Join Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) for Indigenous Heritage Day from 10 a.m.—4 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2022. The annual event will be filled with ongoing demonstrations at the Woodland Indian Hamlet that highlight traditional methods in hide tanning, pottery, and cooking.
Schedule:
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. /
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Atlatl Demonstration
Join HSMC Staff as you learn about hunting techniques with the predecessor of the bow, the atlatl.
You are invited to join the Piscataway Indian Nation Singers and Dancers as they drum, dance, and teach the living traditions of the Piscataway People.
On-going activities
These hands-on activities are happening throughout the day
Join special guest, Drew Shuptar Rayvis, Cultural ambassador for the Pocomoke Tribe, as he presents “Eight Coats, Seven Shirts, Fifteen Fathom Wampum: Early Colonial Settlement and the First Deeds.
Interact with Drew as he takes you on an interpretive journey while exploring the interconnected relationships between the Dutch, Swedes, English, and Algonkian peoples in their respective regions/colonies.
Fire starting demonstration
Nate Salzman, Village Manager, at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, demonstrates how to start a fire using friction.
Pottery
Meet with members of HSMC staff as they demonstrate Late-Woodland Indian pottery techniques.
Nature’s Bounty
HSMC staff demonstrate the many plants, native and invasive, throughout the landscape that can be used by humans.
Clothing
HSMC staff show how to preserve animal skins and how those skins can be made into clothing. (Visitor discretion advised, not for the squeamish.)
Canoe Burning
HSMC staff will use fire as a power tool and demonstrate burning a dugout canoe.
Archaeology
HSMC curators from our research department will display and expound upon the Native American artifacts that have been found on HSMC property.
Indigenous Heritage Day will take place outdoors, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 10.
Cost: $10 adult; $9 seniors; $6 youth (6-18); and free for those 5 years and younger and museum members).
Admission includes access to special activities.
Admission for the day will be available to purchase at The Shop at Farthing’s Ordinary or the HSMC Visitor Center (18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary’s City, Md 20686)
September 10
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$10 adult; $9 senior; $6 student; free to ages 5 and younger. Free to museum members.
ABOUT DREW SHUPTAR-RAYVIS:
Drew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas Makatawai’U “Black Corn”) holds a cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Western Connecticut State University and a Certificate Degree in Archaeology from Norwalk Community College. A true American of the mid-Atlantic region, his family includes indigenous Pocomoke heritage, Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, Swiss,English, Scots-Irish, Boyko Ukrainian and Ashkanazi Jewish, he honors all of his ancestors as a practicing living historian and regularly participates in colonial era reenactments, interpretations and public educational events. He has studied the reading of Wampum and works diligently in the research and preservation of the Eastern Woodland languages, particularly Renape and Mahican and is educated in the many European languages at use in the Colonial Period. He was the first garden manager of Western Connecticut State University’s Permaculture Garden, and practices Native horticulture. In July 2021 Drew was elected by his Paramount Chief Norris Howard Senior and Vice Chief Norris Howard Jr. as Cultural Ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation of Maryland.
