October, 2013
Natural
Tunnel State Park, in conjunction with the Daniel Boone Wilderness
Trail Association, held its annual Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon,
October 26th. Mark and Sherry set up camp for the afternoon and
Sherry did an interactive Cherokee cooking demonstration that drew a
large crowd.
Mark and Sherry participated in the Tennessee History Festival at the
Bicentennial Mall State Park in Nashville on Friday and Saturday,
October 18th and 19th. Friday was intended for school field trips
and hundreds of area children toured the campsites and witnessed
numerous reenactments, including a historical fashion show during
lunch. Saturday was a more leisurely day as the general public
wandered through the park.
Mark
had the pleasure of sharing Cherokee stories with the Monroe County
Historical Society on Thursday, October 3rd. Members brought lawn
chairs and gathered around the campfire near the banks of Tellico Lake
behind the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore, TN. In addition
to the stories, guests could enjoy apple cider and smores.
September, 2013
The
annual Native American Day program was held on Friday, September 20th,
at Tusculum View Elementary School in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Nearly 200 fourth graders from the four elementary schools in the
city system attended the event. The students visited five stations -
role of men in Cherokee society (Mark), role of women in Cherokee
society (Sherry), Cherokee storytelling (Robert Eldridge), bowmaking
and blowguns (Bear Brooks), and a hands-on craft station manned by
school personnel and volunteers. In the middle of the day, the
students were treated to a program of Cherokee dancing that featured
Nikki Crisp, Johnathon Crisp, Hollie Marie Stover, Ricky Joe Taylor,
Malachi Taylor, James Wilnoty, and Dakota Wilnoty.
On Thursday evening, September 19th, Mark and Sherry presented "Walking
in Balance" for Virginia Highlands Community College in Bristol,
Virginia. Close to a hundred folks came out to learn about the
roles of men and women in 18th century Cherokee society.
August, 2013
The
sixth annual Spirit of Nations Powwow was another success! The
heavy rains in the afternoon no doubt hurt attendance, but the powwow
still ended "in the black." We actually had a good sound engineer
with us this year, so that made the experience much better for the
audience. The crowd enjoyed the traditional Cherokee dancing as
well as the powwow dancing, silent auction, kids area, and the special
emphasis on the 175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears.
July, 2013
No events in July.
June, 2013
June
22nd was the date for the Treaty of the Holston presentation at James
White's Fort in Knoxville. More than 250 guests visited the fort
during the day to visit a Cherokee and militia campsite, hear Cherokee
stories and music, learn a little Cherokee language, and join in some
traditional Cherokee dances. One of the highlights of the day, as
always, was the reenactment of the 1791 Treaty of the Holston.
On
Monday, June 17th, Mark and Sherry visited the Sequoyah District Summer
Camp for Cub Scouts in Seymour. They presented three sessions on
the life of young boys in a Cherokee village 250 years ago. The
scouts were very attentive and enthusiastic.
The visitor center version of the new film, "Fort Loudoun: Forsaken by
God and Man," premiered at the fort on Saturday, June 15th. Mark
and Sherry joined a packed theatre to see the 15 minute film. The
full 30-minute version will premiere on PBS in August.
On
Thursday evening, June 6, Mark and Sherry were the guests of the
Samuel Doak Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution for a Flag Day
dinner at Justin's Restaurant in Morristown. They spoke about the
175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears. The meal was delicious
and the company was most gracious.
May, 2013
On
Saturday, May 25th, Mark and Sherry joined dozens of other living
history enthusiasts for Statehood Day at Marble Springs State
Historic Homestead in Knoxville. The farm was once the home of
John Sevier, first governor of Tennessee. Sherry spoke on the role of
women in Cherokee culture during the 18th century, and Mark followed by
sharing information on the role of Cherokee men during that period.
Otherwise the day was spent throwing tomahawks, shooting the
blowgun, and visiting with the guests who came by.
April, 2013
For the weekend of April 20-21, Mark and Sherry participated in the "Frontier
Muster and Trade Faire," at Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield, VA.
Sherry did a demonstration of Cherokee cooking for a large crowd
on Saturday afternoon. She and Mark also participated in the
storytelling and dance presentations on Saturday evening and in the
Sunday morning worship service. Rob Rambo portrayed Cherokee
Peace Chief Attakullakulla and shared memories of his trip to visit the
king of England. Micah Swimmer taught a popular Cherokee language
class too.
March, 2013
Current
Activities