Our vision is to positively impact both Native and non-Native communities in our communities across the nation and the world by preserving traditional Ottawa culture, language, and history. We believe that by preserving traditional Ottawa culture and providing tribal members access to culture-based community and online resources, we will help to strengthen and empower individuals, families, and communities across the nation to a healthier and more robust way of life.

Our mission is to empower all Ottawa Tribal members to confidently and proudly participate in Ottawa culture through education, tribal language revitalization, tribal historic preservation, cultural lifeways, and food sovereignty initiatives. 

Our core values are rooted in traditional Anishinaabe worldview and teachings: 

• The Seven Generations Teachings honoring the past seven generations and working towards a bright future for the next seven.

• The Seven Grandfather Teachings of Love, Truth, Courage, Wisdom, Humility, Honesty, and Respect.

• Traditions of inclusivity, adaptation, fostering inter-tribal relationships, and reciprocity.

• High respect for and focus on elders and children

Everything we do is based in these good ways. We are here and thriving today despite the unimaginable hardships we have historically survived as a people. We will continue to do so no matter what is thrown our way. The Adawe Cultural Center and Museum is a locus of unity for the citizens of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma. It doesn’t matter that we are scattered across the continent; we are united as a tribe through the tenacious preservation of our traditions and creative use of modern technologies.

“United we stand, divided we fall.”

“The Ottawa have always been and will always be. As long as one of us lives, there will be an Ottawa Tribe.”

—

Brittany Bailey Long
Director, Adawe Tribal Cultural Center and Museum