|
|
|
©2004-2009 Coastal Carolina Indian Center. All Rights Reserved. To contact the webmaster, click here. All other site inquiries should be submitted using the "Contact Us" link found above.
|
Click here for more information on the Great Salt Water Educational Program. Coastal Carolina Indian Center would like to express our utmost thanks to the teachers, staff and students who invited us into their schools to present the 2008-09 Great Salt Water Educational Program. We are very happy to report
Mission Accomplished! May 5, 2009 Wendell GT Magnet Elementary School
was the last stop for the 2008-09 Great Salt
Water Educational Program. Inside the school was an array of colorful art work
and a variety of student writing assignments illustrating a love of learning and
a love of teaching by both students and staff. December 5, 2008 Today, CCIC visited Bolivia Elementary School (Brunswick County) thanks to the invitation of Mr. Mark Bonello. Students are beginning to expand their studies on the Lost Colony as well as the Indians of Coastal Carolina. Students were a bit surprised to learn there was more than one indigenous language spoken among the Indians of North Carolina including Coastal Carolina. Their examination of the DeBry map indicating many of the village names noted among the First People of Coastal Carolina are not shown today in contemporary maps. Students expressed interest in learning how to make pottery, baskets, clothing and identify indigenous plants. They were familiar with John White being an early explorer and awesome illustrator recording his findings of early Carolina. Students shared views on the individuals believed to be associated with the Lost Colony. Some students indicated they believe the early colonists were not lost or perished but invited by the Indians living at Roanoke Island to come join their “extended family” and the rest is Living History. December 2, 2008 Today, CCIC visited Maysville Elementary School (Jones County) thanks to the invitation of Ms. Smith. Students met in the media center. They were great listeners. A few students began asking detailed questions about the First People of Coastal Carolina that inspired other students to delve deeper in asking further questions. Some of the questions were associated with interests about the Lost Colony. Students were a little surprised to learn the first slaves in North Carolina were Indians. They were also a bit surprised to learn that so many family members actually lived in a traditional Longhouse and that each family member might have various chores to do to contribute to the daily work of the family unit. A couple of students shared remarks of how they would like to try their hand at making their own clothing. Many others were glad their parents and grandparents provided their clothes rather than having to make them piece by piece as was the case in the 1500’s. They practiced saying some of the words noted among the Coastal Indians and shared how they may try and teach some of their older “siblings” these words come “suppertime”. December 1, 2008 Today, CCIC visited two elementary schools in Jones County, Trenton Elementary and Comfort Elementary. The first stop of the day was at Trenton Elementary (Jones County) thanks to the invitation of Ms. Jinks. Second stop of the day was at Comfort Elementary (Jones County) via invitation of Ms. Giles. Students at both schools were eager to share their working knowledge of the Lost Colony, John White drawings, Secota. Some students at both schools noted being of Indian decent as had been taught to them by their parents and/or grandparents. Several students liked the idea of learning how to make traditional items that could be used for various kinds of work. A few were glad they did not have to live in a traditional Longhouse or Wigwam as they considered both winter and summer days and nights. Several students expressed they were also glad they would not have to live in a house with so many family members as was often the case in coastal Longhouses. Students thought it would be kinda neat to try their hand at making a traditional dugout assuming they could have some help from parents and grandparents. Others were excited about the possibility of making baskets, quivers and corn husk dolls. Many had not considered that back in the 1500’s that some of the indigenous plants, roots, bark growing in what is now known as Jones County were sometimes among the First People used for making medicine, dye. Many students at both schools had not considered English not being the very first language spoken among the First People of Coastal Carolina. Students at both schools asked awesome questions and were well mannered. November 26, 2008 Excel Learning Center in Morehead City (Carteret County) under the direction of Ms. Sharon Bailey has been a H I G H L I G H T for Coastal Carolina Indian Center. This visit on November 26 is a 1st for CCIC in breaking NEW ground into early Learning Child Care Educational Centers across NC. The Great Salt Water Educational Program was well received by these young learners as well as their teachers, parents, grandparents and relatives visiting on the day of their celebration and special Thanksgiving feast. Young learners were especially excited to be the very first students in the state associated with the 2008-09 Great Salt Water Educational Program to try their little hands at the CCIC Great Salt Water Big Pow Wow Drum. These young learners, teachers, parents, relatives had invested lots of positive energy into the making of their indigenous clothing in preparation and celebration for their “feast”. The warmth of Ms. Bailey’s Excel staff, a number of visiting family members participating in this presentation speaks volumes demonstrating the support of an active community in these young children’s educational 1st steps towards individual discovery on many levels. November 25, 2008 CCIC visited the fourth grade students of Ms. Filomena, Ms. Medina, Ms. Myer and Ms. Spencer at Summersill Elementary (Onslow County). We met in the multi-purpose room for the Great Salt Water Educational Presentation. The kids were great listeners and eager to examine various articles and artifacts brought for student inspection after the presentation. The girls enjoyed trying on the indigenous clothing as the boys examined the quiver and drum. Students shared varied opinions on the mystery of the Lost Colony. Some students raised questions wondering if perhaps their ancestors might be related to some of the earlier colonists associated not only with the Lost Colony but Onslow County. We suggested they discuss their questions with their parents and grandparents as this might be a project the family decides to explore as a family group or parent with child, grandparent with grandchild. The majority of students were glad they did not have to live in a traditional Longhouse and weather the elements noted in the 1500’s nor wear the clothing shared in the John White illustrations. 24 November 2008 Today CCIC's Great Salt Water Educational Program visited Bogue Sound Elementary School in Carteret County. This school, situated not far from where CCIC is based, is a beautiful, cheerful facility with a very friendly staff, and that's to say nothing of how impressive the Bogue Sound kids are. What an impressive bunch! The fourth grade students of Ms. Hanson, Mr. Brienza, Ms. Shoptaugh and Ms. Decker were the participants in the program, and let me just say that these were among the most well-behaved, courteous kids we have encountered anywhere! Upon my arrival, I was greeted in the office at the school by two of Ms. Decker's students. The young ladies had been sent to show me to the presentation room, and also to lend me a hand in setting up the materials. What two polite girls, and so lady-like! They were helpful and well-mannered, which they are to be complimented on, as well as their parents and teachers. The students had already learned a good bit of history from their teachers, so the Great Salt Water presentation was able to dive into some more detailed history and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. They asked great questions and several had thoughts to share about what we were discussing. There were some particularly interesting suggestions for how the Indians might have cut down trees for their dugout canoes without using an ax. The whole program was a great experience and we're grateful to have had the opportunity to bring our presentation to Bogue Sound Elementary. 20 November 2008 Today CCIC's Great Salt Water Educational Program traveled to Rosewood Elementary in Wayne County to present to a large group consisting of the students of Ms. Hersey, Ms. Boyette, Ms. Casto, Ms. Nash, Ms. Rackley and Ms. Reid. What a friendly school with friendly teachers and well-mannered students! We had one presentation to a very large group of students in the school's multi-purpose room. The students asked some great questions and a good many of them were able to answer questions I asked during the presentation. They had been listening to their teachers! As usual, the students loved being able to come up and handle the different items that were part of the demonstration. In particular, they really enjoyed hearing me sing a song for them with a hand drum (of a variety that was not necessarily from this area), and they loved each having a turn at trying out the drum themselves. This was a very enjoyable group of students and friendly, helpful teachers! 19 November 2008 It was a real pleasure for me today to visit Pollocksville Elementary School in Jones County. My own paternal grandmother was born and raised in Pollocksville and so I felt a special connection to the folks there before I ever stepped foot on the school grounds. We were invited by Ms. Retha Smith, and I have to say she and the other teacher at Pollocksville Elementary were two of the nicest, most helpful teachers of any of the schools our program has visited. They kindly offered to help with the set up of the banners and had such nice things to say. It took no time at all for me to feel at home there amongst the teachers and students. The students did a great job of listening, paying attention and asking great questions. A few students were particularly interested in having me identify what Indians would have lived in various surrounding communities. (Jones County is located in an area where in one portion of the county Tuscarora Indians would have lived, where in another part of the county further south, it might have been Coree Indians, etc..) One student shared he had lived in Cove City (Craven County) before moving to Pollocksville, and he was particularly fascinated to hear about the places like Fort Barnwell near his old home and how they figured into the colonial history of the Tuscarora War. At the end of the presentation, the students had a great time looking at all of the various cultural and historical items, and a number of them enjoyed trying on the necklaces and clothing, or pretending to try on the earrings. A special thank you to Pollocksville Elementary School for their uniquely warm hospitality and great, attentive students. 18 November 2008 Today, CCIC visited Swansboro Elementary School (Onslow County) to present our program to the students of Ms. Whitley, Ms. Caputo, Ms. Fenner, Ms. Moore. The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the presentation and particularly liked being able to go around and touch the different items we brought in demonstrating traditional Coastal Carolina Indian life. Some very good questions were asked and a few students shared that they, too, had Indian ancestry. The Swansboro Elementary School students were great kids who were quick learners and great program participants. 14 November 2008 I had long been looking forward to visiting Fred A. Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro (Pamlico County, NC). I explained to the students there that one of my own Mattamuskeet ancestors once owned land within a mile or so of their school. My visit on Friday, November 14, did not disappoint! What a lovely, welcoming school with such kind teachers and bright students! The first group of the day consisted of the students of Ms. Rush and Ms. Pendergrass. The students were very well-behaved and were eager to answer questions and contribute to the lesson with their own ideas about how life might have been for the Indians of coastal North Carolina in the pre-colonial and early colonial period. They also loved seeing their teacher, Ms. Pendergrass, model our Algonquian woman's dress over her clothes. The second group of the day consisted of the students of Ms. McCoy, Ms. Redmon and Ms. Schreiber. The children were ready with their clipboards to take notes and they asked some very good questions. Ms. McCoy, a Meherrin descendant, modeled our Algonquian dress for the group. The students were surprised to see how some of the John White and Theodore deBry drawings depicted life for coastal Indians in 1585. As is always the case, all of the children enjoyed having the opportunity to see and touch all of the "props" we bring into the classrooms for demonstrating what sort of things the Indians of coastal North Carolina traditionally used in their day-to-day lives. In both groups, many of the students said they have relatives who hunt and/or fish, and so they had lots of questions and comments about how the first people of coastal Carolina would do those things differently from the way their relatives do them today. They were fascinated to hear about how deer skins were tanned, and also about how virtually every part of the hunted animals was used either for food or to make something useful. One young girl in the second group of the day came up and gave me a huge hug at the end of the second program and said she hoped we would bring our program back next year. I enjoyed my visit to Fred A. Anderson elementary school so much, that I hope we will be back there next year, too!
13 November 2008 Today, CCIC visited Rose Hill-Magnolia School in Duplin County NC via invitation of Ms. Emily Trainer. Ms. Trainer is from Iceland and shares a deep appreciation for heritages including students learning about the First People of North Carolina including the Indians of Coastal Carolina. She had just finished her unit on the Indians as some of her colleagues were just beginning their studies. Students enjoyed having the opportunity to delve into the articles and artifacts brought for student inspection. They were great listeners and had lots of interesting questions as they explored the articles and artifacts. Many students commented that although they thought the indigenous clothing was “cool” and enjoyed having the opportunity to witness their teachers wearing the clothing they appreciate and would much having their familiar jeans, sweatshirt, sneakers.
12 November 2008 Today CCIC visited James Smith Elementary in Cove City, NC. Students living in this area were familiar with stories having been passed forward to them regarding the Tuscarora War and tales associated with the Tuscarora War. Many were surprised to learn the neighboring community of Ft. Barnwell was named after Tuscarora Indian Fighter, John Barnwell. John Barnwell was also known as Tuscarora Jack or Tuscarora John. Several students had been told they might be part-Indian but had not considered this relationship might be tied to the Tuscarora but rather the Cherokee. As the students studied the historical Theodore DeBry map they were able to see a variety of Indian villages associated with the Indians and better understood that the Cherokee were not from eastern or Coastal North Carolina. Students understood how the Indians appreciated having familiar waters such as the Neuse, Trent; Swift, Little Swift, and Core Creek. They could identify with the ties to familiar areas around Pitch Kettle and Contentnea for foot and canoe travels and neighboring woodlands for hunting berries as well as wildlife to feed families. Many of the students have “inherited” the ways of their ancestors as it relates to area hunting and fishing in addition to the ways the food is prepared and served. Traditional food in these parts includes Rockfish Stew with homegrown onions, potatoes, corn fritters cooked creekside. The creekside gathering is a current tradition of area families in addition to hunting of bear, deer,. The traditional old timey Indian bow, handmade arrows and quiver is rarely used today in these parts for hunting. The old timey cane fishing pole has been replaced with contemporary rod and reel and hunting dogs often sport high tech collars used for tracking.
7 November 2008 What a pleasure it was to bring our Great Salt Water Educational Program to The Epiphany School, a private school in New Bern, NC, founded by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. I been hearing wonderful things about Epiphany ever since it first opened a few years ago, and we saw during our visit there that all the things we've heard are true. What a beautiful school with a friendly staff! The students were so well-mannered and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy our program. We presented our program to three groups of students throughout the day. Two of the groups were the students of Mr. Milliron and the final group of the day was Ms. Griffith's class. I was particularly impressed with the knowledge that the students already had about the history of the Indians of coastal North Carolina. There was one student, in particular, in Ms. Griffith's class, who exhibited so much knowledge about the colonial-era history of our state's first people, we told him we might have to bring him on board with us to start doing the programs in the schools! We were inspired to see that Epiphany taken a considerable interest in giving their students a well-rounded education in all subjects, and that North Carolina Indian history is being taught to — and retained by — the students there in the most thorough fashion we've seen. The students at Epiphany can be grateful that their parents are investing in their education at such a fine school. They can also be grateful for having teachers who are going above and beyond to ensure their pupils are well-prepared with a comprehensive education.
6 November 2008 Thursday, November 6, 2008 CCIC visited Morehead Elementary School at Camp Glenn via invitation of Media Specialist Ms. Lisa Hyatt. Ms. Hyatt is the 1st Media Specialist in our state to extend an invitation for a CCIC visit. This was a mixed group of both fourth and fifth grade students. Students met in the Media Center as they were working on an assignment about the Indians of Coastal Carolina. A few parents also were in attendance and partipated in the question and answer session at the end of the presentation. It was noted that several of Ms. Hyatt’s students had been studying John White drawings and were quite familiar with his interest in sketching what he witnessed in his visits along the Great Salt Water. The adults shared comments wondering if perhaps their ancestors might have ties to some of the First People of Coastal Carolina. One local Dad with roots from Coastal Carolina shared how it had been passed forward via oral history that Indian artifacts had been found along certain sections of Bogue Banks. Ms. Hyatt’s students being from Coastal Carolina were able to cite reasons for why they felt strong ties would have existed among the First People of Coastal Carolina as many of their relatives have lived in the same area having raised families from fishing and farming for many generations. Being from this area we understand the ties that binds us to the Great Salt Water.
5 November 2008 The following is a letter sent to us by Angela Cartee. She is the mother of Benji, a a student at Eastern Elementary School in Pitt County. Mrs. Cartee requested CCIC bring our Great Salt Water Educational Program to her son's classroom as a birthday gift for her son.
24 October 2008 The Great Salt Water Educational Program was presented to fourth grade students at White Oak Elementary on October 22, 23,24th.
18 October 2008 Fourth Grade Students of Ms. Hopson, Ms. Forbes, Mr. Ash and Mr. Barton at Washington GT Magnet (Raleigh-Wake County) surprised Coastal Carolina Indian Center volunteers on Friday, October 17th even prior to CCIC volunteers entering inside the school. One young student kindly greeted us on the outside by door entry with her friendly smile. She volunteered to show us how to find the office holding the door for us to pass through prior to her entry and then escorted us to the front office. We were then directed to the library.The media staff at Washington GT Magnet were very friendly as were random teachers, Fourth Grade teachers and the office staff. The media center has lots of books and beautiful art painted on the walls thus making it have the feel of being an awesome place to work and learn. One would sense Washington GT Magnet in being a place that nurtures cultural awareness and by examples practiced on a daily basis encourages an ongoing celebration of cultural diversity. Students cited answers to questions field to them by CCIC volunteers. All students were prepared to take notes upon entry into the media center as they each brought a clipboard, pencil and paper. All students were attentive and very mature Fourth Graders. They demonstrated much respect towards their teachers and CCIC volunteers. One student was very familiar with drawings of John White. He shared his interest in learning more about the historical maps and variety of documentations in relationship to the Indians. Another student noted journal notes from White documenting the Indians way of life, mannerism, and the abundance of wildlife, fish. Another student raised an interesting question in wondering if perhaps the dwellings and village of Secotan inspired architects to design the log cabin. One student raised a further question wondering if perhaps there might be a similar relationship or tie to the structure of log cabins and Longhouses by the selection of similar trees that were used to make the Longhouses considering the shared basic architectural design for a log cabin. A few students indicated they had no idea so many people of the same family once upon a time actually lived in the same Longhouse. Playing the hand drum was a favorite among all classes as was the examination of the pottery pieces, baskets. Some of the girls indicated they thought they might would like to try making a corn shuck doll at their next slumber party. A couple of the girls indicated they were members of a group in Wake County-Raleigh known as Indian Princesses and how they would be sharing some of the “stuff” they learned today at their next Indian Princess meeting. They were unaware that the dream catcher and mandella did not begin in North Carolina nor did the Pow Wow.
16 October 2008 Speechless comes to mind upon first entry into Cameron Elementary School located in Moore County on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. The beautiful mural painted on entry halls and stairwell by Cameron Elementary Art Teacher and students is spectacular. The friendly staff and administration makes one feel “right at home”. There is a very warm feeling noted inside Cameron’s cultural climate and atmosphere that fosters a feeling of this has to be a great place for learning all kinds of things.
13 October 2008 Anderson Elementary is located in Wilmington, NC in New Hanover County. Anderson is a beautiful school and has an awesome group of fourth grade students via guidance of fourth grade teachers Ms. O’Connell, Ms. Weber, Ms. McIntyre, Ms. Hardison, Ms. Barriner, Ms. Rzeszut and Mrs. Holleman. Students were quick learners in speaking some of the indigenous words and were eager to practice these words upon entering the cafeteria line and at home in communicating with older siblings. Some students thought it was really neat how young people in the late 1500’s living in Secotan would speak a different language than theTuscarora further inland. Other students expressed an interest in trying their hand to make a real longhouse or dugout, as they discovered a couple of schools in North Carolina have actually done this.
1 October 2008 Morton Elementary School of Jacksonville made history on October 1st in being the very first school in Onslow County to bring the 2008-09 Great Salt Water Educational Program to their Fourth Grade Students. They thought the process in making a dugout and clothing was amazing. Students learning some of the indigenous words of the First People gave “new life” to languages that are close to being extinct.
29 September 2008 We're happy to report that the 2008 Great Salt Water Educational Outreach Program kicked off last week (Sept. 22-26, 2008) to great success! Our first visit of year was at Ashe County's Mountain View Elementary School in Jefferson, NC. Ashe County, North Carolina is such a welcoming and friendly place! It is rich in natural beauty and the folks living throughout the county have a special way about them that makes one feel right at home. The 4th grade teachers at Mountain View are Mrs. Heufel, Mrs. Maloney, Mrs. Rumfelt, Mrs. Lambert. The students at Mountain View are “Top Notch.” They demonstrated a genuine sense of caring and connecting with the material presented about the First People of Coastal North Carolina, coupled with the idea of each one of us being members of an “extended family” albeit at school, community, state and nation. They thought it was "really cool" that pottery was made in coastal Carolina long ago by the First People. One oftentimes associates pottery primarily with the piedmont and/or mountains. They liked learning about the pottery having different patterns often being indicative of which tribe made the pottery. The parents, grandparents and teachers of the 4th grade students at Mountain View are to be commended for having instilled in these young students by example the timeless value of Ashe County and Jefferson as “home.” The students asked a variety of thoughtful questions related to the First People of Coastal North Carolina and shared enthusiasm in trying to pronounce some of the words from indigenous languages. They found it interesting that many family members would live in a Longhouse and that corn was a valuable trade item. They enjoyed having a chance to examine various articles available for examination and thought the indigenous clothing samples were great for summer wear. They enjoyed having the opportunity to witness their teachers model some of the clothing. The week was a successful, as well as a joyful one, enjoying the beauty and hospitality in Ashe County. We're appreciative that the teachers at Mountain View and Westbrook Elementary Schools invited our program for their students and we especially appreciated having the opportunity to talk to the bright, inquisitive students at both schools about the Indians of Coastal North Carolina.
|
|
|
©2004-2010Coastal Carolina
Indian Center. All Rights Reserved.
|
Blog: