FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2013 Creek Council House Museum Association Prepares Collections for Public Auction The CCHMA is an independent entity outside of direct governmental management of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Creek Council House Museum Association (CCHMA) recently announced its decision to auction Muscogee (Creek) collections and artifacts to the public. This was a decision made solely by the association’s board of directors and not that of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal government, as the CCHMA, formerly the Creek Indian Memorial Association (CIMA), has always operated as an independent entity outside of direct governmental management of the MCN. The CIMA was established in 1923. The decision to auction items has raised many questions by tribal members, former artifact owners, donors and the general public. The MCN purchased the Council House in 2010 but it did not purchase the collections, furnishings or contents of the building. After the transfer of the Council House to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the CCHMA continued to operate, assert and maintain its standing as an independent non-profit corporation of the State of Oklahoma. All items and artifacts that were either donated or sold to the Creek Council House Museum over the years have always been owned or controlled by the CIMA/CCHMA, not the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. “Unfortunately, we do not have control over the items,” said MCN Principal Chief George Tiger. “They are of invaluable importance to us as a tribe and as a people.” The CCHMA has always existed as an independent non-profit corporation, and the MCN has never had the legal authority to dissolve the CCHMA or forcefully take the collections and artifacts. The CCHMA is now in the process of preparing some or all of its collections and artifacts for public auction. Any MCN citizen or others who may have donated items to the Council House are advised to contact the CCHMA at 918-758-6511.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 00:23:06 +0000
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