Southeastern Indians Heritage Program at the Atlanta History Center

Atlanta, GA – Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at the Atlanta History Center on Saturday, November 22, during the annual Southeastern Indians Heritage Program. Spend a day exploring history, culture, and family fun as you discover Southeastern Native American heritage and culture through a variety of craft demonstrations, performances, and discussions led by Native American artists and experts. Featured activities include storytelling, demonstrations, and discussions about tool making, commerce and trade, hide tanning, fire making, games, and traditional crafts, such as pottery.

WHAT: Southeastern Indians Heritage Program, Atlanta History Center’s annual family program  

WHEN: Saturday, November 22, 2014; 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

WHERE: Atlanta History Center; 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305

ADMISSION: This program is free to members; included with general admission for nonmembers. For information or to purchase admission tickets, please visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Family or call 404.814.4000.

SUPPORT: Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Jim Sawgrass, Southeastern Native American History

Ongoing, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sawgrass is a member of the Muskogee Creek Indian Tribe and has been sharing his knowledge of Southeastern Native American tribes for over twenty-five years. Visit with Sawgrass and other Native American experts to learn about Southeastern Indian culture from the primitive era to the trade era through artifacts and demonstrations.

Native American Dance

11:00 am and 3:00 pm

These demonstrations include native dances from different tribes across the country. Audience participation is encouraged!

Sequoyah Performance

Noon, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm 

Sequoyah was a Cherokee silversmith, who in 1821 completed his creation of a Cherokee syllabary, or set of written symbols, that made it possible to read and write the Cherokee language. The story of Sequoyah’s invention of the syllabary comes to life in an engaging dramatic performance that entertains as much as it educates.

Kid-Friendly Trail of Tears Simulation

12:30 pm, 1:45 pm, 4:00 pm

Travel to 1838 – the year the Cherokee were forced to leave their homeland in Georgia to walk the Trail of Tears. Assuming the character identity of actual Cherokee Indians who travelled this life-changing journey, gain empathy and appreciation for the hardships Native Americans endured as well as the rapid cultural changes happening at the same time.

Pottery Stamping

Ongoing

Pottery was used in many different ways by Native Americans. Make your own piece of pottery using the decorating method of paddle stamping, common among Southeastern Indians.

Cherokee Syllabary Activity

Ongoing

Using Sequoyah’s syllabary, learn the basics of the language and translate your name into Cherokee. Cherokee is an Iroquoian language and is the only Southern Iroquoian language that remains spoken, including ten thousand Cherokee in Oklahoma and one thousand in North Carolina. Cherokee is also taught as a second language, including classes at Emory University.

Native American Skills and Games

Ongoing

Try your hand at the Toli (Native American Stickball game), atlatl, and the game of chunkey stone. 

Culture Clash

Ongoing

Learn how Cherokee culture changed after European contact by touching and handling period objects that show these adaptations.

Food

Coca-Cola Café – serving a limited Chick-fil-A menu

Noon – 2:00 pm

Tags: