Land acknowledgment. Why a native tribe’s flag will fly at the courthouse in Columbus

Paul Pierce, former director of the Springer Opera House, addressed Columbus Council during Tuesday night’s meeting and asked the councilors to acknowledge the city’s land originally belonged to the Muscogee people, a Native American tribe.

Pierce requested the council pass a resolution recognizing the indigenous people who lived on the land.

This came before the April opening of a new play at the Springer entitled “The Mvskoke Project”. The title references the traditional way the tribe’s name is spelled.

The play is set on the modern-day Muscogee reservation in Oklahoma. Pierce said the play focuses on a Muscogee family gathering at their matriarch’s home as she prepares to “pass over to the other world.”

In his plea to the council, Pierce shared the history of how the Muscogee were forced from their land following the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. He shared images of maps that showed the two routes the Muscogee people were forced to take along the Trail of Tears.

Pierce said about a third of the 15,000 Muscogee people who were taken from their homes and relocated to Fort Mitchell didn’t survive the journey West.

Councilor Gary Allen read a resolution declaring friendship and recognizing the historical role of the Muscogee people in Columbus.

The resolution acknowledges the Muscogee people originally lived on the land of Columbus and were forcefully removed from the land. The resolution also shows appreciation of, support for and friendship with the Muscogee nation and its people.

The resolution calls for the flying of the Muscogee nation flag in a suitable location at the Muscogee County Courthouse and other suitable locations in Muscogee County in accordance with U.S. flag code and the state of Georgia.

The resolution also calls for a land acknowledgment to be displayed in Columbus City Hall.

Councilors unanimously approved the resolution.