New Cherokee Heritage Day event coming to Sycamore Shoals Park
Published 1:45 pm Friday, August 6, 2021
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A new event, a Cherokee Heritage Day, is coming to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area later this month.
The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is being sponsored by Indian Creek Productions and supported by Friends of Sycamore Shoals.
Jennifer Bauer, park manager, said it is only natural that the park celebrate the Cherokee as Sycamore Shoals is forever linked with the rich traditions and influence of the Cherokee people. The celebration will feature a day of traditional arts and history.
The Aniyvwiya Dancers will present traditional Cherokee dances and Fred Bradley, one of America’s premier storytellers, will share tales from long ago.
Jarrett Grey Wildcatt will share the beauty of the Cherokee flute and Micah Swimmer, a language instructor on the reservation, will teach some basic words and phrases from the Cherokee language.
A number of Cherokee skills will be demonstrated, including woodcarving, beadwork, traditional basketry, finger weaving, pottery, wampum creations, cooking, blowguns, and darts, along with an early Cherokee encampment. Visitors will also be able to speak with the artisans as they work.
The rare and beautiful handmade traditional arts and crafts will also be available for purchase.
Activities for children, including making jewelry, grinding corn and using a pump drill, will also be featured.
There will be a minimal fee for admission of $6 for adults; $3 for ages 7 to 17; children 6 and under will be admitted free.
Friends of Sycamore Shoals will have concessions and drinks available throughout the day.
The schedule of events for the day include:
– 10:30 to 11 a.m.: Cherokee Flute with Jarrett Grey Wildcatt
– 11 to 11:30 a.m.: Cherokee Language Lesson with Micah Swimmer
– 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon: Are You Smarter Than A… by Mark and Sherry Finchum
– 12 noon to 12:30 p.m.: Cherokee Storytelling with Fred Bradley
– 12:30 to 1 p.m.: Traditional Cherokee Dance Demonstrations by Aniyvwiya Dancers
– 1 to1:30 p.m.: Trade and Treaty at Sycamore Shoals by Chad Bogart
– 1:30 to 2 p.m.: Cherokee Language Lesson with Micah Swimmer
– 2 to 2:30 p.m.: Cherokee Flute with Jarrett Grey Wildcatt
– 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Cherokee Storytelling with Fred Bradley
– 3:30 to 4 p.m.: Traditional Cherokee Dance Demonstration with Aniyvwiya Dancers
– 4 to 4:30 p.m.: Young Warrior to Old Warrior during the Cherokee Wars with Mark Ledford
– 4:30 to 5 p.m.: Native American Music with Micah Swimmer & Dvdaya Swimmer