Muscogee Nation celebrates 40 years of Council Oak Tree Ceremony

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held its 40th annual Council Oak Tree Ceremony at Council Oak Tree Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on November 7.

Leaders from the Nation's government and Ceremonial Grounds gathered to honor the site's history as the endpoint of the Trail of Tears. In 1836, the Locv Pokv Tribal Town buried the embers of their sacred fire at this location.

Principal Chief David Hill stated that the ceremony honors ancestors who endured hardship to ensure the survival of the Mvskokvlke. He described the tree as a symbol of the Nation's sovereignty and resilience. The event followed a transition last year when the City of Tulsa conveyed the park to the Nation. National Council Speaker Randall Hicks noted that the site represents a government that continues to stand.

Secretary of Culture and Humanities RaeLynn Butler announced that the Nation is creating a management plan to revitalize the park. This plan includes renovating existing structures and adding permanent signs to make the history of the 44 tribal fires more visible to the public. Mayor Monroe Nichols of Tulsa expressed that the city views the Nation as a sovereign partner in shaping the city's future.