Facts about the upcoming Indian Cultural Center

• Grassroots efforts to create a space dedicated to American Indian culture began more than 30 years ago. The project became a reality when Oklahoma State Senators Kelly Haney and Robert M. Kerr introduced the legislation to create the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority (NACEA) to design, construct and operate an American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. The bill was passed by the state in 1994.

• Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby serves as Chairman of the NACEA Board of Directors.

• The Center will be located on approximately 300 acres at the SE corner of I-35 and I-40. The land was donated by the City of Oklahoma City in 1998.

• In May 2005, the state passed a $33 million bond, securing the funding which would allow building to begin. Additional funding has been raised through donations, state and federal grants.

• Representatives from each of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes were interviewed to gather input for the development of the American Indian Cultural Center and its exhibits.

• More than 54,000 driving miles and 25,000 air miles were accumulated by project planners to ensure that each tribe had a voice in the center.

• Planned features include a Hall of People, a Promontory Walk and a Community Forum. The exhibits are dedicated to overarching themes important to American Indian culture such as community, memory and sovereignty.

• Visitors will be able to experience the Court of the Wind surrounded by 39 tree-like “sound pipes” that resonate from the wind.

• Several galleries and theatres, with projected images and sound and light effects, will orientate guests to the cultural history and the importance of the Oklahoma Native American tribes.

• A Family Center will feature hands-on activities such as storytelling, quilting and beadwork crafts.

• The outdoor design plan for the Cultural Center and Museum include woodland, plains and wetlands settings as well as a lake extending the entire length of the site. The landscaping will included trees and plants native to the area.

• Other facilities planned include: a large dance ground for traditional social gatherings, sports fields for tournaments and inter-tribal games, a 200-room lodge and conference center, a 125 room hotel, an arts and crafts marketplace, studios and galleries, restaurants and a 300-space RV and tent campground.

Source: Native American Cultural and Educational Authority (http://nacea.com)