Wolf Creek News
Wolf Creek In the News
Officials working to rebuild history at Wolf Creek Indian Village
Rebuilding Local History: Wolf Creek Indian Village going back to drawing board
Vibrant vistas: Region comes alive with autumn color
Wolf Creek Indian Village Digs Into History
Newsletters
2012 - Spring
2011 - Spring
2010 - Winter WCIV Vol 1 Issue 1
If you would like to receive our newsletter contact us. We do not share contact info.
Press Releases
2010 - January February March April May June July August September October November December
2011 - January February March April May June July
August September October November December
Follow news updates for Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum on Facebook and our blog at Blogspot.
We will post:
- News of events with photos of happenings at Wolf Creek.
- Changes to scheduled events
- Changes to opening and closings of the museum
- News relative to Virginia Indians, Native American and First People issues
Follow Us
- Facebook
Follow us on Facebook Become a fan of Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum - Blogspot
Follow us on Blogspot
Press Releases
April 2010
Blessing Ceremony Opens Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum
Members
of the Delaware (Munsee) Nation performed a traditional Blessing
Ceremony April 1st at this years opening of the Wolf Creek Indian
Village & Museum in Bastian, VA.
The traditional ceremony led by Chief of the Turtle Clan, Jack "3 Bears" Eisel and assisted by Chief of the Turkey Clan, Darrell "Two Wolves" Schwarz was held in the recreated Village site.
Chief "3 Bears" said of the Indian Village, "This is all sacred land. We are still here and we are still using it."
"First People were here long before the white men came, said Chief Two Wolves, "The ancestors would be very unhappy if they were forgotten."
Joyce Cheekis Eisel, said, "Everyone should be taught about the First People of Virginia, that is the importance of the village."
"When we pray, we all pray to the same creator," Penny Plummer, Retail Sales Manager said. "We just have different ways of expressing that."
For her part of the prayer, Denise Smith, Museum and Village Programs Manager, noted that people will enter the village from all walks of life. "I prayed the blessing will help people have a positive experience in the village and leave with new knowledge."
“We are pleased to be extending our hours of operation to include Monday this year and are excited about the rebuilding in progress” said Willie Howlett, Bland County Administrator. “This is truly a unique destination for both local residents and visitors to Bland County.
Members of the Delegation were Peggy "Goodwin" Cornell, Tim Cornell. Jack "3 Bears Eisel" Darrell "Two Wolves" Schwarz, Jaime "Golden Otter" Booher, Roy "Red Hawk" Jones, Karen "Grandma Spirit Woman" Jones, Joyce Cheekis Eisel, Lois, "White Dove" Goodwin, Oscar "Lost Wolfe" Goodwin, Raymond "Lightfoot" Goodwin and Carolyn Tomey.
Picture attached: Delegation of the Delaware (Munsee) Nation with Staff of Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum.
August 2010
Bastian, Virginia Local Boy Scout Eagle Scout Project at Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum.
Chase
Carter, son of Ken and Betty Carter of Bastian, chose a project at WCIV
as a requirement to obtain his Eagle Scout status. Chase obtained
materials and created walls, shelves and roof on what is now called a
corn grainary or food storage building. The structure was created from
the placement of post recorded on the original archeology site map. The
walls of the structure were interwoven with small saplings creating a
small building that would protect the food stored from large animals.
Chase had extra materials (small saplings) and they have been interwoven
into the Palisade fence. This method of fence building was thought to
have been used by the original occupants according to the original
archeologist on the Brown-Johnston site, Howard MacCord.
WCIV is asking the community for donations of small saplings, grapevines, water alders (2 inch diameter or less). The museum could use any of these materials for refurbishing the Palisade fence around the village. For more information contact Denise Smith 276-688-3438 or by email
November 2010
Renewed Investigations of the Brown-Johnston Site. Nov. 18, 2010
Members of the Archeological Society of Virginia’s chapters in the southwestern portion of the state renewed investigations at the Brown Johnston Site at Bastian Nov. 6 and 13. The site, occupied around 1500, is popularly known by its re-creation at the Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum.
Their
project examined topsoil, or back dirt, removed by heavy machinery from
the late Woodland period village site and deposited in a long, low pile
nearby in the full site excavation more than 41 year ago.
The back dirt was never formally examined for artifacts it may have contained when late archaeologist Col. Howard MacCord excavated the Brown Johnston Site in 1970. Instead, MacCord focused on locating and excavating important archaeological features beneath the topsoil. Such features reveal the locations of dwellings, burials, storage pits, hearths and the palisade that surrounded the village.
Construction of Interstate 77 in 1970 required the relocation of Wolf Creek to allow construction of the Bastian interchange. Before the creek’s realignment destroyed the prehistoric village site, construction paused as MacCord worked to retrieve as much data from the site as possible to construct a picture of life in the village.
The relatively small number of artifacts recovered from the site and other indicators led MacCord to conclude the site was occupied for only four to five years.
The research goal of this project was to sample the back dirt to examine it for the presence of artifacts like stone tools, projectile points/knives, and pot shards whose number in the topsoil would either support or challenge MacCord’s interpretation.
With the help of Boy Scouts and Bland County high school history students, and under the professional supervision of Tom Klatka, archaeologist with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the ASV members used quarter-inch mesh screen boxes to sift the back dirt.
Boy Scouts
who participated were Troop 12 Bland County; Pack 460 Pembroke, VA;
Troop 1 Princeton, WV; Troop 264 Pembroke, VA and Troop 1335 Oak
Hill, WV
"The Archaeology Merit Badge for Boy Scouts is usually taught with a
"mock dig". Our scouts were able to participate in an actual dig
supervised by experts who were very willing to share their expertise
with them." Goldie Kiser BSA Mountain Dominion District Advancement
Co-Chairman
"After shoveling and sifting dirt all day on the first Saturday, we
actually had several boys show up to do it all over again on the
second day! The boys were fascinated by the sifting process, the
layers of earth, and the rocks they found." Scoutmaster Randy Kiser
Troop 12 Bland County.
Sampling from two excavation units in the back dirt pile recovered one projectile point, two small pot shards, and a small number of chert and chalcedony flakes left from the manufacture of stone implements.
While the sampled soil is a small percentage of the soil removed from the site, the low number of artifacts found in about 10 hours of screening supports MacCord’s interpretation, said Dan Kegley, ASV president-elect and president of the Abingdon-based Wolf Hills Chapter of the ASV.
Their work may add to MacCord’s interpretation. Kegley said geologist Dr. Charles Bartlett, a founding member of the Wolf Hills Chapter who worked at the site Nov. 13, noted the site is underlain by Devonian shale that weathers into poor quality soil lacking nutrients to support sustained agriculture. By the late Woodland period, prehistoric people like those on the Wolf Creek relied on crops to supplement hunting and crops failure after two or three years might explain the short occupation of the site.
Museum Director Denise Smith said an interpretive garden grown today in the village struggles in the poor soil as a demonstration of prehistoric agriculture. Perhaps its portrayal is in fact accurate for the site.
Smith told Kegley and his chapter members about the unscreened topsoil in April that was brought to her attention a year ago by an excavation participant, and Kegley began the preliminary work of securing professional oversight and the endorsement of the ASV board.
It
was such an honor to follow Howard, even these decades later, on a site
and to work at enhancing the understanding of the site that he left us
in his journal and his published paper,” Kegley said. “Howard died two
years ago. He played a large role in eastern U.S. archeology,
particularly in Virginia.”
After photographing the artifacts and writing a paper on the project for the ASV’s Quarterly Bulletin, Kegley will return them to the museum for curation.
Smith plans to open the topsoil sampling work to visitors to the village who would work under supervision. Contributed photos by Goldie Kiser
December 2010
Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum Announces Museum Fundraising Goal for 2011
December 20, 2011
Wolf
Creek Indian Village and Museum is currently seeking to raise $350,000
in funding through new membership/sponsorship programs, foundation
funding and donations in 2011. The museum is seeking community support
to ensure the continuation of the village to represent the history of
the Brown-Johnston site and provide the resources needed to allow the
dedicated staff of Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum to continue
their goal of becoming the standard for presenting Native American
history, skills, and life in our area. Sam Wright, Wolf Creek's General
Manager stated, “It is important that the story of our nation’s First
People as well as the history of the Indians who once lived in
Appalachia be told and preserved to ensure the continuation of a culture
that is held in special regard to countless individuals and not
forgotten in history.”
This funding would be used to complete the living
museum, build display exhibits, develop the trails and create programs
that will help to continue to bring this Native American historic site
to be enjoyed by countless school children and visitors from across the
globe. The funding will specifically help complete the Village of a
total of (10) roundhouse structures, (4) smaller wigwam type structures,
(2) large exterior entrance and exit gatehouse features, (1) corn crib
or granary storage type facility, fire/barbeque pits, storage pits,
recognition of grave sites found in the original dig, replace and
strengthen the palisade fence, develop several “daily skills” programs,
develop and rehabilitate walking trails, and a new archeology program
for visitors. These programs and displays will all be used as
educational tools that will help in the advanced learning of countless
school children of all age groups, visitors from all walks of life from
countries around the world, history enthusiasts and researchers
interested in the Eastern Woodland cultures of the Native American.
Before photo of posts placed in ground ready for walls &
roof on 3 sisters and grainery structure.
Photo with walls & roof awaiting inside exhibits.
Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum was first established in April 1996 by the Bland County Historical Society as a premier tourism destination dedicated to the telling the history of the Native American people of Bland County. Wolf Creek Indian Village is based on the historical Brown-Johnston archeology site and is one of very few documented, entirely complete, Native American Indian Village sites in Virginia. The Bland County Historical Society decided in 2008 to move and to save one of the oldest buildings in the town of Bland and passed the direction of the museum to the Bland County Economic Development Authority and the County of Bland. Eric Workman, Bland County Administrator, stated, “It is the mission of the County of Bland and EDA to support Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum it its endeavor to preserve our regional history and development of educational opportunities in Bland County.”
In the spring of 2009, it was decided to rebuild the living museum portion of Wolf Creek Indian Village. While doing the research required to rebuild the facilities pole for pole and feature for feature, according to the original archeology site map of former state archeologist Howard MacCord, the staff determined that a new “round house” type structure would be erected rather than the fiberglass wigwam style home used by the museum in the previous years. This was done in conjunction with the pole layout from the original site that shows evidence of a roundhouse style house. However, because no one is positive of what the Brown-Johnston site would have had in its original existence, and because there are several smaller structures with differing sizes and shapes, there will be several different types of constructed features in the living museum.
For additional information on our membership sponsorship programs or to donate please contact Sam Wright, General Manager or Denise Smith, WCIV Museum Programs Coordinator, at 276-688-3438 or by email at dsmith@indianvillage.org. You can also keep up with all the happenings at Wolf Creek via the web at www.indianvillage.org or become a fan on Facebook under Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum. Attached Pictures: titles “New Completed Wolf Creek Council and Meeting house. Four of the largest structures are almost completed. 2nd picture, Laying out grid to match archeology site map, placing a post for each post on the map and matching features to get a truer picture of the construction of the village 500 years ago.
Submitted by Denise Smith, Museum Programs Coordinator
Annual Green Corn Festival in Bland, VA Canceled for 2011, Resumed for 2012
Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum in Bastian, Virginia has decided to cancel the All Nations Green Corn Festival for 2011 in order to focus on village reconstruction and museum improvements. Sam Wright, General Manager of WCIV states, “ We are focusing all our resources on the rebuild of the replica of the 500 year old Indian village that once existed here. We are also working to obtain funding to enhance the trails, and increase parking. Our plans are to resume the festival for 2012.”
Denise Smith, Museum Programs Coordinator, stated, “I think this is a good move to postpone the festival to next year, so we can focus on rebuilding the entire village. Our thoughts for the future are to rebuild the village and get more parking here so we can hold events such as the All Nations Green Corn Festival at the sight of a recreated 500 year old First Nation's village. It would be an “awesome” development to have American Indians dancing with drums here at the village for the Green Corn Festival. It is their history.”
There are several other festival and powwows in the area a representative of Wolf Creek Indian Village will attend. Strong Sun Festival July 8-10, 2011 in Winston-Salem and Drums of Painted Mountain September 16-18, 2011 at Southwest Virginia Community College. Information links will be posted at www.indianvillage.org.
In addition to the village reconstruction, museum staff are busy developing new exhibits in the museum and also programs to benefit the local community. An exhibit for the 150th Sesquicentennial of Bland County will focus on Native American's and their part in the Civil War.
“Selu's Garden” is a program to benefit the local community that will donate excess produce from the gardens at Wolf Creek to the Bland Ministry Center's food program. “We use non-hybrid seed just as the First people did and this produce if you want to save the seed, you can and grow it again next year. There will be instructions with the produce on how to do that for those that receive it. Even if you don't plant a garden you can grow produce in a pot.” explains Denise Smith. The museum also hopes to develop after school programs in the future.
Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum, 6394 North Scenic HWY, Bastian, Virginia 24314 Phone 276-688-3438 Fax: 276-688-2496
WOLF CREEK INDIAN VILLIAGE & MUSEUM
TO HOST
“WOLF 5K FUN RUN/WALK”
(Bastian, VA) – February 25, 2011 - Enjoy the scenic vistas, historic
landmarks, and abundant rivers and streams at the first annual Wolf 5K
Fun Run/Walk at Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum in Bastian, Virginia
on April 2nd, 2011. “Bland County Economic Development Authority is
energized about the progress of the reconstruction of the Indian
Village”, stated David Dillow, Chairman, Bland County Economic
Development Authority. This event is in celebration of the Opening
Weekend for the 2011 season at Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum.
Festivities are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Young and old alike can walk, jog or run down country lanes lined with
scenic beauty at every turn. The setting combines the historic
attraction of the Wolf Creek Indian Village with the rustic beauty of
Bland County. “We anticipate the first annual Wolf 5K Fun Run/Walk to be
an exciting opening weekend event”, stated Karen Hodock, Chairman, Board
of Supervisors.
The first event will begin at 10:00 Saturday morning with registration
beginning at 9:00 a.m. Part of the day’s events will include a
Children’s Fun Run race, which includes free entry with a registration
form. Age groups for each race are listed below.
Group
Age
Children’s Fun Run
14 & Under
Young Adult
15-25
Adult
26-55
Senior
56 and Up
Young adult, adult and senior age groups must complete a registration
form before the race, including a registration fee of $10. Please
pre-register for the event by March 25th to ensure participation. Prizes
will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each age group.
Commemorative knit caps will be given to the first 100 runners who sign
up for the 3 adult race age groups. “We encourage everyone to lace up
their shoes and join us on April 2nd in the County of Bland”, stated
Eric Workman, Bland County Administrator.
For registration information, visit http://www.indianvillage.org/ or
email arepass@bland.org
