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Bringing the past to life
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 - 11:32:04 am EDT
By Nathan Blackford - Warrick Publishing Online
 | | The dance circle is a tradition at Angel Mounds State Historic Site’s Native American Days, which provides visitors with a variety of sensory experiences to teach participants about Native American culture and the Missippians who used to inhabit the site. The year’s event will be held this weekend, Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 28. -Warrick Publishing Files |
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It has been nearly 1,000 years since Native Americans built a large city on the banks of the Ohio River, near present-day Newburgh. And it’s been over 500 years since the city and the Mississippian culture disappeared.
What little remains of the city is now preserved at the Angel Mounds State Historic Site, located on the border between Warrick and Vanderburgh counties. And this weekend, visitors will have the chance to get a peek into what life here would have been like for the original inhabitants
The annual Native American Days, the biggest event of the year at Angel Mounds, will be held this weekend, Friday through Sunday. It will feature many popular, yearly events such as the dance circle and the Indian Market, as well as several brand-new activities.
“We get a lot of repeat visitors for Native American Days,” said Haley Tallman, Angel Mounds Cultural Administrator. “Last year, we had over 10,000 people here.”
Visitors will have the chance to help site officials recreate a Mississippian dwelling. There were formerly other reconstructions at Angel Mounds, but storms and arson have destroyed them all. Those who attend Native American Days will help put the daub — a mud, clay and grass coating — over the building’s wooden frame.
“We have the full-scale house built,” said Tallman. “The visitors will actually be doing the daubing to create a permanent reconstruction for people to enjoy here all year long. We’ve lost our other reconstructions, so this is really something special.”
There will be plenty of other activities, including the construction of a dugout canoe, finger weaving, native storytelling and more. Flint knapping, which is the craft of making stone tools, will also be shown by artist Fred Bollinger. Guests will get the opportunity to make their own arrowheads.
Last year, the Earth oven was a new display, and it will be back again this year.
“The Earth oven was a crowd favorite,” said Tallman. “We will actually dig a hole and cook a turkey underground, just like they did at Angel Mounds. It was just a big hit last year.”
A favorite hands-on activity for kids allows them to make their own slate pendants using authentic Mississippian techniques. Sandstone saws are used to cut the slate, and a pump drill drills the hole for the necklace.
“That’s a very authentic craft, and it gives people something to take home with them,” said Tallman.
Scott Crisp, a Cherokee, will be the new Master of Ceremonies at this year’s Native American Days. Michael Jacobs, also a Cherokee, will be a featured performer in the dance circle. And Robin McBride Scott will be demonstrating the usage of river cane. To learn more about the featured performers, go to www.scottcrisp.com and www.sacrednation.com.
There will be several new games this year. Chunkey, a game that was played at Angel Mounds, will have one player roll a stone while others try to throw sticks to its final resting point. Another game, fire tender, will have one blindfolded player listen for others who will try to sneak up and steal sticks from a pile. The games were used to teach boys how to hunt.
There will also be archery for visitors to try on Saturday and Sunday.
And of course, the 11 earthen mounds that helped give the historic site its modern name will be open for walking tours.
On Friday, local schools will send students to the area for field trips. There will be about 1,500 children on site during school hours.
“It will be quite the madhouse, but it is a great educational experience,” said Tallman.
The price for admission to Native American Days is $10 per vehicle. The usual cost for admission to Angel Mounds is $4 per adult. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All proceeds from Native American Days benefit the programming efforts at Angel Mounds.
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