Native American Culture
I’m wrapping up Native American Heritage Month with a visit to Wolf Creek, a reconstructed Native site about a half hour away. We’d passed highway signs for it before, but we were always on our way somewhere else. So, despite a bit of snow on the ground, we trudged down the hill to visit the […]
A Glimpse Back in Time Read More »
Today, the term matriarchal is often misunderstood and is frequently construed to imply that women had sole power or leadership. However, other terms, such as matrilinear, might be more accurate as this implies balance and cooperation between the genders, where women also have an essential role in the decision-making process. Nowhere is this more evident
In searching for the next topic for Native American Heritage Month, I came across a reference to the importance of language to native speakers. That resonates with me, as years ago, I began learning Scottish Gaelic. With a daughter who did Scottish Highland Dance and played bagpipes and a son who played the fiddle, I
The Importance of Words Read More »
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. There are many ways to celebrate their heritage. Recognize their contributions to American History from agricultural practices (such as the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash) to their military service, contributions to
Dave and I spent Thanksgiving weekend in the North Carolina mountains. First, we rode a steam train along the Tuckasegee River. On Saturday, we hiked up to Mingo Falls and then took a leisurely three-mile stroll along the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee. It seemed appropriate to wind up Native American Heritage Month in a native
On the path of the Cherokee Read More »
November is Native American Heritage Month. And since I am still unpacking boxes containing my research, it seems a good time to revisit some of it. When I began writing Death on the Line, I knew I needed to learn more about the native tribes in the area. I knew from Mason’s journal that the
Native American Heritage Month Read More »
Recently, several people reading Sign of Nine Stripes commented in their reviews that it was surprising the Natives spoke English so well. I hadn’t gotten that comment before, and I realized as advanced readers of the third book, they hadn’t read the first one. So perhaps I need to add that to my author’s notes.
Back to the Research Read More »
During my time as an interpreter with the 7th Virginia Regiment, my favorite topic was plants and their edible and medicinal uses. Our food displays were split into soldier’s rations and the items found in a typical home at that time of year. At any given event, children came up to look and ask questions.
Every so often, the poem, The Englishman’s Nightmare, by Tom Anderson Cairns makes the rounds. It is usually printed on tea towels and coffee mugs and tells the tale of an Englishman coming home after a hard day’s work. Everywhere he turns, he admires his modern conveniences, and while he is so proud of them,
When the Europeans arrived on the continent, they did not find the gold and silver they sought. Nor did they find exotic spices. But what they did find was an abundance of food, much of which they had never seen before. Many foods commonly eaten today were indigenous to the Americas. Whether they were first
Food, Glorious Food! Read More »