This morning Mark and I led Clyde and Kathy to the VA in Muskogee. We left early so we could go to the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. I mentioned yesterday that Clyde has Cherokee blood, but I forgot that Kathy has Native American blood as well. I think her grandmother was Shawnee.
The first floor of the museum told the story of the Trail of Tears and gave details about the five tribes. Let me see if I can remember them all: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole. That’s a period in US history that makes a white person ashamed.
The second floor had current art work done by the members of those tribes. There were paintings, needlework, sculptures, baskets, and all kinds of things. We were supposed to vote for our favorite art piece and the winner would get the People’s Choice award at the end of this month. I voted for a piece of bead work that was well done. Kathy voted for a painting of a warrior on horseback. Mark voted for a cane that was covered in leather, beads and feathers. I don’t know what Clyde voted for.
There was also a gift shop on the first floor, and when Mark and I left for his appointment, Kathy and Clyde were still talking with the woman who was running the museum today. Kathy was trying to remember the name of someone who wrote a lot of picture books from Indian legends. I’m really losing a lot of what I knew when I worked in the library. I had to come home and look it up. I think she was thinking of Paul Goble.
I have been meaning to mention something else I’ve noticed in Oklahoma that surprised me. Ever since Mark and I have been here there have been election signs out such as,
“Think Dink for Cherokee Council”
It hadn’t occurred to me that they would run for office that way.
Tonight Mark cooked the first meal of big-mouth bass. It’s a white fish and I guess it tastes a little like tilapia or cod. Mark put it in foil in the oven with butter and Mrs. Dash lemon pepper seasoning. It was good, but I don’t like having to watch out for the bones. However, I’m always grateful for free food! 🙂