My name is John “Yafke” Timothy (Yafke is Creek for “evening”). As the director of Ataloa Lodge, I want to share with you the stories that tell of our American Indian artwork, culture, and the Five Tribes of Oklahoma— Muscogee Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Choctaw Nations.

For the last ten years, I have served as the cultural interpreter for the Ataloa Lodge Museum and worked in the American Indian Museum field for sixteen years. My career in northeastern Oklahoma began in merchandising at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. In this position and as an American Indian, I strove to make sure the public received honest representation of American Indian art. This not only maintains the integrity of generations of American Indian artisans, it provides education to people who may otherwise buy imported or non-Indian made goods. I have also offered education of the Five Civilized Tribes as a tour guide, cultural outreach to local schools, as well as working as a resident artist, musician (I play the flute at several events by request), and assistance in organizing outdoor festivals and museum exhibits. I am grateful for the mentorship I have received by numerous creative minds in this region.

- John “Yafke” Timothy