Cherokee Heritage Festival

The Native American fall festival was held at the Cherokee Heritage Center in the mountain town of Hayesville, NC on Saturday, September 19, 2015. 

It was perfect weather for a fall festival.  No rain!  The bright blue skies of September dazzled above the Cherokee village.  Dusty lilac asters, goldenrods and knockout roses dotted the trail.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses, and pumpkin spice leaves fluttered in the wind.

Native Americans demonstrated carving bears and arrowheads, pottery, weaving baskets, blow guns, playing stickball, and other crafts.

Dan Hollifield played a Native American flute in the Cherokee winter house.  He hand makes these instruments. 

A storyteller spun tales about the Cherokee culture.  The smell of barbecue, fried apple pies, and other food wafted across the village.

Cherokee dressed in traditional costumes entertained the crowd performing the groundhog, buffalo, frog, and corn dance.

The Cherokee Heritage Festival was the best ever held in Hayesville.  It gave you a taste of Indian culture that prevailed in western North Carolina before the Cherokees were removed to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears in 1838-1839.

You may visit my other blog to read more about the Cherokee Heritage Center and Dan Hollifield making flutes at:  http://historicalhayesville.blogspot.com.

This Cherokee demonstrated how to hit a target using the blow gun.  These weapons were used by the Cherokee to hunt small game.

This man is carving weapons the Cherokee used in battle.

 

Here is a carving of a bear that a Cherokee did at the festival.

 

 

This Cherokee is carving a bear at the festival.

 

Some Cherokees are in the summer Cherokee house with a campfire in front.

 

 

You'll find at the Cherokee Heritage Exhibit Center displays of tools the Cherokees used.

 

 

Dan Hollifield demonstrates playing the flute in the winter house.

 

Here is a Cherokee winter house.

 

This is a Cherokee summer house.

 

 

The Cherokee stored corn and vegetables in this little house.

 

 

 

 

 

This 92-year-old Cherokee still does pottery.

 

 

This lady demonstrates making pottery.

 

 

Notice the colorful blanket.

 

 

 

 

This lady is weaving baskets.

 

 

 

 

A storyteller spins tales about the Cherokee culture.

 

 

Cherokees dance in traditional costumes.

 

 

The buffalo Cherokee dance.

 

 

The Cherokee performing the frog dance.

 

 

 

This Cherokee and his son are playing stickball.

 

 

The Cherokee Exhibit Center in Hayesville, NC is an interesting site to visit.  It is located below the Clay County Historical and Arts Museum which is the "Old Jail Museum."  You may visit the exhibit year round.  When you get off the roundabout and head toward Hayesville, the Cherokee Exhibit is on the left side below the museum.  You might want to also visit the "Old Jail Museum."  There are many interesting exhibits there besides an excellent display on the Cherokee and their artifacts that were found at the Spikebuck Indian Mound near Hayesville on the banks of the Hiwassee River.  Also, Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville has an exciting center on the Cherokee culture. 

 

Give Hayesville a visit sometime!