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PERDIDO BAY TRIBE SOUTHEASTERN LOWER MUSCOGEE CREEK INDIANS, INC.
Native Paths Muscogee Creek Cultural Heritage and Resource Projects |
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PERDIDO BAY TRIBE SOUTHEASTERN LOWER MUSCOGEE CREEK INDIANS, INC.
Native Paths Muscogee Creek Cultural Heritage and Resource Projects |
News from Along The Beloved path
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Special Recognition Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart appeared again this year at the Museum of Florida History Tallahassee, Florida on April 2, 2005 as an honored guest of the Department of State Folklife Division of Cultural Affairs
In 1989, Chief Bearheart was designated Master Folk Artist by the Florida Folklife Division of Cultural Affairs. In 1993 he became the first Creek Indian to be honored with the Florida Folklife Heritage Award.
Passing the Traditions Along
Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart and Vice Chief John Hartley Standing Bear have been named as a Master Artist - Apprentice Team for the 2005-06 season by the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program.
The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program provides an opportunity for master folk artists to share technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices to maintain their art as a vital part of their heritage. Master artists should be among the finest practitioners of the tradition in their communities. Apprentices must have some experience in the tradition they wish to study and must make a commitment to learn it thoroughly.
Under the guidelines of the apprentice program, the apprenticeship will start in September and end by May. Apprenticeship teams are invited to demonstrate their skills at the annual Florida Folk Festival—the nation's oldest state-sponsored folk festival held each May.
Chief Attends Regional Meeting of NRCS May
8 - 10, Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart attended a regional NRCS meeting co-hosted
by the NRCS and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians on their reservation at Atmore, AL. Chief
Bearheart reports that the meeting was very enlightening and he enjoyed the
opportunity to meet with and listen to the thoughts of old friends and
acquaintances. He was most impressed with the accomplishments of the Poarch
leaders in providing jobs, services and educational opportunities for their
people. He is inspired to keep working toward providing similar opportunities
for non-federally recognized Native people. Tribe Members Attend Retreat on Creative Aging
USDA/NRCS Officials Meet With Perdido Bay Tribe
June 22 - Naval Live Oaks Center, Gulf Breeze, FL - A delegation from USDA/NRCS Federal and State offices, headed by Mr. Charles Adams, 'Big Warrior' Director of the National Employee Development Center met with representatives of Perdido Bay Tribe to discuss the tribe's educational and service programs and ways the NRCS/NEDC can assist. Mr. Adams
told those assembled that President Bush has given his organization the
challenge to assure access to Federal assistance programs to all who qualify.
They will work with USDA/NRCS agencies to help identify weak links and correct
them. A strong part of this effort will be to include non-Federated Indian tribal groups in seeking opportunities to develop and carry out worthy programs. This process has already been started by appointing Chief Bobby Johns to represent non-Federated people at regional and national meetings and including his voice in committees of tribal leaders. Charles Adams' team has selected PBT to serve as an example to non-Federated tribal organizations nationwide of the kinds of programs that can be carried out to serve the local Native American community and foster a better understanding of NA history and culture in the general community. The team laid out a plan which will provide the necessary assistance and ‘know how’ to elevate PBT’s programs to the highest possible level working in cooperation with Florida’s NRCS through State Conservationist, Niles Glasgow and Ann Bowens, Outreach Liaison.
Bobby Johns Bearheart Guest Artisan at 2005 Annual Meeting of The American Folklore Society
Atlanta,
GA It was an especially rewarding honor for Bearheart to be invited to appear as a demonstrating artisan at this prestigious event held in Atlanta. Long recognized as a Master Folk Artisan in Florida, this occasion was a long-awaited 'homecoming' filled with warmth and honor in his home state of Georgia. Marian and sons, Robert and Chris helped greet the many appreciative folklorists from all over the world attending this special event.
Many of the pieces Bearheart brought to display, such as this traditional Creek mask, Altamaha, were inspired by his early experiences growing up in the forests and swamps of south Georgia.
THE Reason For Being PBT A Program for Fifth-Grade Students at Crestview School And Surprise Honor for Chief Bearheart Highlight November, Native American Month Of all the schools Chief Bearheart has visited over the years, none has developed a stronger bond with PBT than the Walker Elementary School in Crestview, Okaloosa County, Florida. This year, Chief Bearheart and Jeremy Reichmann presented a very special program for the 5th grade students in honor of Native American Month, including the gift of a Native American flute to the music department.
"A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship. And he who plants kindness gathers love." ... Basil Presented to Chief Bobby Johns Bearheart For planting seeds of knowledge among our students. Walker Elementary School, Crestview Florida November 28, 2005
A RARE AND PRECIOUS HONOR INDEED
All of Perdido Bay Tribe sends a hearty 'Thank You' to the Fifth Grade Students, their teachers and staff at Walker Elementary School.
Special recognition also goes to Darryl Williams, District Conservationist with the Yellow River Soil & Water Conservation District. Mr. Williams also heads up the USDA's Earth Team program in Northwest Florida and has been a long-time friend of PBT. It was through Mr. Williams' association and interest in the schools that Chief Bearheart was first invited to come to Walker Elementary years ago. To learn more about Darryl Williams and Yellow River SWCD go to www.Yellowriverswcd.org
News From Virginia: December, 2005 - Thanks to PBT's own, Buck Woodard, and other members of the Virginia Council on Indians, the following Creek historical information will be one of two markers honoring Native American Indian history soon to be displayed in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
CREEK DELEGATION IN FREDERICKSBURG In July 1790 a delegation of Creek Indians from Georgia, headed by Muskogee leader Alexander McGillivray, made their temporary headquarters nearby on their way to New York City. President George Washington invited them to treaty negotiations to resolve territorial disputes and develop further formal relations. While in Fredericksburg, the delegation visited with Washington's family at Kenmore and viewed Ferry Farm, his boyhood home. The group continued north to discuss and sign the 1790 Treaty of New York, the first treaty with a sovereign Indian nation negotiated by the new federal government under the Constitution. The treaty established boundaries and also contained secret articles for promoting trade. Department of Historic Resources, 2005
More News from Virginia PBT's Buck Woodard is currently working on his PhD in Historical Anthropology at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. He is also working at the American Indian Resource Center at William and Mary and invites everyone to visit the website: http://www.wm.edu/airc/
The New World, based on the events surrounding the Jamestown Colony and the story of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas opened this December in Richmond. The film will be playing at theatres around the country by mid-January, 2006.
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COPYRIGHTED 1999-2007 BY PERDIDO BAY TRIBE, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
June
4 & 5 - 
Once
again, PBT is most grateful to John Harper and his team from Three Rivers
RC&D for their sponsorship in hosting this important meeting. We give
our thanks also to the staff at the Naval Live Oaks Center and to the Junior
Rangers who helped us demonstrate the kinds of fun and educational
activities PBT brings to youth groups throughout the area. On this day, in
addition to demonstrations of the blow gun, a lively friendship dance and a
tour of PBT's mobile museum, Jeremy Reichmann gave a presentation on the art
of flute making, told the legend of the Native American flute and performed
one of his own original songs. A delicious Gumbo luncheon provided by Three
Rivers was enjoyed by all, including a few passing visitors who dropped in
on our program.
October 21,
Bearheart
spoke to the children about many aspects of our rich Southeastern Native
American heritage. Through storytelling and patient answers to the children's
many questions, Bearheart shed new light for the young ones on the history, life
ways and values
of his Muscogee Creek people. Jeremy, an accomplished player and maker of Native American
wood flutes, entertained with legends and traditions about the flute and shared
a few of his own beautiful compositions.
As
the program came to an end, the children surprised Chief Bearheart with a sweet
ceremony in his honor. Several of the children read messages they had written
themselves and their principal presented a plaque which reads: 
But
this was not the end of the ceremony. For next some of the students along with
their teacher, Ms Victoria Hurley, escorted their visitors outside to the school grounds. There Bearheart first saw the
lovely young Magnolia Tree the children had planted in his honor.
Recently
Buck was asked to serve as
animateur, to help ensure the accuracy of visual details during the filming of
Terrence Malick's film, The New World. He reports that this
six-months-long experience was most rewarding. He was especially happy to
have had the opportunity to work with American Indian actors from many
Nations. 