Leon Natker, with the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, discussed the origins and importance of the "de-colonized museum."The February 23, 2023 meeting of the Rotary Club of Chickasha was called to order by President-elect Jim Cowan. Rotarian Mitch Williams led the club in singing "Come and Get Your Love".
Jim announced that some board positions for the 2023-24 year have been filled, but a Treasurer and Vice President are still needed.
Rotary inducted two new members at the meeting: Clark and Trina Southard. Trina works for the South Central Oklahoma Workforce Board, which operates throughout this part of the state. Clark is involved with Delaware Nation Industries and more broadly with economic development for Native American tribes.
The club voted to donate $1,250 to the Grady County Junior Livestock Show, covering $10 add-ons for 125 students. The club has donated to the show for each of the past several years.
Rotarian of the Day Rocky Roberson introduced the speaker, Leon Natker. Natker represents the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. He described himself as an artist, archaeologist, and anthropologist.
Natker first elaborated on the name "First Americans Museum". The name of the organization at its inception was the Native American Cultural and Education Authority, but this caused confusion with non-indigenous Americans who were born in the U.S. Later it would be called the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, but this caused confusion with Indian-Americans (as in India). The term "First Americans" more clearly and accurately reflects the people the museum represents.
Natker said that FAM calls itself a "decolonized museum". He briefly explained how the First Americans came to Oklahoma, and how few of the tribes who were located in Indian Territory were originally from said territory. The quantity of people, as well as the multitude of unique cultures, would be similar to forcing the entire population of Europe to live on the island of Great Britain.
Natker explains the difference between "America" and the United States of America.
He then told the history of museums in general. Under British colonialism, museums became collections of foreign cultures, with a veil of "science". In reality, they invoked various forms of pseudoscience to justify their colonization, and to cast other people groups as strange and even barbaric. These were the "colonized" museums.
First Americans Museum, on the other hand, is operated by Native Americans, and consults all 39 tribes in the state. Their curatorial methodology is based on four pillars—respect for the people, knowledge, and aesthetics; reciprocity with tribes, institutions, and communities; relationships, through building kincentricity with the community and the items on display; and responsibilty to nations, community members, and to their supporters.
The FAM's mission is "to serve as a dynamic center promoting awareness and educating the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history, contributions, and resilience of the First American Nations in Oklahoma today." Natker explained that "museums serve to tell stories." The exhibits in the FAM are intended to showcase and celebrate indigenous culture, past and present, in its proper context.
The FAM is located at 659 First Americans Blvd. in Oklahoma City, right on the Oklahoma River. It is closed Tuesdays, open 10 am - 5 pm all other weekdays, and 11 am - 5 pm on weekends.
Lunch was provided by Alexander Eats.