The primary purpose of this building is to provide a home for a sacred living being called Umon’hon’ti, also known as “The Venerable Man”, or “The Ultimate Omaha” or commonly, in the dominant culture, as the Sacred Pole. He, along with the Sacred White Buffalo Hide, and 250 other ancestral remains, has been repatriated to the Omaha Tribe after a century of “protective custody” by the Harvard Peabody Museum. In all, over 1,350 artifacts have been recovered by the Omaha. In addition to the housing and periodic display of Umon’hon’ti and these sacred items, this 45,000 s.f. project also includes spaces for contemporary exhibits, conference/multi-purpose rooms for community events, classrooms and a library for educational purposes, an Omaha restaurant, and limited tribal offices.

awards:
Progressive Architecture Award
Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Award
ACSA Faculty Design Award 2001-02