Viewpoint: Oklahoma is stronger with tribal partnerships

Phil G. Busey Sr.
Sun, January 9, 2022

The September opening of First Americans Museum (FAM) became a reality after over a decade in the making because of widespread community, tribal, government and business efforts. This museum is long overdue in honoring the legacies of our Native American brethren. Soon after FAM’s grand opening, the Chickasaw Nation announced plans to build a $300 million resort next door to the iconic facility.

Achieving these impactful drivers for our city and state has made a statement of preservation, dedication and resilience on the national level. These successes also highlight the great achievements of our tribal nations — coming from virtual elimination a little over 100 years ago to becoming equivalents of Fortune 1,000 companies today that have reshaped our state’s economy and culture for the better.

Our tribes have a significant place in our history and are necessary business and community partners. Oklahoma, with only 4 million people, is a small state considering over 7 million live in the Dallas metroplex alone. Regardless of ethnicity, we must work together for economic advancement. The 39 federally recognized tribes are rural Oklahoma and influence our educational, infrastructure and economic growth statewide.

Our First Americans represent a unique legacy and ingrained part of this country. For over 400 years, tribes initially welcomed our pilgrims and settlers. Encroachment, broken treaties, forced removals, disease and war reduced our tribes to mere remnants of themselves — including my people, the Cherokee and Delaware (Lenape). Tragedies imposed on them — including losses of lands, families, wealth and rights — diminished tribal influence. By the 20th century, First Americans could not vote, government policies were aimed at eliminating tribal governments all together. That meant destruction of cultures, as well. Despite these injustices, tribes survived and have persevered.

Few know the game of football evolved at a Native American boarding school. In spirit and play, the first real “All-American” football team was the 1912 Native American team of Carlisle Indian Industrial School. As told in “The Real All Americans” by Sally Jenkins, these students were ripped from their tribes and forbidden to be “Indian.” Their coach, Pop Warner, became a pioneer in American sports. With players smaller in size, he used speed and innovated formations like the forward pass and other techniques that were precursors to today’s game. Players included Jim Thorpe. Despite stigmas and discrimination, this team beat the best of the best, gaining respect of athletes on opposing teams. They proved they were as good as their Ivy League counterparts. However, it still took decades to gain equality and over 100 years for FAM to open.

Oklahoma is Indian Territory — by treaty to belong to the First Americans’ forever. That lasted 50 years. This was their land, and we cannot separate our combined heritages.

Today, Oklahoma is much stronger because of our tribal nations rising like phoenixes from the darkness of exclusion. They now give back at all levels to our people.

First Americans are equal to the task. They keep their commitments. Can we? Our government, and we as a people, must embrace them and respect them as part of our stories.

It is with gratitude and acceptance we are called to link arms with our fellow First Americans. Our image outside our borders depends on projecting the valuable blended cultures that set us apart from other states. Our future depends on establishing viable partnerships for advancement of all Oklahomans and Americans.

Phil G. Busey Sr. is chairman and CEO of DRG and The Busey Group of Cos.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Viewpoint: Tribal partnerships make Oklahoma stronger