For Immediate Release

Fort Ancient Features Celebration: A Gathering Of The Four Directions June 7-8
American Indian Culture Highlighted At Ohio Historical Society Event

The Ohio Historical Society will host the 18th annual Celebration: A Gathering of Four Directions Saturday, June 7 from 11a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, June 8 from noon-6 p.m., at Fort Ancient in Oregonia, Ohio. The event, sponsored by the Lebanon Citizens National Bank, The Rebel 105.9 Radio Station, Local 12, WKRC-TV, the Ohio Military Reserve 11th MP Battalion and the Participants of the Celebration, will feature American Indian traditions, including storytelling, traditions, singing, drumming and flute music. The Celebration has grown from a single-day event with several hundred visitors to a two-day event with more than 3,000 visitors.

People of all ages will enjoy watching demonstrations of flint knapping (making arrows and spear points of stone), pottery making, silversmithing, stone carving and dream-catcher making to name a few. Special presentations throughout the day include storytelling, native heritage discussions, including a talk about the Shawnee language, and a discussion of herbs found in the Ohio.

This year the Celebration will feature Douglas Blue Feather, who is an award-winning songwriter and performer of contemporary Native American flute music. Blue Feather’s career highlights include the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Native American Music Award for Best New Age Recording, the 2003 Native American Music Award of the Year for his CD entitled "Ride the Lightning," and the 2002 Native American Music Award for Independent Recording of the Year. Most recently, he was nominated for the 2007 American Indian Music Awards Nominee for Record of the Year and Artist of the Year.

Of special interest is the three-hour drumming and dancing entertainment. Five drum groups are scheduled to attend: the White Oak Singers of Ohio and the Mekoce Family Drum, both from the Fort Ancient area; the Southern Singers from Middletown, Ohio; The Canadian Fireside Drum from Six Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada; and Struck By Lightning from Fairmont, W. Va.

Vendors will be selling handmade crafts, including jewelry, knives, clothing, utility wares, dance staffs, finger woven sashes, beaded necklaces, leather bags, flutes and much more. The Warren County Conservation Association will sell food. There will also be a silent auction to help raise money for future Celebration events at the site.

To many people the Celebration is a way for people to learn about the rich American Indian culture that was, and still is, present in Ohio today. Those who participate in the event as volunteers have a goal of educating the public about the diversity of cultures in Ohio. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe an 18th-century encampment and talk to the reenactors about pioneer life in the Ohio.

Visitors also will have the opportunity to visit the museum at Fort Ancient. The public can learn about Ohio Valley prehistory and early history of the area. The museum offers a large prehistoric garden planted by the Warren County Master Gardeners Association. People will be able to see a variety of crops that were grown 1,000-2,000 years ago and a reconstructed Hopewell structure with a prairie grass roof and clay walls.

Fort Ancient, more than 2,000 years old, consists of 3.5 miles of earth walls that range from 4 to 23 feet in height built in a space of about 100 acres. Prehistoric people during the Hopewell Culture built and used Fort Ancient as a place of ceremonial and social gatherings. The stone-covered earthworks are astronomical marking mounds-by observing the movements of the sun and moon people could gather at certain days of the year to celebrate specific events and ceremonies. Fort Ancient has been nominated as a World Heritage. Currently, there are 831 sites included as World Heritage status from 138 countries throughout the world. At present, only 20 sites in the United States are listed and none are from Ohio.

Fort Ancient is one of 59 sites operated by the Ohio Historical Society, a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology, and natural history.

Fort Ancient is located in Warren County, approximately 20 minutes north of King’s Island, off Interstate 71. The cost of the event is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Two-day passes available at the gate. The event is half price to Ohio Historical Society members and Fort Ancient Season Pass holders. For additional information, call (513) 932-4421 or 1-800-283-8904.

Photo Cutline: American Indian culture is featured at the 18th annual Celebration: A Gathering of Four Directions June 7 and 8 and Sunday at Fort Ancient in Oregonia, Ohio. Event highlights include a variety of demonstrations for the public to watch and to learn, including storytelling, music and dancing. For more information, call 800.283.8904 or visit www.ohiohistory.org.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 7, 2008
10 a.m.-Gates Open
11 a.m.-Celebration Officially Begins
11:30 a.m.-The Shawnee Language: Morning Sun
Noon-Children’s Songs and Women’s Healing Songs: Deb Tracy
12:30 p.m.-Storytelling: Nancy Swartz
1 p.m -Flute Music: Ken Watson
1:30 p.m.- Gourd Dance (If Possible)
2 p.m.-Grand Entry for Celebration
5 p.m. -Flute Music: Douglas Blue Feather
5:30 p.m. - Storytelling: Tom Netz
6 p.m. -Silent Auction
6:30 p.m. - History of Fort Ancient: Jack Blosser

Special Demonstrations
11 a.m.-Herb Talk: Tom Netz
1:30 and 4 p.m.-Pottery Seminar: Gisela McDonald
3 p.m. Dream Catcher Workshop: JoAn Hembree

Sunday, June 8, 2008
11 a.m.-Gates Open
Noon-The Shawnee Language: Morning Sun
12:30 p.m.-Storytelling: Tom Netz
1 p.m.-Flute Music: Ken Watson
1:30 p.m.-Gourd Dance
2 p.m.-Grand Entry for Celebration
5 p.m.-Flute Music: Douglas Blue Feather
5:30 p.m.-Silent Auction
6 p.m. -Celebration ends

Sunday Demonstrations
Noon Herb Talk: Tom Netz
1:30 and 4 p.m.-Pottery Seminar
3 p.m.-Dream Catcher Workshop

Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Historical Society!