Indian Reservation?

I need some help from some long time Oklahomans. We actually live in Edmond, but only moved to Oklahoma a few months ago, and we have been too busy settling into our new surroundings that we haven%26#39;t yet had time to discover the rest of the state. Our family has agreed to host a German exchange student in our home for a few weeks this spring. One of the things she wants to see is an Indian reservation. Is there anywhere we can take her to see what she wants? I%26#39;m afraid what we will show here is going to be quite unimpressive, and just look like any other town, and I don%26#39;t think a casino is what she has in mind. I know there are reservations in south east Texas as well as New Mexico that have things for tourists to see, but I%26#39;m not aware of anything like that in Oklahoma. I don%26#39;t of course want to mislead this young lady, and have her think that Native Americans still live in tee-pee%26#39;s or anything like that, but I would love to show her something about Native American culture and history. Any ideas?

Indian Reservation?

Oklahoma does not have reservations like more western states have; Oklahoma WAS a reservation, so the Native culture is intertwined into everything.

Several tribes have cultural centers; the Cherokees have a very large one near Tahlequah. Muskogee has a nice, but small, Five Civilized Tribes Museum. The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa has quite a few Native American artifacts.

Many tribes have festivals and pow-wows which are open to the public. You%26#39;ll just have to inquire with the tribes as to timing and location. And don%26#39;t forget the Red Earth festical in Oklahoma City, if the timing is right.

Still, nothing in Oklahoma is like the experience of visiting the Taos Pueblo, which is an entire community still conducted, for the most part, as it was hundreds of years ago.

Indian Reservation?

Thanks for the help Twoprofs. It is a shame our visitor will not be here sooner. Our family will actually be in Taos the week before she arrives. We return, and she arrives 2 days later! Taos Pueblo is truly a site to see.

Twoprofs gave you some good tips, and here are some other places in central Oklahoma:

http://www.visitokc.com/nativeamerican.html

The natural history museum has a terrific section showing Native American life. If I find other, more real-life Native American places, I%26#39;ll let you know.

The link for the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History:

http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/

There is Indian City in Anadarko (http://www.indiancityusa.com) it has replicas of 7 indian villages and they have activities through out the year. Good guides that explain everything too.

Tsa La Gi Ancient Village in Tahlequah (http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/) has a replica village. They have reenactors sometimes.

There is also the Indian Territory Culture Center in Wyandotte. They say they have a tipi village, but I haven%26#39;t been to it.

There are two places that come to mind immediately when asked about the indian reservations. We do not actually have ';reservations'; like the ones in New Mexico. There is a demonstration of Indian life at Anadarko, at Indian City. And there is a great celebration in the entire area every August. In Tahlequah, there is the Tsa-La-Gi program, grounds, and shows. There are probably other programs, but I am not aware of them. Each Labor Day, the Choctaws have a weekend long celebration of our culture, and everyone is welcome. There is a good museum in Shawnee owned by the Citizen Potawatomi nation. I am sure other people will contact you and share their knowledge, too.

hello

we plan to go to Los Angeles this summer. Our son want to see indian reservation, sleep in a teepee... Maybe you know good place closed to Los angeles (or website...) We thiink about arizona...

thanks for your help

laure