OKMVLKE, Oklv. – On Thursday, July 25 the Okmulgee Indian Center celebrated a ribbon cutting on a pedestrian bridge linking the center to the adjacent Muscogee (Creek) Nation Senior Housing Complex. The afternoon ceremony highlighted the overwhelming need for the construction project and celebrated the community.
After an invocation was given by Muscogee (Creek) National Council Representative Charles McHenry, remarks from MCN Second Chief Del Beaver and MCNC Speaker Randall Hicks emphasized the celebratory nature of the day. Second Chief Beaver stated, “Today represents that we listen to the communities, we hear your needs, we do what we can. We got very good employees, and tribal construction that listens to the communities and goes out and does what they can. And then we celebrate. Today also represents that no matter how big, no matter how small the project may be, it’s a celebration, because it’s for our people. We care about our people.”
OIC Chairman Virginia Thomas (Mvskoke) is also a resident at the senior housing complex. She shared with Mvskoke Media the overwhelming need for the bridge as the two sites sit adjacent to each other, but access was difficult. Thomas explained that before the bridge, seniors had to either cross an unpaved stretch of grass that often floods or walk along a street.
Thomas, who uses a scooter for mobility, also shared, “We have other elders that are on walkers and scooters and wheelchairs and they were doing the same and that’s not safe. And now they can come just across, across from the elderly housing, right over to the center. It made us have more involvement with our elders. They come here, they do exercises, they do the walking class, they do the chair volleyball, they come to the elderly meetings. So we have a use that wasn’t provided and we were able to show our need to have this done.”
Members of the OIC Board were also acknowledged during the ceremony and handed out appreciation gifts to tribal construction and maintenance employees for their work on the project. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments and cake were served at the community center.
