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narratives describe the Muscogee presence in the heart of historic Creek territory in terms of a

migration story, members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation assert that the ancient people at the

Macon Plateau are their ancestors. Spain echoes the thoughts of many employees of the Historic

and Cultural Preservation Offices of the Creek Nation when he argues that the oral traditions of

the Muscogee Nation firmly establish the cultural affiliation between their Mississippian past and
the Muscogee (Creek) present.62

Over the years, the relationship between the Muscogee Nation and the National Park

Service has evolved significantly. When the on-site museum at Ocmulgee became fully

operational in the 1950s the Park Service invited representatives from Oklahoma to attend an
opening celebration, but cultural insensitivity63 marred the beginnings of this special
relationship.64 Today relations have improved dramatically. Starting in the 1990s the NPS

undertook site-wide efforts to incorporate the wishes of the Muscogee Nation in all aspects of the
Monument's display of their heritage.65 These efforts include respecting the wishes of the Creek

Nation during a mid-90s update to the museum and consultations with the Muscogee Nation
during any large maintenance project proposed to one of the mounds.66 Rae Lynn Butler, the

Chief Preservation Officer of the Muscogee Nation, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the

inclusion felt when dealing with the staff at Ocmulgee, specifically to the Superintendent, Jim
David, and the Cultural Resources Officer, Lonnie Davis.67 This cooperative relationship

fostered a shared push for repatriations from both the Creek Nation and the NPS.

62 Spain, interview by author, February 2, 2018.
63 In the basement among the collections at Ocmulgee National Monument sits a Plains Indian style headdress. It

was donated by the family of a former Principal Chief of the Muscogee Nation who was asked to wear this
“authentic” attire on a visit to Macon in these early days. As it is of no value to a member of the Creek Nation,
his family decided to make it a tongue-in-cheek gift to the NPS.
64 Davis, interview by author, February 1, 2018.
65 Davis, interview by author, February 1, 2018.
66 Davis, interview by author, February 1, 2018.
67 Butler, interview by author, February 2, 2018.

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