OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee Nation has announced the launch of a new brand identity that coincides with the affirmed status as a reservation according to a press release sent out by the tribes communication department on April 26.
Statements from officials and the creative manager were included in the statement.
Principal Chief of the Muscogee Nation David Hill said the change coincides with the era of affirmed reservation status.
“The identity of the Nation and how we’re viewed in the public has been discussed several times over the years,” Principal Chief David Hill said. “With this announcement coinciding with our new era as an affirmed reservation, we thought the timing was right for an update on our brand.”
According to the press release, the rebrand is not changing the official name of the tribe.
“This campaign is not an official name change or a removal of the tribe’s seal, both of which are protected by the Constitution,” the release said. “The seal is intended for legal documents and anything representing the government, such as legislation, proclamations and executive orders. In many places, the seal and logo will appear together.”
The name in all official business will still be the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
This initiative is solely focused on the marketing and branding of the Nation to the public the statement said.
“We’re changing the general public’s perception of who we are and what we do,” Muscogee Nation Creative Manager Brian OnTheHill said. “The British coined the misnomer ‘Creek.’ When this alias appears in parentheses alongside the proper name of the Nation it creates confusion among the general public. In order to solidify the Nation’s identification and keep the connection to the tribal seal, we focused the brand on Muscogee.”
OnTheHill, a Muscogee citizen, created the new logo and took inspiration from Mississippian design on pottery and shell carvings, to connect the Nation’s current status to its history.
He said, “Each of the logo’s four components has a longer limb and each of them reach toward the other, just as many Mississippian motifs intertwine, to form a whole.”
“This is in reference to the union of the Muscogee-speaking tribal towns to create the Creek Confederacy and our maintained connectedness as a people,” OnTheHill said. “The four pieces of the logo refer to the sacred number within traditional Muscogee doctrine. Four represents balance, as in the symmetrical shape of the logo.”
The release also said the URL of the tribe’s website has also changed (www.muscogeenation.com) to reflect consistency with the branding update, and a new website design is in process.
The Nation revealed the announcement with paid television ad spots.
Mvskoke Media is conducting a small survey to collect data on citizens thoughts on this new branding campaign. The survey is anonymous.
I am Rita Williams, from Kasita Tribal Town and my clan is Hulbutta.
I am 76 years old and 4/4 Maskoke.
I am okay with the removal of “Creek” a term given to us by Europeans.
I won’t take much of you time and thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my family about rebranding.
I believe that cultural change has come to our tribe in changing our marketing system and the way our tribe is precieved by the public. The symbol blindsided many outside citizens and our tribes community. I personally look at the symbol as new edge and the definition of it doesn’t seem to fit our motifs on preremoval pottery, but takes the edge off of our early ancestors artwork and made it to fit our new ideas of change.
I pray that every change that is to come, we don’t lose the significance of who we are as grassroots people first with importance of culture first, family and community. Mvto!
I think they should keep creek in the name, it’s who we are, who I am.. we don’t need to fall in line with all the cancel movements going on. Let’s stand tall and be proud
I don’t really care for it. Seems a bit simple design and now we have to decipher the meanings.
And yes I know the meaning because you explained it but it’s not clear to the naked eye of the meaning behind it.
The tribe is now working on a “decolonized representation strategy”. Talk about a solution in search of a problem. The idea that “Creek” being in the official tribal name is confusing is ridiculous. If anything this change will add confusion where there was none. If the tribe feels that the word “Creek” no longer accurately represents us as a people then change our official name. As for rebranding, leave that to our casinos and business interests. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is people. We are not a commodity in need of rebranding.