TVLSE, Oklv. – The Gathering Place has been on the national radar as one of Tulsa’s newest and most popular attractions since its opening in 2018. However those that visit the free park may not be aware of the tribal nation it resides in, or whose land allotment it used to belong to. Now, thanks to the combined efforts of the Gathering Place, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Lucinda Hickory Institute (LHRI), a new monument has been installed at the park that details the history of the area located near the Arkansas River. The monument was unveiled in a ceremony held at the ONEOK Boathouse on April 15.
The monument is a plaque that shares the detailed history of Tulsa’s significance to the MCN as the endpoint of the Trail of Tears. It also details the original land allottee owner, Tuckabache, a medicine man from Locv Pokv Tvlse Tribal Town. Tuckabache lived a very long life, reportedly living to be over a century old. The park’s plaque also tells the history of Creek Freedman Joe Hamilton Tiger, whose allotment lies on the western border of the Gathering Place. Tiger was granted land through the Dawes Act of 1887, and the subsequent Curtis Act of 1989, albeit without the same protections afforded to Mvskoke citizens.
The plaque unveiling was attended by MCN Second Chief Del Beaver, and LHRI Founder Tatianna Duncan (Mvskoke). The Gathering Place is just one of the many iconic locations around Tulsa that once belonged to an allottee owner. According to Duncan, LHRI is working to make sure that allotment history is told and not lost to the sands of time.
“It takes citizens to tell their own story,” Duncan said. “That I am a big advocate of. No one can tell my story like I can, just like I can’t tell someone else’s story. I’m always willing to show people the way to get to those answers.”
The plaque further delves into the Locv Pokv Tvlse tribal town that established their ceremonial ground near the Council Oak Tree. The tree still stands today and resides at Council Oak Tree Park, which is currently under the care of the City of Tulsa. The park has even seen recent interest from local neighborhoods like the Historic Riverview Neighborhood Association to restore it.
Just the Beginning
The plans to install the plaque took a year to finalize. However, talks of a land acknowledgement monument had been in the works for several years. All popular spots around Tulsa were originally owned by an allottee owner. The LHRI continues to research and document each allotment owner, and where their plot was located in present day Tulsa. Although Duncan believes simple land acknowledgement signage is important, the Gathering Place has bigger plans to honor the area it resides in than just signage.
“From what they told us this is just the start,” Duncan said. “They’ve discussed doing a possible symposium. Symposiums are really important because we have to have the conversation to have these (lands) historically represented from all perspectives. As a descendant of Muscogee (Creek) full blood citizens who experienced some of the harsher treatments of this allotment history, that’s my goal. I feel like I am an advocate for my ancestors in this.”
There have also been talks to rename Mingo Valley Trail, the trail that runs through Tuckabache’s former allotment, Tuckabache trail. According to Duncan, the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commision has supported the idea, as well as some members of the Tulsa City Council.
The land acknowledgement monument can be found in the ONEOK Boathouse at the Gathering Place. The park does not charge admission and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. LHRI is campaigning to host a land allotment exhibit symposium within the next year, however a date and location has yet to be announced.
I support the Midland Valley Trail renaming, but I’d prefer renaming it Locv Pocv, rather than Tukvpvtce trail, considering the trail spans multiple different allotments.
Correction: Locv Pokv, sorry for the typo.