Photo David Smart Dan Hollifield plays the flute for an appreciative young friend.
By Sandy Nicolette
Guest Writer
The rich and proud heritage of our Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be brought to life from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, with live demonstrations and presentations at the Cherokee Heritage Festival in Hayesville.
Located next to the Clay County Old Jail Museum, the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit is a replica of a 17th century homestead complete with winter house, summer house, corn crib, multi-use shelter, mound gardens and will be the site of the festival. This year’s free, family-friendly event will feature:
• Traditional dancing by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian performers.
• Stories about Cherokee culture, and demonstrations of flint knapping and woodcarving by widely recognized artist and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Davy Arch.
• Demonstrations of arts and crafts including finger weaving, bead work, basket weaving, dart making, blowgun skills, wood carving, flint knapping and other by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
• Presentation by Darry Wood, creator of Basket Weaver Exhibit in Hayesville’s Old Jail Museum, will debut a Young Cherokee Hunter exhibit at this year’s Festival before it goes to permanent display in the Cherokee Cultural Exhibit in Moss Memorial.
Instructor of outdoor skills including making fire with friction and thistle down and blowguns.
• Flute music by Dan Hollifield, Hayesville resident and member of the Cherokee Nation who carves the flutes he plays.
• Cherokee related activities for children of all ages.
• Cherokee trails map and discussion by Lamar Marshall, Research Director and Historical Graphics Designer for Southeast Heritage, researching and mapping Cherokee trails, ecology and geography in conjunction with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and N.C. Trail of Tears Association, re-creating cultural landscapes by integrating archives, early surveys and historical maps.
• Food by Reed Frybread: frybread with a variety of toppings, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages.
• Authentic Cherokee art.
• Native plant “walks and talks” by MountainTrue.
In addition to the festival visit the adjacent Clay County Old Jail Museum, which features Cherokee artifacts, local history displays and art. There is no entrance fee. Clay County Historical and Arts Council will be hosting a silent auction at the Jail Museum beginning at 11 a.m.
You are encouraged to visit other attractions along the 2-mile Quanassee Path: A Cherokee History Trail which includes the exhibit, museum, Cherokee Cultural Center at Moss Memorial Library, Spikebuck Mound-Quanassee Town site and the Cherokee Botanical Sanctuary.
While you are in Hayesville, you might like to see the new Lake Chatuge Cherokee history kiosks, which are the result of a Clay County Communities Revitalization Association partnership with TVA. The annual Pet Celebration is on the courthouse square the same day and time.
For Cherokee Festival information, call Rob Tiger or Curt Wheeler (828) 371-0462 phone or text, or visit www.cccra-nc.org/ for details.
The museum and exhibit are located just off the downtown square at 805 Highway 64 Business in Hayesville. A golf cart shuttle will provide free service from several parking areas and downtown to the exhibit and museum. This free event is sponsored by the Clay County Revitalization Association, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Performers and artists for this year’s Cherokee Festival were funded by the Clay County Historical and Arts Council with support from the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.