TRAILS, INC. --- 2008 SCHEDULE (with a peek at 2009)
Workshops and other Programs
2008 - OSTENACO
Mar. 15 OSTENACO at the Volkswalking Conference in Martinsburg, WV.
Mar. 29 OSTENACO at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant, WV.
May 2 OSTENACO at Webster Co. Nature Tour.
June 29 OSTENACO at Blennerhassett Island State Park near Parkersburg, WV.
July 31 OSTENACO at Buckskin Council Boy Scout Reservation at Dilley's Mill, WV.
Aug. 30 OSTENACO at Tomlinson Run State Park near New Manchester, WV.
Sept. 20 OSTENACO at North Bend State Park.
Oct. 28-30 OSTENACO in Grant County school system.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR IN WEST VIRGINIA---OHIO RIVER, THE WESTERN VIRGINIA FRONT
In 2008, West Virginia Parks & Forests will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 18th century clash of empires known as The French & Indian War. Fought 20 years before the Revolutionary War, the French & Indian War's grand significance to the subsequent history of North America is reflected in other names for the war, such as The First World War, The War for Empire, and The War that Made America. The Ohio Valley was the highly coveted territory that two European superpowers, two American Indian superpowers, and a dozen or so other native nations contested for during this war. History buffs will readily recognize several famous French & Indian War sites in the Ohio River basin: Fort Necessity, Fort Duquesne, Kittanning (all in Pennsylvania), and Fort Loudoun (Tennessee) are examples. Less known, but as important as these other sites is the Ohio River corridor, a major war trail that hosted numerous armies and war parties during the long duration of the war called in Europe, The Seven Years War. In recent years, new light has been thrown on the importance of southern American Indian alliances with Great Britain's colonies during the war. War party after war party of Cherokees and Catawbas assisted Virginia in defending its western frontier. The Cherokees in particular carried on an effective offensive war against the French over a 1,300 mile front, including that portion of Ohio River along present-day West Virginias border.
To commemorate that little known, but fascinating era of the Mountain States history, West Virginia State Parks will hold three events in 2008. These historical interpretive events will highlight the 1758 war excursion of Cherokee military leaders Man Killer Ostenaco and Great Warrior Oconostota along Ohio River from near present-day Kenova, WV to present-day Pittsburgh, PA. Three state parks near the Ohio River will highlight this successful excursion that helped clear the way for the Forbes Campaign, by ridding the Ohio Valley of French soldiers and their allied warriors. Join us at the host parks Tu-Endie-Wei, Blennerhassett Island, and Tomlinson Run as we commemorate this important part of our country's history through living-history demonstrations, drama, and history hikes.
Saturday, March 29: Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, famous as the location of the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, will host a day of historical interpretation of the French & Indian War. From 1755 through 1757 armies of French, Shawnee, Delaware, and Miami warriors passed the point on their way to war against Virginias frontier settlers. Over 100 Virginian captives, like Mary Ingles and her son Thomas, were carried past the point by the successful raiders. Cherokee war gangs passed the point from 1756 through 1758 on their way to defeat the French and their allies in the Ohio country. Come hear the stories of these participants in the War that Made America. Learn how these men and women survived, walking hundreds of miles to war and to captivity. Through drama, living-history demonstration, audio-visual presentation, and history hikes, immerse yourself in the War for Empire that raged around the juncture of two great rivers and two great war roads at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.
Sunday, June 29: Blennerhassett Island State Park covers many historic eras, but is most famous as the late 18th century home of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett. However, 40 years before the Blennerhassetts purchased the island, it witnessed war party after war party traveling the river during the deadly struggle for control of eastern North America now called the French & Indian War. In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of this war, Blennerhassett Island will once again host a war gang, as living-history re-enactors demonstrate skills and lifeways of the warriors and women who participated in the war. Come find out how both French and British allied warriors accomplished long-distance travel by foot and canoe. Learn how captives survived their ordeals to become adoptees of Indian families in the Ohio country. Hear the story of Man Killer Ostenaco, a Cherokee major who led the western arm of the Cherokee pincer campaign that weakened the French stronghold of Fort Duquesne 250 years ago in 1758.
Saturday, August 30: Although the American Indian wars of the late 18th century are the main focus of the historical interpretive programs at Tomlinson Run State Park, the park will step back a little further in time to the French & Indian War in order to host an evening of living-history education on that wars western front. Through a History Alive! performance Man Killer Ostenaco will tell the story of how his Cherokee warriors helped defeat the French and their Ohio Valley allies in the summer of 1758 along Ohio River, clearing the way for the army of General Forbes to reach Fort Duquesne unopposed. After the performance, historical re-enactors will interpret American Indian elements of the war such as long-distance travel, war strategy, battle tactics, Cherokee-Virginia special forces in the region, and womens roles in war.
OTHER 2008 PROGRAMS
Jan. 18-20 at Twin Falls State Park, WV Trails, Inc. will hold a Lore and Tracking Weekend Workshop that focuses on Cultural Exchanges during the 18th century in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Twin Falls is a resort park nestled in the rugged mountainous terrain of Wyoming County. Abundant wildlife at the park helps enhance your tracking skills---skills necessary to the survival of 18th century peoples who frequented the trails of the region on hunting, trading, and warring expeditions. Other skills of 18th century cultures are explored also, e.g., plant uses, scavenging, and hide tanning. Special 18th century foods are part of the weekend as well. The weekend event also provides credits for participants in the West Virginia Master Naturalist Program. The park offers good package deals for the weekend event with both cabins and lodge rooms available on a first reserved, first served basis. Contact the park 1-800-CALL-WVA For more info, check out the park website at www.wvstateparks.com
April 3-6 at the School of the Longhunter in Pricketts Fort State Park, near Fairmont, WV we will make a presentation on the Forbes Campaign of 1758. For more info 1-800-CALL-WVA
April 18-20 at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site near Statesville, NC we will be involved in the Clash of Empires French & Indian War Education/Interpretation activities. For more info contact Beth Hill www.fortdobbs.org
May 16-18 at Fort Randolph in Point Pleasant, WV we will be involved in the living history reenactment of the Siege of Fort Randolph. For more info www.masoncountytourism.org
June 13-15 at Native People of the Point held at Fort Randolph in Point Pleasant, WV Dianne will be demonstrating life skills of 18th century American Indian women.
July 24-27 we will make presentations at Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky as that park hosts Pioneer Life Week. www.parks.ky.gov
August 8-10 at Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington, PA we will assist the National Park Service with a special education event about American Indian warriors involved in the French & Indian War. Living history demonstrations, dramatic reenactments, tactical demonstrations, and powerpoint presentations will highlight the roles of French-allied and British-allied warriors in the struggle. Who commissioned them for military service? How did they travel such great distances to do battle? How were they outfitted for war? What was their pay for services rendered? Did Indian women go to war? These and other questions will be answered by several historical researchers and experienced re-enactors over the course of the weekend. Visit the Fort Necessity website for more details. http://www.nps.gov/ner/customcf/apps/eventcalendar/events.
August 15-17 at Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, KY we will help interpret the American Indian participation in the Battle of Blue Licks, one of the last battles of the American Revolution. For more info www.parks.ky.gov
August 30 at Fort Henry Days in Oglebay Park near Wheeling, WV we will assist by interpreting a war council at an American Indian town struggling with the decision to fight on behalf of King George or remain neutral in the revolutionary struggle between American Patriots and Old Mother England. We will also make a special presentation of the roles of American Indian women in war. For more info www.foremat.com
September 3-7 at Wolfpen Woods Living History Village near Rush, KY there is an education event that focuses on the cultural and natural histories of eastern Kentucky. Numerous lifeways demonstrations of various cultural groups who have called the region home from the 18th century through the 19th century will punctuate the history represented at Wolfpen Woods by the restored cabins of early European American pioneers and the rock shelters frequented by 18th century Eastern Woodland Indians. Sept. 3-5 are school days with reservations required. Sept. 6-7 are open to the public. For more information www.wolfpenwoods@windstream.net
September 19-21 at the North Bend State Park Nature Wonder Weekend, near Cairo, WV, we will present programs and lead hikes emphasizing plant uses of 18th century peoples.
1-800-CALL-WVA or www.wvstateparks.com
September 24-28 at the Legacy of Mary Ingles Living History Drama and Encampment 20th Anniversary, near Winfield, WV there will be presented a trail drama and an 18th century style encampment that highlights the history of the Great Kanawha Valley from the French & Indian War era through the early development of the Salt Industry in the early 1800s. Lifeskills demonstrations complement the living history hike, where visitors become directly involved in important events that highlight the history of the Valley. Reservations are required for school days Sept. 24-26 and for general public days Sept. 27-28. For more information ridinghorses@yahoo.com
October 4-5 at Plum Creek, PA we will assist in the interpretation of Washington's encampment along Forbes Road. This is the 250th anniversary of this military encampment in the French & Indian War.
2009, Jan. 16-17 we will again conduct the Tracking and Woods Lore Workshop at Twin Falls State Park, WV.
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