May 21, 2013
The Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama is excited to announce that they will finally be building a place to call their own.
"Today we're having our ground breaking for the new tribal fellowship hall and church here on the tribal land. We have decided to venture out into this project as a design build project for a community/church building and have it storm ready for the community as well as have church services and tribal functions in."
"We want to build it to where it can be used in event of disaster in this area. They can come to this community center here for emergency food, shelter and clothes."
They've designed the building to help not only themselves, but the whole community, which has not always been a reciprocated feeling.
Carnley says back in the 60's and 70's, her tribe met under trees because the government wouldn't allow anything else.
Years later they were allowed to rent a place to hold tribal gatherings and now finally they will have somewhere to officially call home.
"We were meeting under the trees and now we've gone from meeting under the trees to we'll have a permanent building of our own. The last fifteen to twenty years we've been forced to rent a room or building to have it and then we had to work around other people's schedules. We couldn't have some of our ceremonies in the buildings or on the property."
"It's a lifelong dream that's finally coming true of having a building of our own. Anyone that's built their first home, they know how we feel."
Chief Wright says he's glad he was around to see his tribe finally get what they deserve.
