The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will be hosting classes and workshops March through July of this year. These will include a new cultural revitalization project on Cherokee weaving; making shakers for social dancing; and history and culture. There will a minimal charge for members of EBCI.
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 22, the Museum is providing a series of three workshops for EBCI members who will be bicycling the Trail of Tears this year. The series covers the history of the Trail of Tears on the first week, the physical route and individual locations on the second week, and the Eastern Band history of Removal on the third week. These workshops will be held at 9 am Saturday mornings in the Ken Blankenship Education & Research Center at the Museum.
In March, the Museum will offer a series of workshops on making shakers from tin cans to wear with social dancing. Traditionally women wore turtle-shell rattles on their legs, but as turtles have become endangered many tribes have begun using empty cans for shakers. Bo Taylor, executive director, will be teaching the workshops. Participants will make a set of shakers and learn to use them.
In April, the Museum will host the first workshop on reviving the ancient Cherokee traditions of weaving from natural fibers. Fibers, nets, and fabrics were being made more than ten thousand years ago. A Friday evening talk will focus on making natural fibers. An all-day workshop on Saturday will teach weaving, making a replica of an ancient Cherokee skirt found in the Clifty Creek Cave in Tennessee. This workshop will be taught by Deborah Harding, Carnegie Natural History Museum. A Sunday afternoon talk will focus on Cherokee weaving traditions.
In June, the Museum will host the 17th annual Cherokee Voices Festival, featuring the most traditional artists, craftspeople, dance groups and storytellers of the Eastern Band. This event is open free to the public and sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council.
The Museum will offer the Cherokee History and Culture Institute for educators on July 14-19. This covers Cherokee archaeology, anthropology, history, folklore, literature, geography, and stereotypes. Taught by Barbara R. Duncan, Ph.D. and members of the Eastern Band, this course includes field trips to Cherokee sites, hands-on classes, and presentations by storytellers.
Info: Barbara Duncan bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org or 497-3481 x306.
– Museum of the Cherokee Indian
