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PERDIDO BAY TRIBE SOUTHEASTERN LOWER MUSCOGEE CREEK INDIANS, INC.
Native Paths Muscogee Creek Cultural Heritage and Resource Projects |
Treasures of Our Muscogean Heritage
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Ancient Muscogee Tradition That Lives On In Modern Times
This image recalls the annual relighting of the sacred fire, which is an ancient Muskogee tradition that dates back to Mississippian times and continues today in Creek communities.
On top of the central column, a ceremonial ceramic container carries the rekindled fire to renew the hearths of homes. Four logs for the annual cycle are prepared from a single tree, which is thought to be represented by the column. In ancient times, this event took place after significant ceremonies associated with Green Corn. Because this ritual was a very serious event, Muskogee medicine makers took great care to prepare the proper songs, chants, apparel, and accessories to ensure a proper ceremony. The two sacred figures are ceremonially dressed in woven aprons, elaborate sashes with rear trailers, moccasins, shell bead garters, shell bead bracelets, and shell gorgets. Both figures appear to have decorative bustles - a full vulture on the left and extensive feather work on the right. Both figures wear specialized headgear, have a beaded forelock, and carry decorated gourd rattles. Buck Woodard, Associate Researcher American Indian Resource Center Department of Anthropology College of William & Mary
Painted Gourd by Buck Woodard - This iconography originally appeared on a shell gorget from Spiro, Oklahoma. The original is currently at the Peabody Museum, Harvard College.
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ALTAMAHA
Altamaha - Carved wood mask depicts a warrior realizing the fate of the Peoples. His eyes are closing in the big sleep. A flood of tears emits to a final emission. He has seen and knows the emotions of time. Corn reflects the final giving of this life that it helped sustain. The snake 'citto,' a brother creature on this earth, shows the changing world of his life had unforeseen dangers. Teeth are clinched in death approaching. Bobby Johns Bearheart - October 1992
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Hierarchal Muskogean Societies from a Muskogee Perspective Essay by Richard L. Thornton
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The Mississippian Mound Builders
Ocmulgee

Port of Entry from the Ocmulgee River Wetlands 1104 AD
Ocmulgee National Monument
Macon, Georgia
Virtual Reality Drawing by Richard L. Thornton AIA
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Learn About Ancient Astronomy at OCMULGEE |
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Model by Richard L. Thornton
Commissioned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma
2005
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Learn More about OCHESEE |
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Etalwa

National Landmark and State Historical Site
Cartersville, Georgia
Model by Richard L. Thornton
Commissioned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma
2007
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