December, 2003

There were no events scheduled for the month of December.

The Native American event at Dollywood, which ended November 1st, turned out to be quite a success.  More than 30,000 visitors from across the United States and from 23 other countries, came through the museum exhibit.  Untold thousands visited the living history camp, saw the craftspeople in action, and enjoyed the powwow dancing.  There was one weekend that also included an Aztec dance troupe.  We are certainly hoping that Dollywood will again include the Native American feature in next year's festival.  It was a pleasure to work with everyone on the Dollywood staff who was involved, especially Jane Groff, the coordinator.

On November 8th, Mark and Sherry went to Calvary Baptist Church in Irwin for a Thanksgiving dinner and to speak to about 200 people who gathered after dinner in the sanctuary.  Sherry did a "children's church" with the kids up front.  She talked about the medicine wheel and the races of people on earth.  She led the children in singing, "God Loves the Little Children of the World."  Her experience as a teacher came through, much to the delight of the audience!  Mark spoke about mission work among native people and talked about the importance of salvation.

The National Council for the Social Studies annual conference was in Chicago, November 12 - 16th.  Mark and Sherry flew out on Tuesday evening, arriving in Chicago at the hotel about 10:30 pm.  The next day was a board meeting for Mark and some relaxation time for Sherry.

On Thursday, the NCSS special interest group "Teaching American Indian History, Culture, and Current Events" held an all-day clinic.  Mark founded the group two years ago with the hope of being able to have a group that would live up to its name.  Sherry presented her session about teaching about American Indians on the elementary level.  Fran Hageman, an author, from Chicago did a session on how native people are portrayed in artwork around the city.  Fred Isele, a local college professor, shared lesson plans organized by some of his students.  Mark showed slides that described the various culture regions of the country.  Pam Lobb, a teacher from Virginia, did a powerpoint presentation on the history of government and Indian relations.

On Saturday morning, members of the Special Interest Group met for breakfast and discussed the clinic and future activities.  Michael Simpson, NCSS director of publications, came by to encourage members to write for the various NCSS magazines.

The 2004 conference will be held in Baltimore, just two months after the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.  The group plans to work with the museum to expand the native involvement in the conference.

                                                          

         October, 2003

On Friday, October 17th, Dollywood presented a special gift to the Cherokee people.  The Foxfire Museum in Georgia has the only known surviving wagon actually used on the Trail of Tears.  They were kind enough to allow Dollywood to display the wagon during the festival.  The wagon makers at Dollywood made a reproduction of the wagon, which was then presented to representatives of the tribal council.  Randy Parton, Dolly's brother, made the official presentation.  The wagon, once the festival is over, will be put on display at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee, North Carolina.  The orginal will be returned to Georgia.  Joel Queen created a very special piece of pottery for the museum to present to Dollywood.  He used a paddle with a butterfly design, Dolly's symbol, to decorate the piece.

Later in the afternoon of the 17th, Mark and Sherry headed up to Greensburg, Kentucky for the rendezvous there.  Nan Montgomery, who is a regular attendee at the Lake Cumberland event, had issued the invitation.  Saturday was very foggy!  The fog did not burn off until almost noon, so the day was cool and damp.  Sherry "borrowed" Mark's new frock coat for the day.  The crowds were not large, but those who came were very nice and very interested in learning about the old days.

On Sunday, there was no fog, so the temperature was up and very comfortable.  The day began with a church service in the Straw Bale Theatre on the site.  Later in the afternoon, Mark and Sherry did a storytelling session.

Mark and Shea set up a display in the living history area on Friday, September 26th.  Mark and Sherry went on Saturday, but Mark was left to do it all by himself on Sunday.  Each day thousands of people came by to see the display and ask questions about life in the old days.

We can't wait for another chance to go back to Russell Cave, near Bridgeport, Alabama!  We left Friday afternoon, had a huge buffet at a Knoxville Chinese restaurant, then spent the night in Kimball, TN, near the state line.  After breakfast on Saturday, we headed into Alabama.  For the first time, the directions we printed off the internet were wrong!  We decided to simply follow the brown signs along the road!

The site is beautiful.  We had a perfectly level spot under the trees to set up camp.  Lots of people came through to visit that day.  Katie went along and did a good job again helping her mother cook.  Bo Taylor was there and entertained the audience with music and dance.  Alva and Nancy Crowe had a table set up.  Alva told stories, played the flute, and made blowgun darts.   We also got to make some new friends as well.

The "Sequoyah Fall Festival" was once again a great weekend.  We set up camp on Friday night with the very able help of our daughter Katie.  By the time we arrived it was dark, so the work was done by headlight!  We settled in for a very restful, though somewhat cool, night's sleep.  On Saturday Sherry and Katie cooked up a big chuck of venison and a stew.  Later in the afternoon she made new friends with her peach cobbler.  That was no surprise.  The campsite was constantly being visited by staff and volunteers of the festival, plus a continual stream of vendors, dancers, and the public.  On Sunday Sherry prepared another stew.  Katie went home to check out our church's new youth pastor.

Mark was especially excited to get a copy of the Cherokee Trails Guidebook.  The book includes a photograph of him keeping score during the blowgun contest at the Fall Festival in Cherokee.  There are also five photographs that he made in the book.  Get a copy!

We are looking forward to the upcoming weekend.  Sheila Reed from Russell Cave National Monument seems very nice from our telephone conversations.  The event is Saturday, so we will arrive Friday evening and set up camp.  Also in attendance will be Bo Taylor, along with Alva and Nancy Crowe.

                                                                        August, 2003

We were very excited to visit with Jane Groff at Dollywood.  She is in charge of special events at the park.  This year's fall craft festival will have an Indian segment and Indian Creek Productions will help put it together.  The event runs from September 26th through November 1st.  There will be storytelling, crafts, living history, powwow dancing, and all sorts of fun.  The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is getting involved too.  We will keep everyone updated as progress is made.

On Saturday evening, August 9th, we had an enjoyable time telling stories for the Shady Grove Community Club.   They were an excellent audience.  It was hard to tell stories after eating so much during their covered dish dinner.  We look forward to visiting them again!

Cherokee Heritage Days was fun at James White's Fort in Knoxville on Friday and Saturday, August 1st and 2nd.  Before Friday, with a serious threat of rain, each of the groups of children cancelled!  As we arrived early Friday morning, a shower began.  We were concerned, but it was over in just two or three minutes.  We got the lean-to set up and were ready by the time the gate opened.  Attendance was pretty good despite the cancellations and early shower.  Shea Keck told stories in the amphitheater behind the fort.  Mark and Sherry did the "Walking in Balance" program about men's and women's roles inside at the lean-to.

We were concerned that the morning was wearing on and Scott Crisp had not arrived.  He finally showed up and said that a thunderstorm had knocked out his power so his alarm did not go off!  But he made it in time and did a great job entertaining the visitors with his dancing ability.  In the afternoon, a shower came, so Scott danced inside the main house.  He tried to dance softly, but did jar his stereo.  Fortunately the floors are still okay!

On Saturday Freeman Owle came over from Cherokee to do storytelling.  He was awesome, as always.  He also brought a stone he was carving and did demonstrations between storytelling sessions.  He is truly an artist.

Shea discussed the women's roles so that Sherry could conduct her genealogy workshops.  She had one scheduled for the morning, but enough people signed up during the day that she had to do another one in the afternoon.

Will Laney again brought his Cherokee Dancers to entertain and educate.  They performed many of today's powwow dances.  As always, one of the highlights of the program was John Grant's hoop dance.  The audience was pretty large, very attentive, and appreciative.
 

                                                                       July, 2003

The "Raid on the Watauga" at Rocky Mount Museum, near Johnson City, was enjoyable again this year.  We missed Rob Rambo who was away fulfilling his military obligations.  Also Sawgrass was in New York doing some shows.  It was quiet around the campfire this year.  Also the attendance was down some.  The state's budget cuts have hurt publicity, but this is still one of the best events of its type around.

On Sunday, Cherel Henderson from the East Tennessee Historical Society was on hand to present an award to Grant Hardin for his lifetime work of bringing history alive to so many people.  He deserved that award and any more that may ever come his way.  Good thing his speech was from himself only.  It would have been a long afternoon if he had thanked everyone on behalf of Andrew Jackson, John Stuart, Nathaniel Gist, William Cobb, and all the other historical figures he has portrayed over the years!

One exciting bit of news we learned at the event is that Pepe will soon be carrying items for native re-enactors!  Mark had told him at the Marble Springs event in April that there aren't very many traders who cater to the Indian market.  He took the advice and will soon have silver and copper jewelry and some shoulder bags, etc!

The programs at Fort Craig Elementary School in Maryville were so much fun!  They brought about 60 3rd and 4th graders into the gym for a "Walking in Balance" program.  As soon as we finished, they brought in the other half and we went through it all again.  One of the teachers was concerned about us having to talk again so quickly.  Sherry said not to worry.  We've done as many as seven in a row!  After those presentations, we had a short break and changed into powwow regalia.  Then they brought all of the students back into the gym.  After a description of our outfits and a dance demonstration, we got some of the teachers - and the principal - up to do a Cherokee Two-Step.  They were more coordinated than most!  Then Sherry led some of the children in a friendship dance.  When it was all over, the children yelled, screamed, cheered like they had been entertained by rock stars!  They then wanted to make class pictures with us.  What a time we had!  Those folks at Fort Craig are special!
 

                                                                       June, 2003

Manskers' Frontier Life Center in Goodlettesville invited us to visit on Saturday, June 14th.  We stopped in Crossville for the powwow on our way Friday.  At Manskers, we set up tables with artifacts and enjoyed talking both with the general public and the site's historical interpreters who also came in.  We did two storytelling sessions in the auditorium as well.  It was an enjoyable time.  We look forward to going again.

NativeFest! was held at Marble Springs on Saturday, June 21st.  George Martin from Cherokee, NC, set up his craft booth, as did Richard and Betty Dykes from Indian Cave in Blaine, TN.  Margie Detring of Ancient Way Traders was there too.  Charlie Cagle of Oak Ridge gave flint knapping demonstrations throughout the day.  Lowery Begay had jewelry and music for sale.  Arvel Bird also had his CDs and T-shirts available.

We were very happy to have Debbie Woodiel, Museum Educator at McClung Museum in Knoxville, who provided activities for the children.  She sat up corn grinding and drilling experiences for young and old alike.

Rob Rambo, an outstanding re-enactor from Virginia, took the public on a tour of Marble Springs, but his commentary was from a distinctly Cherokee point of view.  Rob, as always, did a remarkable job.  Somehow he managed to stay polite and calm, even when one visitor repeatedly challenged him, "But didn't the Cherokees unmercifully massacre settlers in their own homes?  That's in the history books!"  Rob tried to get this individual to understand that the settlers were invaders from the Cherokee viewpoint.

Dr. Charles Faulkner from the UTK Anthropology Department led the public on an archaeology tour of the site.  He is conducting a field school there this summer, so the excavations to were open for the visitors to see.

Lowery Begay was in charge of our dancing this year.  He and his dancers and "Nation of Change" drum do an outstanding job of entertaining and educating the audience.  Johnathan Crisp performed the men's fancy dance.  His little sister Keely did the women's shawl dance.  Their mother Nikki performed the jingle dress dance.  Dad Anthony was once again the chauffeur and coach!  Emerson Begay did his usual fine job of men's traditional dancing.  Ben Sanchez was on hand to do the grass dance.  Lowery thrilled the audience with his hoop dancing.

Arvel Bird from Nashville wowed the audience with some outstanding fiddle music.  He has been nominated twice for a "Nammy," the Native American Music Award.  Arvel, and of course his wife Kimberly, were super to work with.  Arvel went with us to Channel 8 on Friday and to Channel 10 on Saturday morning to do news spots.  We are especially excited that he performed his new song, "Indian Creek" that afternoon.  Now where do you suppose he got that idea?

Freeman Owle did a great job as storyteller.  He also had his stone carvings on display.  He is definitely a professional!

Sherry and Shea spent a lot of time cooking and serving hot dogs and Indian tacos.  They deserve a big thanks for getting "up to their elbows" in their work.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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