Tuesday • November 1 • 2005

Groundblessing Activities:

• Sunrise Ceremony

• Commemoration Luncheon  at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
  Hosted by: Downtown OKC Rotary Club & OKC Chamber of Commerce

• Afternoon Cultural Celebration

• Groundblessing Ceremony

The story of the removal and relocation of American Indian peoples to what is now Oklahoma and the rebirth of these communities is integral to the understanding of what America is today and where it is going tomorrow.  We are creating a place that can preserve and present the grand scope and drama of this unique story.

Groundblessing Ceremony Processional

Kiowa Black Leggings
Seminole Nation Honor Color Guard
Choctaw Nation Dancers – Walk Dance (Walk Dance signifies an important, ceremonial event is about to begin)
Ponca Calling Song

Moving Fires - Welcome & Introductions

Emcee Gena Howard, Deputy Director, Native American Cultural and Educational Authority

Opening Blessing -Stuart Owings (Wichita)

Lord’s Prayer -An Invitation to Tribal Royalty

Blessing the Ground of the American Indian Cultural Center

Governor Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and Co-Chair of Honorary Groundblessing Committee (Chickasaw)
Kim Henry, First Lady of Oklahoma and Co-Chair of Honorary Groundblessing Committee

The Fire Still Burns - Mvskoke Preparation of the Fire

The Everlasting Fire:  Feeding the Fire/Building the Community 

An Invitation to the Tribes -Enoch Kelly Haney, Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation (Seminole)
Performance by Chickasaw Children’s Choir
Governor Brad Henry, Governor of Oklahoma

Closing Remarks & Blessing

Lawrence Hart, Cheyenne Peace Chief and Honorary Groundblessing Committee Member (Cheyenne)

Recessional

Kiowa Black Leggings
Seminole Nation Honor Color Guard
Choctaw Nation Dancers – Walk Dance (Walk Dance signifies an important, ceremonial event is ending)

Victory Song & Celebration Fireworks Display