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culturally important decisions: the Muscogee (Creek) Nation (incidentally, the current name of the
nation combines both Native and English terms for the nation and they are often used
interchangeably).31 By the time the Europeans began to settle in Middle Georgia, the remains of the
Lamar civilization, as previously discussed, had banded together with other groups to form a powerful
confederacy that became known to them as the Creeks. While the Muscogee Nation never claimed to
be the architects of the enigmatic earthen mounds at the Ocmlugee National Monument, even during
early European contact they referred to this site as the location where their ancestors first settled after a
migration from the west.32 At this time, an Anglo-Indian trading post was established at the Ocmulgee
site, the remains of which can be seen in the form of a outlined rectangular shape along the main trail to
the Temple Mound.33 During the Indian removals of the early 1800s, the Creeks were steadfast in their
attempts to retain control of the Ocmulgee mound site, until in 1825 William McIntosh, a Lower Creek
leader, relinquished these lands in the Second Treaty of Indian Springs.34 This move ultimately resulted
in his death. McIntosh was branded a traitor for ceding lands without the consent of the entire Creek
Nation and was executed shortly after.35

Today, the Muscogee Creek Nation enjoys a membership of approximately 76,000 citizens, and
has a national government seat in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.36 Though they no longer live in the region of
the Macon Plateau, the Muscogee peoples still hold this area as culturally significant to their heritage
and history. Former Cultural Heritage Preservation Officer of the Muscogee Nation Joyce Bear makes
clear the connection that her people have with this area, stating “When our people were forcibly
removed into Indian Territory...we brought the culture and traditions of the old Mississippian world

31 David, Interview.
32 Matthew Jennings, ed., The Flower Hunter and The People (Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2014), 27-29.
33 David, Interview.
34 Muscogee Creek Nation, “National History” accessed on February 18, 2016. http://creektourism.com/wp-

content/uploads/2015/12/GUIDE_CreekTourism_MCNTR15-1.pdf.
35 David, Interview.
36 Muscogee Creek Nation, “National History.”