A group of Chattahoochee Valley residents is traveling to Oklahoma this week to learn more about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and deliver a letter to the Native American tribe’s leaders from Columbus Mayor-Elect Isaiah Hugley that pledges to build on the city’s’ efforts to forge a stronger relationship between the two communities.
Paul Pierce, the trip’s organizer and retired Springer Opera House producing artistic director, told the Ledger-Enquirer he was given the letter Monday and with it permission to share the contents with the Ledger-Enquirer. Addressed to David Hill, principal chief of the Muscogee Nation, it says:
“Greetings and Congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of the Muscogee Nation Festival. I regret that I cannot accompany our delegation to this important event, but I look forward to meeting you and other tribal leaders in Okmulgee at the first possible opportunity. I have followed our community’s efforts to build closer ties with Muscogee Nation in recent years, and I pledge to build on that work with intentional and meaningful action. Our city played a role in a painful chapter of Muscogee history. I am aware that we have work to do in writing new chapters that speak of the respect and love we have for the original citizens of these lands. Please count on me to be a friend and partner-in-progress. I will do whatever I can to forge new bonds and to explore cultural, economic, and educational opportunities in the coming years. As mayor, I will make it clear to all that the Muscogee people will never be merely visitors in our city. This is your home — and I pray that you regard it so.”
Pierce wrote in an email to the L-E, “This could not be a better expression of our aspirations for building meaningful and enduring ties between Muscogee County and the Muscogee Nation and I am grateful to Mayor-Elect Hugley for providing it.”…