Baxoje Wosgą Ci (Chi): Iowa Tribal Museum and Culture Center
Baxoje (BAH-kho-jay): "People of the Gray Snow" (Ioway/Iowa Tribe)
Wosgą (WOE-shka (nasalized "a")): Traditions, Way of Doing Things, Habit, Attitude
Ci (Chi) (CHEE): Lodge, House, Dwelling, Building
MUSEUM MISSION STATEMENT. The Iowa Tribal Museum and Culture Center (in Ioway: Baxoje Wosgąci) educates tribal members and the general pu
blic about the history, language, genealogy, traditions, and culture of the Iowa/Ioway tribe, and its lands, traditional and historic, including both natural and cultural resources, in order to perpetuate and preserve our culture and land for future generations. INFORMATION
We see ourselves as a place for Ioway Tribal Memory and Reclamation of Identity as Ioway. The museum was started in a small empty building the tribe was no longer using. Built in 1940 through CCC-ID from the WPA era, by the community using locally-quarried limestone. The tribe let the culture program/THPO use it, and pays the utilities. Had a museum professional come in and give recommendations on lighting, climate controls, security, etc. The executive committee and elders advisory council provide governance, with THPO (me) as curator and main instigator. The museum development so far is just done in increments we can pay for as we go, off donations, NPS THPO money, and FCC Section 106 review fees. Not overgrowing our limited resources, and building community support. It's a place for our culture workshops, language classes, and research. Currently getting advice from Reuben Noah (who worked for the Smithsonian and just got hired as curator for the BIA) on policies and procedures for collections and cataloguing. We are developing partnerships with the St. Joseph Museums and with the Mah-hush-kah Historical Society/Museum in White Cloud, among many others. Also we are joining the American Association for State and Local History and Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, for archival/curatorial training and achieving standards. Ultimately would be aiming for accreditation so we can look at loans of Ioway items from other museums, and building a curator/conservation facility in partnership with other institutions, perhaps at the old Mission by Highland. Step by step.
