"Back in 1895, the Oklahoma Historical Society received a Cheyenne art-decorated rattle that became the first American Indian artifact listed in the OHS collections. It has been followed by collections of artifacts, photos, documents, music, video and other items from all over Oklahoma.

The preservation of American Indian culture has focused not just on artifacts and images, but also prehistoric and historic locations in Oklahoma. Preservation has been pursued over the decades at a variety of sites, including Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Sequoyah's Cabin, the Pawnee Bill Ranch, the George M. Murrell Home, the Doaksville archaeological dig, the Chickasaw Cultural Center and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site.

Now, the OHS board of directors has approved the OHS Office of American Indian Cultural Preservation. It is a new program to reach out to American Indian tribes, associations and families to preserve their cultural artifacts, archival documents, oral histories and historic sites."

Get the Story:
Max Nichols: Oklahoma Historical Society works to preserve American Indian culture (The Oklahoman 2/24)