Meet FAM’s new CEO Dr. Kelli Mosteller - MetroFamily Magazine
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Meet FAM’s new CEO Dr. Kelli Mosteller

by Erin Page. Photos provided.

Reading Time: 5 minutes 

Dr. Kelli Mosteller’s journey from rural Oklahoma to CEO of the First Americans Museum is a testament to the profound influence of her Citizen Potawatomi Nation heritage and a lifetime dedicated to preserving Indigenous culture.

Mosteller grew up in Comanche, Okla., a small town of less than 2,000 people. Her heritage was an integral part of her childhood, thanks in large part to her grandmother.

“Having Potawatomi history and art around us was important,” said Mosteller. “We went to a Native summer camp in Lawton, we had Johnson-O’Malley activities [federally funded supplemental education for Native students] after school … I was in a world where many people around me were Native.”

That immersion and pride in her culture inspired her career. Even before her first day at Oklahoma State University, she declared a history major and never wavered across 13 years of higher education. She earned her doctorate from the University of Texas and completed her dissertation on the Citizen Potawatomi Nation while also serving as executive director of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee. She held that position for 12 years; then she became executive director of Harvard University Native American Program in 2022.

Mosteller returns home as CEO of First Americans Museum, a role for which her extensive experience in Indigenous cultural preservation, museum management, tribal community engagement and academia have prepared her well. Beyond her technical experience, her enthusiasm for mentoring youth, respect for her ancestors and unbridled joy in her Native and Oklahoma heritage uniquely position her to lead FAM into the institution’s next phase.

Dr. Mosteller shared her visionary plans to amplify FAM’s impact here in Oklahoma City and around the globe.

How have your professional experiences prepared you for your role at FAM?

FAM CEO Dr. Kelli Mosteller is proud of her Indigenous hertiage. The journey really started while working on my PhD at the University of Texas. Tribal leadership reached out, said the director position was open at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center and they wanted to talk to me about it.

I was so honored to be asked to join that team. Taking on this position while finishing my dissertation, I don’t think I understood how integral it would be to furthering my knowledge of my community. I was knowledged in literature and chronology, but when you start talking to people about their history and what it means to them, you get such a deeper understanding.

In my first few weeks on the job, we got permission to rebuild the museum exhibits and galleries. I was new to the museum side of things, so I learned on the job. I did that work under the best circumstances — when we had grants and plans and time — and under the most stressful — when the museum was flooded, we had insurance claims and had to tear out exhibits and start fresh.

I was also able to work with FAM [before opening] as they made sure each tribal community could tell their own story and represent their history the way they wanted to. And I’ve seen the response to the exhibits, phenomenal programming and educational opportunities. That is something FAM is doing better than anyone — from FAMcamps to bringing in Indigenous cultural conventions — they are embracing the renaissance in Oklahoma. Tribes are at the center of that, and we need to make sure people understand how integral we are to the history and future of this state.

What are your priorities as FAM’s CEO?

First, I want to get familiar with the staff and see where they need support. My next priority is in-depth, targeted outreach to tribal communities. There are 39 tribes in Oklahoma, and we have a varied range of sizes, resources and geographies, and I want to make sure every tribal community is feeling that outreach and deep engagement.

I’m focused on helping open the FAMily Discovery Center, which will [have] permanent exhibits targeted to kids and families. So often we hear adults say they didn’t learn much about Native people in school. I am looking forward to this space where kids are not only familiar with Native history but also learning unique things about these dynamic tribes and how to think from an Indigenous point of view. I don’t think people quite appreciate how unique Oklahoma is in this capacity — to have 39 tribes that represent everything from southeast cultures to woodlands cultures. FAM is perfectly positioned to help share those histories. We can all be proud of these cultures as Oklahomans and as Americans.

I’m also looking forward to the opening of OKANA [Resort and Indoor Waterpark], which will open FAM to a new audience. OKANA will bring people to this part of OKC [to] see and discuss Native heritage and culture — and see how tribes are thriving.

Do you have a favorite exhibit at First Americans Museum?

I’m glad to see how much care and attention FAM puts into telling the stories of Native veterans.

At the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center, we have the long room dedicated to our veterans. We went through several iterations until we came to the current one, honoring the spirit of what it means to be in the military. We organized veterans alphabetically so families would be grouped together. In some cases, we have three, four, five generations of the same family who all served.

This honors the history and legacy of what it means to be Native American and a military veteran. We had strong warrior societies even before the United States began. For Native people, the history of military service is intertwined with what it means to take care of family and homeland.

What makes FAM such a great place for families to visit?

FAM is a cultural institution where families can visit, and time after time, there will be something new to see. It’s a way for families to learn together and spend time together. When you see this as your cultural institution and that this history belongs to you as a resident of Oklahoma City, that’s an opportunity to take pride in that history.

Construction is ready to start on the FAMily Discovery Center, and the space will be open in early-to-mid 2025. If you’ve visited, you’ve seen Grandmother Turtle marking where it will be, and she will serve as a guide to the immersive space. The space has a storybook, pop-up feel that will take you through various elements of the cultures in Oklahoma today.

How do you hope to continue to serve as a role model for Indigenous youth?

I came from a small, rural community — we didn’t even have AP classes — and now I’ve been at Harvard. I had a wonderful childhood, but there was no one in my orbit who left home to do things outside of our small community.

I hope with my life experience that I can be an auntie and relative and friend to say to young people — whether their goal is to stay in their community and work, leave and come back with experience or go out into the world and show people what Indigenous people can do — ‘whatever you can imagine is possible.’ I learned at Harvard that what kids need is encouragement and support. If I can be that person for even one kid in our community, I have done my job.

 

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series produced in conjunction with First Americans Museum to share the stories of inspirational modern-day First Americans. Find the full series at metrofamilymagazine.com/inspirational-first-americans.

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