OKMULGEE, Okla. – The bell rang Nov. 20. It had been 132 years but tradition didn’t falter.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s National Council gathered once again in the tribe’s historic Council House and met in the House of Warriors just as they had always done in the time before Oklahoma statehood.
Outside, a crowd gathered to witness the ceremony and signing of the deed to the Council House from the city to the tribe.
“I would like to appeal to all of our Muscogee Creek citizens to value the importance of this historic day,” MCN Second Chief Alfred Berryhill said, addressing the crowd assembled on the Council House lawn.
“Many of our forefathers worked to build this building, so it not only houses our history, it contains the very heart of our grandparents.”
The Council House was built by the tribe in 1878. The US Department of the Interior took control of it and sold it to the city of Okmulgee in 1919.
In August, the city agreed to sell the property back to the tribe.
“Today, we celebrate the repossession and symbolic reentry of the historic Creek Council House,” Chief A.D. Ellis said.
The celebration was themed Mucvse Vlicecetv, “A new beginning,” in the Mvskoke language.
After the conclusion of the council meeting, the bell rang again.
Filmmaker Sherwood Ball, a MCN citizen, emceed the event, which included the posting of the colors by the MCN color guard, a traditional Creek oratory and songs sung in the Mvskoke language by the Nation’s head start students and by the College of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Native American Student Association.
Brian Priegel, Mayor of Okmulgee issued a proclamation of recognition. He and Chief Ellis signed the deed, making it official. The Council House is once again the property of the nation that built it.
Samuel Alexander, Second Speaker, led a prayer and song in conclusion.
Once again, the bell rang. The Creek Nation has its Council House back.