Tulsa City-County Library’s American Indian Resource Center will induct Sam Proctor into the Circle of Honor during a special presentation March 5, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at Hardesty Regional Library’s Connor’s Cove, 8316 E. 93rd St.
Proctor’s award presentation begins the monthlong celebration honoring the achievements and accomplishments of Native Americans. Award-winning and internationally acclaimed artist Dana Tiger, Muscogee (Creek), painted a portrait of Sam Proctor and will have prints for sale after his ceremony. Programs will be held throughout TCCL locations during March. All library events are free and open to the public.
Proctor, Muscogee (Creek), was born south of Hanna in the Weogufkee community of Oklahoma, the heart of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and is a lifelong Oklahoman. He is a descendant of Opethleyahola, one of the great Creek leaders.
Proctor has dedicated his life’s mission to encouraging families to incorporate Muscogee (Creek) traditions in their daily routines. He believes that the language and traditions are vital to maintaining a way of life that promotes balance and harmony with family, friends and strangers.
His knowledge of traditional and sustainable agriculture was beneficial in the efforts to establish the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative in Okmulgee, Okla. in 2007. The purpose of the program is to help the Muscogee (Creek) people and their neighbors in the eight counties that make up the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to improve their health through agriculture, economic development and community involvement.
Proctor actively participates as the medicine man of Tallahassee (Wvkokaye) Ceremonial ground, located in rural Okfuskee County. Each summer he participates in the annual Green Corn ceremonies, which is a time of purification, renewal and moving forward. During the ceremony, the central sacred fire is extinguished and its ashes are added to a mound to show the relationship between people and the land. A new fire is lit and its embers are shared with the surrounding hearths of the camps, to begin a new cycle.
“I have known Sam Proctor my entire life and have long been inspired by his efforts to preserve the heart of the Muscogee Creek culture and keep the traditions alive,” said Will Hill, American Indian Resource Center advisory board member. “Sam is a distinguished tribal elder and is regularly asked to share his insights in the preservation of tribal languages and culture. He is even considered a statesman after speaking in Washington D.C. on the preservation efforts of the Creek people.”
The Circle of Honor ceremony recognizes an American Indian for his or her achievements by acknowledging the inductee’s contributions that have enriched others’ lives and by celebrating the inductee’s action in the face of adversity, commitment to the preservation of American Indian culture and legacy for future generations.
Sponsored by the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Cherokee Builders Inc., American Indian Resource Center and the Tulsa Library Trust. The award consists of a $5,000 honorarium and a medallion featuring the American Indian Resource Center’s turtle logo.
The Circle of Honor alternates annually with the American Indian Festival of Words Author Award. Past Circle of Honor recipients include Charles Chibitty, Wilma Mankiller, Neal McCaleb, Bill Mills, Kirke Kickingbird and Ruthe Blalock Jones.
The American Indian Resource Center, located at the Zarrow Regional Library, 2224 W. 51st St., provides educational and informational resources, activities and services honoring American Indian heritage, arts and achievements. The center also provides access to more than 4,000 books and media for adults and children by and about American Indians, including historical and rare materials, new releases, videos and music CDs.
Recent additions to the collection include native-language printed materials and CDs for independent learning. The goal of this collection is to promote, revitalize and preserve our country’s native languages.
For more information on the Circle of Honor ceremony, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit the library’s website, http://tulsalibrary.org./airc. # # #