Native Woman 2

This image was done by Carlee Wurdemann

Native Woman Sketch

This image was done by Ashley Thomas.

Art Work

The After-School program kids did several pieces of artwork. We will be posting them over the next week. All of the pieces are nature or Native themed. This first is done by Jon Thomas and is Shrek in Native regalia.

Summer Camp

We are currently in the second week of summer camp and the children are having a great time!

Children's Health Fair Photos

The Children's Health Fair occurred last month here at the Cultural Center and was sponsored by Catawba Service Unit and Indian Health Service. The fair was a huge success. Here are a few photos from the event. Please let me know in the comments section if you want to see more.



The Fair included Height, Weight, and Blood Pressure screenings. There was also a Teddy Bear First Aid Station where the children could bring their favorite stuffed animal for a Check Up.



There was also information from Medicaid DHEC about Staying Safe and Healthy.



The children got to learn about eating smart and moving more.



There was also information about tobacco, alcohol and drugs.





Face painting and free gifts were also available.



A car seat safety check was available with replacement seats for toddlers and younger children.



The York County Sheriff's Department and SWAT team was available for kid's fingerprinting and a demonstration.



The children enjoyed the fair and were able to learn helpful information about their health.

May is National Mental Heath Awareness Month

In our children’s program we had our children and some of our staff work on a phrase and they had to complete the sentence. The phrase was “It’s more than just a…”. Our children and Staff had to come up with something that made them feel good or sad.

It’s more than just a Song. It sometimes tells the mood you are in. It brightens your day if you are sad. It can make you laugh at how the song sounds. It always makes you have a better day to hear a song on the radio.--Ms. Elizabeth

It’s more than just a Laugh. My laugh means a lot to me and it should to you it means I love you, it means I like you, it means also so they’re not special not just to give out it is more like a present from me to you.--Carlee

It’s more than just a Mind. You have lot’s of different things in your mind. It’s more than just anger or happiness. It’s more than just being a different person it’s being your self. I love everybody.--Bryn

A Poem

This poem was written by one of our After-School kids. Again, we wanted to share this with you because we are so proud of our children's accomplishments.

It's Only A Dream

Taylor Bruce

~

On a clear crisp morning

I sit beside a tree,

Looking across a field

To see what I can see.

I hear the chirps of birds,

The chatter of the squirrels.

I am just a visitor in their woodland world.

~

While enjoying the morning hunt,

I hear something strange, it's a REALLY

big deer coming into range.

I slowly raise my gun with my hands starting to shake,

my breathing deepens with every breath I take.

~

I hesitate to take a breath,

as I am about to pull the trigger.

Before I put this animal to death,

I swear the deer is getting bigger.

~

I hear the gun go boom,

I look for my trophy,

I wake up in my room.

DON'T I FEEL DOPEY!

A Day of Fishing

Day of Fishing

Taylor Bruce

~

As we pull the boat down the road,

I can't wait to throw the first cast,

but first we have to stop for gas.

~

Dad says the boat doesn't run off fumes,

as we start out our day.

I can't wait to get to the water,

is there a faster way?

~

Finally we pull into the docks,

finally were here!

I just hope we brought enough fishing gear.

~

To our favorite spot we go,

as fast as we can,

I thank GOD the motor ran!

~

Finally I make my first cast

and as I set the hook,

my dad looks over and smiles

and gives me a look.

~

This time I know,

I'll never forget as we head to the truck.

Maybe next time we'll have better luck!

Voices of Promise

Here at the CCPP, we have an after-school program that we are very proud of. The children in our program are categorized as "At-Risk" because of the tremendous obstacles they deal with every day.

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Recently, the children participated in a program called Voices of Promise. Through this program the children watched a series of videos about who they are and where they come from, as well as how their ancestors lived their life. After each section, the children had to answer a question pertaining to the video. We wanted to share their answers with you.

1. "I can make a difference by..."

I can make a difference because I can do anything I put my mind to. I can make a difference because I am smart and talented. I can make a difference because it’s my job to help littler people learn about our ancestors. I can make a difference because I can do anything. -Alex Beck age 11

I can make a difference by getting my education and not giving up. I will continue with my education on through college. I want to become a pediatrician and help other children in my tribe. I will set a positive influence on my peers and younger children around me. I will motivate them to be what they want to be. -Ashley Thomas age 16

I can make a difference by passing over my culture. I can make a difference by helping other people that want to know about our culture. I can make a difference by talking about it. I can make a difference by listing to my elders. I can make a difference by not disobeying the rules. -Paiton age 8

2.“Name one or two changes you could make that would help you be a better student”

By getting some happy faces. Being good. Being nice to God. -Dion Bradley age 6

Helping others. Respect others. Be proper. Listen -Carlee Wurdemann age 9

I could make a change by doing better in school. Learning my cultural. Also by not being scared of following my dream and heart. Being nice. -Katie Harris age 10

3. “How are you using education to prepare yourself for the future?”

I am using my education to prepare myself for the future because if I get a good education I can be prepared for everyday tasks when I get older. Also to help me when I get older. -Lacie Beck age 14

4. “Name one or more family members or ancestors you most respect, and why you respect them”

I most respect my maw-maw. I respect my maw-maw because if it was not for her I would be in a foster home with no family or anybody who cares about me. Many more reasons would be I would have had no place to live and no food or anything that I have today. And that is why I respect my maw-maw the most. -Hunter Elkins age 11

I respect my dad because he is a Indian. He takes care of me. I love him. He lets me go outside. He is nice to me. He loves me. He is special to me because e loves me very much. He cooks for my brother and me. I like him. He is my dad and my brother’s dad. He takes to my brother and me places. He takes my brother and me to carowinds. -Alyssa Henderson age 6

I respect my Grandmamma and maw-maw the most, because they give me respect for stuff and they try to help me everyday. They give me a roof over my head and by fixing me food so I want starve to death and they keep me out of violence so I want end up in jail. -Jeramy Taylor age 11

5. “How do you feel when parents, family and other give you encouragement”

I feel good like I can do lots of things even if I don’t complete my goal. I tried my hardest and it matters what you make of yourself not of what people think of you. -Carlee Wurdemann age 9

I feel like they love me for whom I am and what I do not just because of what I got like clothes and other stuff. And I also feel like they want to help me more than usual, so I am very happy that I have family members that love me. -Rachel Bradley age 9

PBS Special: We Shall Remain

I have been reading about a new special on PBS that focuses on major moments in Native American history. There is a particular focus on the Cherokee, but it is a very interesting miniseries for those interested in the saga of indigenous peoples in America.

I suggest checking out the website, there is a particularly interesting and insightful graphic that gives some brief information about the major moments effecting the United State's common past with tribal peoples.

Little Wild Indians

Many cultures throughout the world have stories about mischievous little people. Sometimes they are called Leprechauns, pixies, or imps. The Catawba have a similar story about such creatures.

Old Catawba legends mention a creature called the Yehasuri or "little wild Indians." These creatures were believed to inhabit the spirit world of the Catawbas. The Yehasuri were often found living in the woods, creek banks, and hollow trees throughout the reservation.

It is thought that their diet consisted of acorns, tree roots, fungi, stink turtles, and tadpoles.

The Yehasuri were known to be tricksters. Their favorite pastime was to taunt children. Parents would always be careful not to leave their children's clothes out overnight. Any clothes that were left out, the Yehasuri would steal making the children cry all night. Wise parents would make sure that there were no footprints left in the yard before nightfall. Any children's footprints left after dark became a playground for the Yehasuri, causing the children to be restless and awake all night.

These two foot tall creatures could also become dangerous. They were known to shoot invisible arrows at adults who were unkind. Those who were shot would die the next day.

Even today, if you know where to look, you can see the Yeasuri. There is a trail behind the CCPP that leads to the river. Many people claim to see small shadowy creatures high in the trees jumping from limb to limb.

Welcome!

First of all, thank you for visiting the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project (CCPP) blog. Hopefully, you found us through our website (if you didn't, please check us out).

As an introduction, I would like to tell you about the different things you will find here. This blog will focus on many topics pertaining to the CCPP as well as general topics about Native Americans. I will make sure to link any resources that I find helpful or interesting.

Please feel free to recommend any topics that you think should be included here. I am also eager to read your comments regarding my posts. I will try to respond to any questions left in the comment section, but the best way to get a question answered is by emailing me at kcgw@ccppcrafts.com.