Saturday With The Creek Indians

This past Saturday the family and I hit the road down to Macon Georgia to experience the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration. The weather was perfect to take some time and walk around the Ocmulgee National Park as singing, dancing, storytelling and different events took place. Ocmulgee was the homeland of the Muscogee Creek Indians and members of that nation were represented by an honor guard from Oklahoma as well as some of the princesses to speak of and explain their culture.
As we arrived there was a demonstration of Mystic Wind Stickball going on in the main lawn area.  This is a game in which a small ball is passed back and forth by the participants on two teams.  You are to throw the ball and hit a stick in the middle of the playing area.  The great part of the game is you are allowed to “gently place” your opponent on the ground if they have the ball.

After the stickball game demonstration was completed, the members of the Cherokee Nation’s Warriors of AniKituhwa invited audience members to join in a “friendship dance.”  Once my second son heard that volunteers were being selected, he quickly grabbed his younger sister and nearly ran back toward us for cover.  There were various other styles and types of dance that was performed for the crowd.  Some were for knocking the grass down for the elders to move about easier and some were for locating that special someone to marry.

There were different arts and crafts that were for sale. Everything from butterfly wings for earrings to silversmithing of bracelets and rings and bows, arrows, headdresses, paintings and necklaces of all types. You could even try your hand at testing your pottery skills.

One of our favorite parts was the primitive tools section and talk. There was a gentlemen explaining what tools were used by the Creek Indians and how they were developed. This, to me, was the most interesting part of the day. To learn how and why different tools were created for the everyday use of the indians and how these tools were the first step in the making of more complex tools was outstanding. Such as how arrowheads were used for so many things. How some arrows were a two piece system of a shaft and a replaceable tip system that would stick into the prey as the shaft fell back off. This system allowed the indians to carry one or two shafts and multiple tips which were not a cumbersome. Both of the boys got a huge kick out of the blowgun demonstration was performed. I must admit that I was very surprised as well when this guy was sticking small reeds into animal pelts from thirty feet away!

To make the trip complete we ventured off to the actual indian mounds in the park. This is a trip that everyone should at least attempt if you live around middle Georgia. The mounds have been preserved for all to come and see. One is located underground and was believed to be a meeting chamber. The walls have been somewhat reinforced due to the ravages of time, but the floor is the same floor that existed since the beginning. Upon entering the structure there is an audio guided tour that tells of the earthlodge and how it was created and the uses of it during its time. After leaving the first mound, we ventured off to the second one which is a .5 mile walk. So be ready to do some hiking about if you go! From the top of the second mound we were able to see the Macon skyline and take a few moments to just watch the clouds go by and relax.

Overall it was a great day. There were the normal grumblings and “What’s for lunch?” question over and over. However, dad, I would highly recommend taking the time to bring your kids to the area to see the return of the Creek Nation at Ocmulgee in Macon Georgia. There are also some geocaches located in the park that are worth a look if you can find some time to go after them.

If you would like to know more of the Ocmulgee Nation Park or things to do there visit http://www.nps.gov/ocmu/planyourvisit/index.htm