November is national Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate by learning about the fascinating culture, traditions and history of Ohio's American Indians at the First People Festival on Saturday, November 22 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Rocky River Nature Center in Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation.
Rocky River Reservation is rich in American Indian history. At the top of Fort Hill, a 90-foot high bluff located behind Rocky River Nature Center, archaeologists from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History discovered evidence that American Indians occupied this area more than 1,000 years ago. It's believed these first people used Fort Hill for non-residential purposes and actually made their home in the valley below which provided fertile farmland and access to the Rocky River. On the triangular eastern end of Fort Hill there are visible American Indian earthworks, triple lines of trenches and embankments, which researchers theorize may have been built to identify that the area was used for rituals.Gain a better understanding about the interesting history and culture of Ohio's early woodland tribes through activities, stories, hikes, presentations, displays and crafts including:Ongoing activities and displays:
Fort Hill Hikes:
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. - Climb 135 stairs up to the top of Fort Hill and learn about the first people who lived in this area long ago.
Presentations:
Noon - Late Prehistoric Whittlesey Indians - Cleveland Metroparks historical interpreter Karen Lakus will discuss the late-prehistoric Whittlesey Indians.1 p.m. - Ohio Indians: From the Paleo Period to the 1700s - Historian Bob Zahirsky will present an overview of Ohio American Indians focusing on their education, religion, stories and music.2 p.m. - Stone Tool Technology - Expert flint knapper Dan Minard will discuss techniques American Indians used to turn stone into tools, where and how to find Ohio flint, and how to make an arrowhead.3 p.m. Fire and Native American Techniques for using a Bow-Drill. Survival expert Tom Laskowski will demonstrate American Indian techniques used for making fire with a bow-drill.Rocky River Nature Center is located at 24000 Valley Parkway in Rocky River Reservation, between Cedar Point Road and Shephard Lane in North Olmsted - off the I-480/Clague Road exit (westbound) and I-480/Columbia Road exit (eastbound).For more information, visit clevelandmetroparks.com or call 440-734-6660.-30-MEDIA CONTACTS:SUE ALLEN - 216-635-3338, sja@clevelandmetroparks.comHOLLY KECK - 216-635-3253, hak@clevelandmetroparks.com