Members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation celebrated completion of the Reintegration construction project Friday.
The facility, located on East Corporation, is designed to provide living and training facilities for some 36 members of the Creek Nation who completed prison sentences. Nine housing units have been built as well as a new administration building. The program has been located in Henryetta for several years and working out of a 6,000 square foot office building. That will become a training center.
“Today is an exciting time,” said program manager Tony Fish. “We believe every citizen is important and capable of change.”
Creek principal chief James Floyd praised former program head Chubby Anderson for his efforts over the years. “In the 1970s he went to jails and prisons to work with our people,” he said. “He went ot some places I wouldn’t want to go.”
Floyd told the nearly 125 attending the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony that, “Without a support system, almost 75 percent of those released form prison would be arrested within 24 hours. We want to get them on the path to success.”
The new facility will provide vocational training as well as counseling services to help recently-released tribal members blend back into society.
The keynote address was given by Henryettan Willie Wind. He is a member of the U.S. Secret Service stationed in Washington, D.C. and has been in law enforcement for over 20 years.
He pointed out the Creek culture is tribal members take care of each other. “If you fall down or stumble,” you can go to someone and get help. That is a commonality within the Creek Nation.”
The facility is built on a 12-acre site. The ribbon cutting ceremony signaled the end of a nearly four-year-long effort that was boosted by a grant from the Department of Justice. Ground was officially broken in August, 2015.
The program started with pastor Newman Frank delivering an opening prayer as well as signing a hymn in the Creek language.
Creek Nation second chief Louis Hicks, who had worked at the facility several years ago, pointed out, "a lot of clients have gone through here and we did a lot of good for a lot of people. This started with a vision and has been a lot of work but the program and people never quit."
