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OKLAHOMA CITY – Chief Ron Sparkman, The Shawnee Tribe, Barry Switzer, Entrepreneur and Former Head Coach, University of Oklahoma and Bob Burke have all accepted appointments to serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority (NACEA), a state agency established to develop The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum (The Center) located on the Oklahoma River, east of downtown Oklahoma City. Speaker T .W. Shannon, appointed Chief Sparkman to fill one of the seven American Indian seats. Governor Mary Fallin appointed Coach Switzer and Bob Burke to fill two of the seven business community seats on the 17-member Board of Directors.

“I am pleased and grateful to Chief Sparkman for his willingness to serve on this board. All Oklahoma citizens benefit when The American Indian Nations in Oklahoma and State leaders work together to create an economically prosperous and culturally enriched state.”

Chief Sparkman has served as Chief of the Shawnee Tribe for 13 years. He served in the Oklahoma 45th Division from 1955 to 1961 and was honorably discharged with a rank of Sargent E-5. He was a supervisor for Crane Manufacturing Company for ten years and then continued his career as the Executive Director of Community Action for Ottawa, Craig and Delaware Counties in Northeast Oklahoma in 1964. He served as the Executive Director of the Picher Housing Authority until 1974. Since 1974, he has been the Motor License Agent for the Oklahoma Tax Commission in Ottawa County Oklahoma. He is the President of the Inter-Tribal Council, which is comprised of American Indian Tribes in NE Oklahoma (Shawnee Tribe, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, Miami Tribe, Modoc Tribe, Ottawa Tribe, the Peoria Tribe of Indians, the Quapaw Tribe, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe and the Wyandotte Nation). Sparkman was born in central Ottawa county on his families original allotment land. Chief Sparkman says, “I look forward to serving on the Native American Cultural and Education Authority board. I feel this is a very ambitious project for Oklahoma City, as well as the State of Oklahoma. This facility will greatly enhance the public’s knowledge of the thirty nine Tribes that occupy Oklahoma.”

“I am appreciative to both Coach Switzer and Dr. Burke for their enthusiasm to serve on the board. Each is an exceptional individual committed to ensuring the world is aware of our remarkable Oklahoma accomplishments and the state’s unique history, ” says Governor Mary Fallin.

Switzer is the former head coach of the University of Oklahoma and the Dallas Cowboys where he was one of only two coaches to win National Championships in both the NCAA and NFL. Mr. Switzer is an accomplished businessman and author who has been involved with many civic and charitable affairs including serving as Honorary Head Coach of the Oklahoma Special Olympics for the past thirty years. Switzer says, “ I can’t think of a more worthwhile project than this cultural center for the people of Oklahoma and our visitors.”

Burke is founder of Bob Burke Law. Dr. Burke has written more historical non-fiction books than anyone else in history, including 117 titles about Oklahoma. In 2011 as part of Governor Fallin’s reform, he re-wrote the entire workers’ compensation law (Title 85) in Oklahoma that resulted in passage of SB 878. Dr. Burke offers his expertise in workers compensation law by speaking at more than 100 Continuing Legal Education seminars. Dr. Burke served as Secretary of Commerce under the administration of Oklahoma Governor David Boren and served on the board for the Oklahoma Historical Society as well as many other professional associations and memberships. Burke offers, “This project is long overdue and will be a great addition to help share Oklahoma’s interesting history.”

The Chairman of the NACEA Board, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, welcomed all three appointments stating, “The dream is about to become a reality and now more than ever we appreciate the leadership and commitment from tribal and business community leaders to ensure this becomes a place of pride for all Oklahoma Citizens.”

About the NACEA

The Oklahoma Legislature created the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, (NACEA) to oversee the construction and operations of The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum for the purpose of generating awareness, understanding and appreciation of the history of tribes and their relationship to Oklahoma today. The 150,000-square foot Center on 240 acres at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 40, two of the busiest highways in the country, will serve as a living and interactive historical and cultural center exploring Oklahoma American Indian cultures and heritage.

During this spring semester the University of Oklahoma will offer Native Peoples of Oklahoma, a free online course on the cultural traditions and current conditions of the Native American tribes who live in Oklahoma.

The course was originally taught in a traditional classroom setting for more than a decade by a since retired professor, now Dr. Daniel Swan and Dr. Joshua Nelson are reviving the course and presenting it online through Janux, OU’s interactive learning community.

“The online course will broaden the ability of those outside of Oklahoma, as well as within the state, to better understand its Native population,” states a release from the university.

For more information, go to https://janux.ou.edu/landing/course.anth1613.html