Yearly Archives: 2015

51 posts

28 December 2015; Military Buttons as Beads

Buttons, especially metal military buttons, are often found when archaeologists are excavating the site of a native village. Does this mean that the two groups lived in harmony together? Not necessarily. While it was not unheard of for natives and Europeans to coexist, more commonly, the two relied on each […]

21 December 2015; Soapstone Turtle Pipe

Pipes for the natives typically evoke images of “peace pipes” with long, decorated, stems and a small bowl at the end. But not all tribes used that style of pipe. This example is a traditional pipe, carved in soapstone by David Big Bear. The pipe here is a fetish pipe […]

14 December 2015; Wampum and the Outer Banks

In response to our invitation for suggestions and questions for Museum Monday features, we were delighted that Becky Rollinson asked if wampum was used as currency by the tribes on the Outer Banks. The word “Wampum” actually comes from the Narragansett (from Rhode Island) and literally means ‘white shell beads.’ […]

7 December 2015; Off Season Schedule Reminder

As cold, Northern winds blow in, it’s time to remind our visitors of our Winter Schedule. December 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday – Sunday We will be closed for Christmas Day January – February 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday & Sunday ONLY March March 1 – March 21 […]

1 December 2015; Last Call for Raffle Chance

Last call for a chance at the museum raffle! Check out below for more details This gorgeous dreamcatcher was made right here at the museum! The wolf was lovingly hand-carved into the antler and retains the natural coloring of the antler. Made to resemble a realistic spider web, the dreamcatcher […]

23 November 2015; Mattamuskeet Early College High School Visit

We had a wonderful visit from the Mattamuskeet Early College High School Multicultural Club on the 11th on November. The students and faculty met with our new Assistant Director, Ronnie Franscisco. They enjoyed the inside exhibits while learning facts about the history of the museum and items in the showcases. […]

16 November 2015; Beginning of Village Days

Something new and exciting has begun at the museum! Last week, a fantastic group of volunteers got together to set in motion an exciting new project for our Nature Trail. In the next few years, we will be slowly turning our trail into a village. Our volunteers laid the foundation […]

9 November 2015; Makah Basket

The Pacific Northwest is well known for its amazing baskets made from cedar and local grasses. Some baskets made in this are were woven so tightly they were able to easily hold water! The lidded basket that pictured here is approximately 2 inches tall and is common to the Makah […]

2 November 2015; Seasons of Change

As we drift into Autumn, we’ve gotten a new list of suggestions to share from our new interactive Seasons of Change exhibit! Use energy efficient appliances – A.C. Try to not cut down trees Live in harmony and respect nature Education! Teach Indigenous leadership and connect with the Indigenous environment […]

26 October 2015; What Is a Native American Fetish Carving?

This is a fantastic carving of a bear. The Zuni were, and still are, the most well known for their fetish carving. Wait…did we just say “fetish”? The word may not have the same conotations here as its contemporary use. In this context, the word fetish goes back to its […]

19 October 2015; Tree Bark Grinding Tool

A tool that most are familiar with when discussing Native artifacts are the grinding stones. A common image brought to mind is a large stone with a gentle bowl sloped in the center. While the most prevalent understanding is to grind food such as acorns, corn, and other grains into […]

12 October 2015; Time Running Out on Entering the Museum 2015 Raffle!

We’ve got another amazing raffle going on at the museum! Check out below for more details This gorgeous dreamcatcher was made right here at the museum! The wolf was lovingly hand-carved into the antler and retains the natural coloring of the antler. Made to resemble a realistic spider web, the […]