 | |
| Established | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1992 |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°31′25″N 97°28′30″W / 35.5236°N 97.4751°W / 35.5236; -97.4751 |
| Type | cultural museum |
| Executive director | Mary Jo Watson (1984–88) |
| Chairperson | Allie Reynolds (1984) |
The Center of the American Indian (CAI) was an intertribal, Native American-led museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was housed in the second floor of the Kirkpatrick Center.[1]
The Center of the American Indian produced a quarterly journal, The Storyteller.[2] The CAI held workshops, language classes, and symposia, such as "We Always Had Plenty: Native Americans and the Bison" held in 1989.
CAI helped launch the Red Earth Festival in 1987. In 1992, the Center of the American Indian merged into Red Earth Inc.,[3] marking the end of its Native American leadership.
Mary Jo Watson (Seminole) served as director of the museum from 1984 to 1988.[4] Baseball legend Allie Reynolds (Muscogee, 1917–1994) served as board chairman. Artists Benjamin Harjo Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole, 1945–2023) and Sharron Ahtone Harjo (Kiowa) volunteered at the museum and served on the board.[4] Collector Arthur Silberman advised the museum.[5]
Volunteers formed the Friends of the center. Gallerist and dealer Imogene Mugg helped organize exhibition receptions.[1]
In 1990, the museum created a permanent exhibition Moving History: Native American Dance.[6] Artists Sherman Chaddlesone (Kiowa, 1947–2014) and Allie Chaddlesone (Kutenai) exhibited at CAI.[7]
Changing exhibitions, included:
