ANADARKO OK
By S.E. Ruckman, Native Times Correspondent 5/22/2008
The Tonkawa Hills officially belong to the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.
A ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony drew over 300 onlookers to the top of Indian City Hill in Caddo County [MAP] Saturday as tribal officials from both the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux and the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma dedicated the 197-acre tourist attraction.
A $1 million philanthropic grant from the Minnesota Sioux community facilitated the purchase of the privately owned site by
the Kiowas purchased in February. The tourist site was newly named the Indian
City, USA Cultural Center.
The property had been privately owned for decades and recently was operated in conjunction with the state of Oklahoma as an official tourist site, but had struggled with low attendance.
An inter-tribal collaboration funded by gaming revenues changed the fate of Anadarko’s Indian City.
About three years ago, the Kiowas applied for a grant from the Shakopee tribal council, allowing the tribe to purchase the theme park and surrounding acreage.
Kiowa officials said their purchase of the site was the first time since the land allotment era that local Indians were able to reclaim property lost to them during Oklahoma statehood.
Billy Evans Horse, Kiowa tribal chairman, addressed the crowd in traditional Kiowa. In English, he said the day heralded a new time for his tribe.
“God tested the hearts of the Shakopee…the Kiowas were praying for prosperity,” he said. “He (God) gives you the power to do what you want to do and when you discover this, you are amazed.”
Horse sang a Kiowa buffalo song and dancers preceded gifts of traditional items, including beaded moccasins and lance for the attending Shakopee officials.
A group of four representatives from the Minnesota tribe flew in Saturday for the dedication and returned to Minnesota the same day after a dedication meal, officials said.
Keith Anderson, Shakopee secretary/treasurer, said while his tribe reviewed many applications for assistance, they were moved to help the Kiowas.
“I am humbled by you. We are a very fortunate tribe,” Anderson said. “If I had millions more to give away, I certainly would. The Shakopees operate Mystic Lake, a casino just outside of Minneapolis, MN with its 2,800 acres of
tribal land located in Prior Lake and Shakopee, MN.
Tribal officials said honoring the Shakopees was a way to show their gratitude.
Modina Waters, center director, said the Kiowas plan to refurbish and expand the site while developing its Indian crafts. Addtionally, Indian City USA Cultural Center will allow the Kiowa tribe to offer employment
opportunities to its citizens.
“The Shakopee Mdewakanton have been a blessing to the Kiowa Tribe,” she said.
The dedication coincided with the tribe’s annual Black Leggings War Society ceremonies held annually in the nearby Indian City dance ground.
The 16,000-member tribe will operate the facility year-round as a tourist attraction with guided tours, gift shop and amphitheater. The facility has on-site replicas of villages of the Kiowa, Pawnee, Caddo, Wichita, Apache, Navajo and Pueblo tribes.
The Kiowas plan to apply for trust status for the site from the U.S. Department of Interior, officials said.
Leave a Reply