Generations of traditional culture met on ETSU’s campus during the annual Native American Festival held in the Quad on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21.
Native Americans shared their cultural knowledge with students through various forms of art and traditional craft. Different styles of dancing, music, traditional clothing, storytelling, basket making and corn husk doll demonstrations were shared by the Cherokee people, along with the history behind it all.
“You know some people think of us as primitive, and they think of that word as something derogatory, but [in] actuality something primitive means ‘closest to the source,’” John Toineeta, the event host, said. “So, I like that word. And when I think of indigenous peoples, indigenous culture, that’s what I think of. ‘Closest to the source.’”
Raven Rock, one of the longest running Cherokee dance groups, demonstrated ceremonial dances during the showcase. Women’s traditional dance, hoop dancing, grass dancing and children dancing in portrayal of horses and bears to the beat of traditional drums took the audience back in time.
The Multicultural Center created the festival with regards to the growing indigenous population at ETSU, including a number of Cherokee students.
“We do [this] for them that come to school here,” Toineeta said. “It gives them a little taste of home.”
Although the festival held rich Native American culture that was gratefully shared, remembering their history is equally as important as celebrating their culture.
“When the invaders came, they tried to take everything from us,” Toineeta said. “Our songs, our dances, our language, our material culture, our food, our knowledge of plants for medicinal purposes. I mean every aspect of our being they tried to strip away from us, but we are hanging on.”
