FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 28, 2014) -- The Historic Chattahoochee Commission and Columbus State University unveiled a stop on the Creek Heritage Trail as a tribute to Muscogee Creek Indians May 22 at Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.
A Creek Indian artifacts display was revealed, as well as four panels that highlighted their lives in the Chattahoochee River Valley area showing the Creek Town of Cusseta, Creek Agriculture, Center for International Diplomacy and Daily Life in Cusseta.
Barbara Chesler, dean of education and health professions at CSU, said the display of artifacts consisting of arrowheads, pottery, copper works and more found on Fort Benning help promote the Native American life that was here before us.
"These permanently installed panels - like those you'd see at a Civil War battle site - will bear descriptions of the life and times of the Creek Indians," said Victor Salazar, director of CSU's Ivey Center for Cultural Approach to History.
Mike Bunn, HCC director, said the unveiling was an effort to raise awareness of a critical component of the region's shared heritage.
"We want to help people understand the history that is all around us," he said. "This helps people understand the rich Creek Indian Heritage that is here; the story of how pivotal this region is, the understanding of the Creek Wars and the story of the forced removal of the native inhabitants and the early settlement of this area by Americans."
Emman Spain of the Seminole Tribe and tribal historic preservation officer, said today's modern Muscogee Creek Nation consists of more than 70,000 tribal members.
"They weren't all one tribe like they are today," he said. "It was many small tribes that united along the way and allied with each other throughout history."
Bryant Celestine of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and historical preservation clerk, showed a replica of a basket he said that is made out of long-leaf pine, which predominantly grows on Fort Benning.
These type of baskets helped to build the mounds that can be seen in the Southeast.
There is a story, he said, that goes when the baskets leaked, clay would be packed on the inside to fix it.
One day a basket was left by the fire, which caused it to burn, and all that was left was the hard clay, which is now called pottery.
"What's unique about a lot of these baskets is that no matter how old they are, you can still smell the pine," Celestine said.
CSU president Tim Mescon said all of the partners involved helped make the opportunity of sharing the findings possible.
"(These partnerships) will reinforce the importance of understanding and studying history," he said.
The indoor artifacts are located in the L-cove at Oxbow Meadows and the outdoor panels can be viewed near the entrance.
of the native inhabitants and the early settlement of this area by Americans."
Emman Spain of the Seminole Tribe and tribal historic preservation officer, said today's modern Muscogee Creek Nation consists of over 70,000 tribal members.
"They weren't all one tribe like they are today," he said. "It was many small tribes that united along the way and allied with each other throughout history."
Spain said the importance of the panels and the artifacts is to enlighten people that the Native Americans were here and contribute to society.
Bryant Celestine of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and historical preservation clerk, showed one such example of an artifact - a replica of a basket he said that is made out of long-leaf pine, which predominantly grows on Fort Benning.
These type of baskets helped to build the mounds that can be seen in the Southeast.
There is a story, he said, that goes when the baskets leaked, clay would be packed on the inside to fix it. One day a basket was left by the fire, which caused it to burn, and all that was left was the hard clay, which is now called pottery.
"What's unique about a lot of these baskets is that no matter how old they are, you can still smell the pine," Celestine said.
CSU president Tim Mescon said all of the partners involved helped make the opportunity of sharing the findings possible.
"(These partnerships) will reinforce the importance of understanding and studying history," he said.
The indoor artifacts are located in the L-cove at Oxbow Meadows and the outdoor panels can be viewed near the entrance.
Social Sharing