COLUMN: Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration to celebrate Muscogee (Creek) culture, art

If you watch FX Productions’ “Reservation Dogs” on Hulu, you’ve seen Johnnie Diacon’s paintings without knowing.

Diacon is an artist, an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose paintings appear on walls of the show billed as an Indigenous American teen comedy. It’s shot in Oklahoma, the latter-day Muscogee people’s home.

Saturday and Sunday, Diacon will be at the Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, 1207 Emery Highway.

In a phone conversation from Tulsa, Diacon told me the show’s creators sought him out for paintings, and they’re not the only ones seeking him out.

At 59, Diacon’s traditional and contemporary works are done in what’s known as flat style and focus on the people and activities of his nation.

His award-winning paintings are widely scattered in permanent collections and exhibits including at Bacone College where he attended, the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum of Contemporary Indian Art in Santa Fe, at the University of Arkansas – home of the third largest collection of Native American art, and the Museum of Native American History (MONAH), Bentonville, Arkansas, where he did a workshop on the flat style and co-curated MONAH’s first exhibition of contemporary art.

Aside from work in fine arts materials, Diacon has done murals to comic books including the graphic novel compilation “Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers Volume 1” published by Native Realities Press. Check out “Mission Alaska” from the series.

As far as being sought out, add that Joy Harjo, 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate and Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, sought him when she was unsatisfied with cover art suggested for her book “An American Sunrise.” She called on Diacon for better.

And, Diacon said, initially unknowingly to each other, both Muscogee officials and Ocmulgee Mounds celebration organizers contacted him to come to produce a painting during this weekend’s celebration.

“I’ve never been to Ocmulgee Mounds before even though it’s my ancestral homeland,” Diacon said. “I guess you could say I was – we as a modern people were – born in exile in Oklahoma. I have kinfolk I’ve never known buried there. And I’ve actually got peach trees bearing fruit in my yard that originally came from there.”

The Muscogee (Creek) once called the area along the Ocmulgee River and much of Georgia and Alabama home but were forcefully removed as result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Though most associate the infamous Trail of Tears with the Cherokee Nation and Tennessee, there were many trails of tears as native nations were torn from their homes, homelands, houses, businesses and farms and had their wealth essentially seized and redistributed to white residents.

The sad, tragic tale is told more fully elsewhere but is worth acknowledging here.

In the last several years, a bond has emerged and is growing stronger between Oklahoma and Middle Georgia thanks to efforts from people, organizations and entities like Muscogee Principal Chief David Hill, other Muscogee leaders, the Ocmulgee Mounds park leadership and National Park Service, the local Ocmulgee Mounds Association, the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative and more.

And of course, to no small degree, the Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration itself which for 30 years has brought and featured all manner of Southeastern Native American storytellers, dancers, demonstrators, craftspeople and others with important – and too often forgotten in these parts – stories to tell.

This year is the first full celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic. Superintendent Carla Beasley of the Ocmulgee Mounds said it’s good to welcome Native Americans and celebration visitors back.

“Highlights for this year’s event include traditional dances, music, demonstrations, hands-on activities and attendees can observe traditional artisans as they put the final touches on a traditional canoe they began crafting this past spring,” she said. “After the event, the canoe will be placed on exhibit in the visitor center.”

Lisa Lemon is executive director of the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, the community organization that serves as a cheerleader for the park, runs its gift shop and raises money for educational events.

“The best part to me is the people who come,” she said. “I love seeing visitors’ fascination and the pride and passion of the Indigenous people who come to share their culture in so many different ways. They sit in the heat with their crafts, their music or waiting for their turn to perform or give a demonstration because they know it’s important.

“It’s beautiful hearing the music played and language spoken here again. It’s a great day and wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with people from many different indigenous nations.”

Important facts about the celebration include:

• It is Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

• It is one of the few fee-required occurrences at the park. Tickets are available onsite or may be purchased in advance at www.ocmulgeemounds.org. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 with children under 6 free.

• Parking is offsite only and free at the former Macon-Bibb Health Department’s spacious lot at 171 Emery Highway. A free shuttle runs between parking and the event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shuttle is wheelchair accessible.

Somewhat related, Newtown Macon premiered an outdoor, 2nd Street Alley exhibit this week called “Okmulgee to Ocmulgee: Rekindling the Fires.” Curated by Tracie Revis, Muscogee Nation member and director of advocacy at the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, the show features five Muscogee and Yuchi artists/photographers, Yatika Fields, Victoria Tiger, Sierra Revis, Tom Fields and Melissa Apel.

While the number of Muscogee (Creek) coming to the annual celebration has increased, there is a jump this year with 150 coming. Lemon said many will represent tribal government departments and have brochures and information to further tell the past and present story of Muscogee life. The Muscogee equivalent of Visit Macon will be on hand to share attractions and tourist opportunities in Oklahoma’s Indian Country. (facebook.com/VisitMuscogeeNation)

Diacon said he’s eager to make the trip that will show off his people and his art to those in his ancestral homeland. He packed supplies early this week preparing to join others traveling to the celebration from Muskogee, the nation’s capital. It will be a brief getaway from his day job as warehouse lead for Broken Arrow (Okla.) Public Schools.

A little more of his story is enlightening.

“I was born to a Muscogee (Creek) family but adopted by a Cherokee family when I was young – real young,” he said. “I found out later it was because I was sick and mother couldn’t adequately get the care I needed. My adoptive father was a sign painter and graphic artist. I was around his supplies and got interested in art. I started helping out, especially with drawing.”

When in the fourth grade, his parents realized he had bad eyesight and got him glasses. He was captivated seeing Native American paintings clearly on the doctor’s wall done in flat style.

“I stuck with drawing because I liked it, had a knack for it and also because it was an escape,” Diacon said. “We moved around Oklahoma and ended up in Springdale, Arkansas. There were no non-whites there and I got a lot of persecution and didn’t see positive examples of my people anywhere. When I did go out, I would be Mr. Spock when we played ‘Star Trek.’ I identified with him because he was different and smarter and stronger with lots of skills. I liked that. The other kids wanted to be Capt. Kirk. That was fine with me.”

Another positive character he found was Little Sure Shot, the heroic Native American member of classic comics’ Sgt. Rock’s Easy Company.

Those and other trials and tribulations – and good times – led Diacon to the art he produces today. He has said by his honest portrayal of his people he hopes to break stereotypes many have when they think about Native Americans.

“There’s a kind of bitterness, a kind of sadness about going home, too,” he said. “Not an animosity, none of that, but a sadness wondering why all these things had to happen and why did we have to leave places so important to us – our home? But I’m looking forward to seeing things I’ve never seen before and have such a strong connection to.

“As far as my art, I saw a void I wanted to fill. I want to show my people in everyday life, living as we live, connected to our traditions and to the world around us. Even in my contemporary works, there’s that traditional theme.”

More information? See facebook.com/JohnnieDiaconArt, facebook.com/ocmulgeemoundsnps, ocmulgeemounds.org.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.