🇺🇸 Oklahoma City’s Hidden Museums & The Golden Waterway

Day 1 Afternoon: First Americans Museum + Bricktown 1️⃣ First Americans Museum (FAM) 🤍🌾 This museum honors the 39 federally recognized Native tribal nations in Oklahoma. The entrance plaza features symbolic tribal designs on the ground. Inside, you’ll find architectural nods to the Mississippian mound-building cultures. 📌 Though the history of colonization is complex and painful, the museum focuses on reconciliation, education, and the celebration of Indigenous cultures. 🔸 Small circle = local tribes | Large circle = regional nations | Largest circle = tribal confederacies 📌 “First Americans” refers to Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land for millennia. “First Nations” is more commonly used in Canada (non-Inuit). 💭 Core values of Native cultures: Respect ✅, Responsibility ✅, Reciprocity ✅, Relationships ✅ 💭 Contrast with later settler values: Land ownership ❓, Capitalism ❓ 📌 Native peoples prefer to be identified by their specific tribal names rather than the misnomer “Indian.” Their connection to the land and nature remains profound. 🗺️ Tribes like those from the Northern Plains once used sites like Devils Tower (Wyoming) for navigation and ceremony. Colonial expansion disrupted these connections—though some tribes formed new alliances. 🖐️ Interactive exhibit: A drawer quiz lets you test your knowledge on “Who is a First American?” (Answers: ✅✖️✖️✅) 🚙 A fun virtual off-road experience: “Ride” through tribal lands while learning about traditions like dance and storytelling. 🎥 After a comfy theater session, you’ll see displays honoring athletes with Native roots or Oklahoma ties who’ve shined in international competitions. 🧵 Don’t miss the intricate beadwork art—stunning craftsmanship! 🛍️ Near the gift shop, a long display shows cities with strong tribal influences (e.g., Cheyenne). ✨ Right outside: the new OKANA Resort & Waterpark is coming soon! 2️⃣ Bricktown 🧱🚶♀️ A charming red-brick district often called a “mini San Antonio River Walk.” 🚖 I met a Navajo driver from the Four Corners region. She shared how the Chickasaw Nation transformed this area into Bricktown—a tribute to the Land Run—and now uses revenue from local ventures to fund education for tribal youth, encouraging them to return and contribute to Oklahoma. #CollegeSupport #StudyInUSA #CityExplorer #JustGo #Texas #Houston #Tulsa #OklahomaCity