2023 AIHC Schedule Banner

For the 28th annual American Indian Heritage Celebration, we enjoyed engaging with these presentations and demonstrations.

2023 AIHC Schedule of Events

Opening and Grand Entry

Hosts/Emcees:

  • J. D. Moore (Waccamaw Siouan)
  • Sharon Berrun (Haliwa-Saponi)

Arena Director:

  • Ricky Burnett (Lumbee)

Main Stage Coordinator:

  • Becky Goins Mintz (Lumbee)

 

10:45–11 a.m.            

  • Blessing of the Arena and Grounds

11–11:30 a.m.                    

  • American Indian Flute: Ethan Oxendine (Lumbee)

11:45 a.m.-Noon              

  • Opening Drum Songs
    • Southern-Style Drum Group:  Smokey River (Coharie)
    • Northern-Style Drum Group:  War Paint (Tuscarora/Lumbee)

Noon–12:30 p.m.

  • Grand Entry
    • Roll Call of State-Recognized Tribes/Organizations
      • Coharie Tribe
      • Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
      • Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe
      • Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
      • Meherrin Indian Tribe
      • Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation
      • Sappony
      • Waccamaw Siouan Tribe
      • Cumberland County Association for Indian People
      • Guilford Native American Association
      • Metrolina Native American Association
      • Triangle Native American Society
  • Flag, Veterans’ Song, and Posting of the Colors: The Lumbee Warriors
  • Blessing of the Ceremony: Ricky Burnett (Lumbee), Chairman of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs
  • Welcome and Special Recognition of Dignitaries and Sponsors
  • Tribal Royalty
  • Honor Song

 

Dance and Music Stage

12:30-12:50 p.m.

  • Southeast Woodland Social Dances (Lumbee/Coharie)

1-1:20 p.m.        

  • Iroquois Smoke Dance (Meherrin)

1:30-1:50 p.m.        

  • Haliwa-Saponi Dance Group
    • Special Women’s Traditional Dance: Kaylee Evans (Haliwa-Saponi/Lumbee)

2-4 p.m.        

  • Powwow Dances (Intertribal)
    • Female Head Dancer: Kaylee Evans (Haliwa-Saponi/Lumbee)
    • Male Head Dancer: Ethan Oxendine (Lumbee)

 

Bicentennial Plaza

11 a.m.–4 p.m.  

  • 18th-Century Lifeways: Bark Housing, Finger Weaving, and Cordage: Sandra and Wahlelah Brown (EBCI)
  • Archaeology Dig Activity: Office of State Archaeology
  • Corncob Darts
  • Dugout Canoe Burning
  • Food Vendors and Premier Cakes Diner
  • North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission
  • North Carolina Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO)
  • Pottery Imprinting
  • Sappony Tribe
  • Triangle Native American Society
  • University of North Carolina at Pembroke, American Indian Heritage Center
  • Wake County Indian Education
Bicentennial Plaza Map

 

SECU Education Center (Level R)

11 a.m.–4 p.m.

  • Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations
  • North Carolina American Indian Health Board
  • North Carolina Government and Heritage Library
  • North Carolina Museum of Art
  • Southeastern Indian Designs
  • State Archives of North Carolina
  • United Tribes/NC Indian Senior Citizens Coalition
Level R Map

 

History and Community

Longleaf Classroom A
Host: Arvis Boughman (Lumbee) artist, author, and teacher

1:15-1:45 p.m.

  • SE Indian Symbols and Body Art 
    • Jamie Oxendine (Lumbee)
      Find out about traditional symbols, tattooing, and adornment from artist and author Jamie Oxendine.

2:15–2:45 p.m.     

  • NC Indian Schools 
    • Forest Hazel (Occaneechi)
      North Carolina’s American Indian Schools were supported by their communities and remain a matter of pride. Learn about the efforts to document their history before it is lost.

3:15–3:45 p.m.     

  • Community Culture Classes: Keeping Traditions Alive!
    • Jasmine Jacobs (Waccamaw Siouan)
      From drumming to language, many American Indian communities offer Culture Classes as a way to preserve their traditions. Discover how these programs contribute to vibrant tribal communities.

 

Storytelling and Language

Longleaf Classroom B    
Host: Kay Oxendine (Haliwa-Saponi), host, Woman Sacred Radio, and editor, The Phoenix Tribune 

12:30-12:50, 2-2:20 p.m.

  • Chi Shipman (EBCI)

1-1:20 p.m., 2:30-2:50 p.m.

  • Barbara Locklear (Lumbee)

1:30–1:50, 3–3:20 p.m.

  • Gwen Locklear (Lumbee)

3:30–4 p.m.

  • Home to High Plains
    Kara Stewart (Sappony)
    Using traditional oral storytelling methods along with tribal history, Kara Stewart has created an original story that tells how the Sappony came to live in High Plains.

 

Food and Health

Cardinal Classroom
Host: Jesalyn Keziah (Lumbee) director, Triangle Native American Society
1:45–2:15 p.m.   
  • Sweet Tradition: Making Sorghum Syrup
    Greg Jacobs (Coharie), tribal administrator, and Philip Bell (Coharie), Coharie River Initiative coordinator
    A talk about and tasting of sweet sorghum—one of the agricultural traditions being revived by the Coharie Tribe’s community garden.
2:30–3 p.m.   
  • Stories We Tell
    Dr. Ryan E. Emanuel (Lumbee) and Karen Dial Bird (Lumbee)
    Through personal stories, these scholars explore how the Lumbee people have been harmed by extractive research and the failure to respect knowledge held within the tribal community.
3:15–3:45 p.m.   
  • Healing Circles: A Place for Sharing and Healing
    Vivette Jeffries Logan (Occaneechi) 
    Healing and talking circles are deeply rooted in American Indian cultures. Learn about and take part in this traditional practice.

 

Lobby Level

11 a.m.–4 p.m.   

  • Basketmaking: Cindy Locklear (Lumbee)
  • BCBS of North Carolina/Healthy Blue
  • Beadwork: Carol Gene Brewington (Coharie)
  • Beadwork: Jessica Spaulding Dingle (Waccamaw Siouan)
  • Drawing and Painting: Karen Lynch Harley (Haliwa-Saponi)
  • Flint Knapping/Weapon Making: Rex Harris (Haliwa-Saponi)
  • Food Lion
  • Gallery Hunt
  • The Lost Colony
  • North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs
  • North Carolina Museum of History Associates
  • Petroglyphs    
  • Pinecone Patchwork Designs: James Malcolm (Lumbee)
  • Pine-Needle Baskets: Jamie Locklear (Lumbee)
  • Pottery: Senora Lynch (Haliwa-Saponi)
  • Quilting: Sappony tribal members and Coharie Quilters
  • Ribbon Skirts: Norma Jean Locklear-Richardson (Lumbee)
  • Ribbon Work and Clothing Design: Tabitha Jacobs Polanco (Lumbee)
  • Shell Carving: Antonio Grant (EBCI)
  • Siemens Healthineers
  • Silverwork: Brian Lynch (Haliwa-Saponi)
  • Three Sisters Garden-to-Go Bags: Shelia Wilson (Sappony)
  • Traditional SE Indian Clothing: Members of the Meherrin tribe
  • Wampum and Dream Catchers: Julian and Andrea Hunter (Meherrin)
Level 1

 

Third Floor

11 a.m.–4 p.m.   

  • Bandolier Bags: Ernest Grant (EBCI)
  • Beadwork Patterns
  • Cordage: Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site
  • Duke Energy
  • Hunting and Fishing Tools: Sharn Jeffries (Occaneechi)
  • Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
  • Painting and Jewelry: Angel Guin (Coharie)
  • Rattles, Cedar Boxes, and Stone Pipes: Henry Lynch (Haliwa-Saponi)
  • Red Hat
  • Stone Carving: Freeman Owle (EBCI)
  • Traditional Foodways: Vickie Jeffries (Occaneechi)
  • Wheel of American Indian History
Level 3 Map

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