultural museum
Executive Director:	Mary Jo Watson (1984–88)
Chairperson:	Allie 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.

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, 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.^[3] Collector Arthur Silberman advised the museum.^[4]

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

Selection exhibitions and publications

In 1990, the museum created a permanent exhibition Moving History: Native American Dance.^[5] Artists Sherman Chaddlesone (Kiowa, 1947–2014) and Allie Chaddlesone (Kutenai) 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
• 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)^[9]
• 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,^[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)^[13]

Notes and References

1. Book: The Storyteller . Worldcat . 950476590. 23 April 2021.
2. Web site: Overview and Mission . Red Earth . 23 April 2021.
3. News: Indian Center Chooses Director . 23 April 2021 . The Oklahoma . 24 May 1984.
4. Web site: Silberman: Introduction . National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum . 23 April 2021.
5. News: American Indian Dance Exhibit to Open at Kirkpatrick Center . 23 April 2021 . The Oklahoman . 28 September 1990.
6. News: Condit . Nancy P. . Indian Tribes to Honor Heritage at Annual Expo . 23 April 2021 . The Oklahoman . 10 August 1986.
7. Book: Kachin-Tihus : Those Who Sit with the People. . Worldcat . 82289480. 23 April 2021.
8. Web site: Zotigh . Dennis . Moving History: Evolution of the Powwow . Google Books . 1991 . 23 April 2021.
9. News: Indian Women Art Exhibit to Open Today . 12 November 2023 . The Oklahoman . 6 December 1987.
10. Book: Children of Early America . Worldcat . 82333786 . 23 April 2021.
11. Web site: Publications . Daniel C. Swan . 23 April 2021.
12. Book: Big war/little war : Oklahoma Indians in the Civil War, 1861-1865 . Worldcat . 56793326. 23 April 2021.
13. Web site: Heap of Birds . Edgar . Hock E Aye VI Edgar Heap of Birds CV . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206225116/https://garisandhahn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/EHOB_CV.pdf . dead . February 6, 2024 . Garis & Hahn . 23 April 2021.