Cherokee Extravaganza

The kids and I have really enjoyed learning about their Cherokee roots over the past few years.   In 2009 we flew out to Gilcrease Museum to see a special exhibition featuring 130+ pieces of my husband's grandfather's most famous sculptures.  Three of Stone's most famous pieces are part of a trilogy he made for the Cherokee Historical Society to commemorate the Trail of Tears.  

Stone said that "Uprooted"  represents the Cherokees "pulling away from the ground they had been living on from the time they were born." It also represents "any people who are forced from their land because of the greed or lust of some more powerful race." It is carved in the stump of a red cedar.

Uprooted (one side)

Uprooted (other side)

The Exodus (walnut)

 "By faith, enough survived the Trail of Tears to seed the new land. 

By faith, they will sprout and make it better. For this they give thanks."  - Willard Stone

Transplant

The kids were so fascinated by their great-grandfather's work and the story of the Trail of Tears that they dressed in authentic Indian buckskin clothing (hand stitched by a Cherokee woman), and each gave a presentation about the Trail of Tears to our homeschool co-op after we returned home.

So, when I learned that a Classical Conversations homeschool group in a nearby city would be hosting the Cherokee Extravaganza, I made plans to take the kids as a field trip.  My husband even took the day off to join us.

We learned all about Cherokee crafts and weaponry.  The kids enjoyed chiseling an arrowhead using animal bone.

I was especially impressed by the water proof double weave baskets that take many hours every day for weeks to make.  Both kids loved the turtle shaker instrument, and our daughter, who beads jewelry for fun at home, was especially interested in the jewelry and decorative leggings and garters.

The dances were hilarious.  Most were named after animals.  My typically conservative husband went up front to participate in the quail dance while our daughter's face turned bright red with embarrassment.  His mom said, "I knew he had it in him!"

While they were dancing, the lady seated next to me pointed out that the Cherokees giving the workshop all had jet black hair.  One lady was at least 20-30 years my senior, yet her mane was still silky, shiny, healthy and black without a spec of gray.  Were my husband 100% Cherokee, would his hair still be jet black today?  He certainly has a lot less gray than his wife who is of Irish/English descent.

As we were driving home, an earthquake shook our city of residence for the first time EVER.  Since we were riding on tires we did not feel the tremor at all.  I'm disappointed to have missed out on such a historic moment, but at least we enjoyed a nice family day together.