Echoes of the Past
Imagine a time when there were no items for everyday living to buy and no stores you could shop at for necessities. Imagine a time when you had to depend only on natural resources and your own skills just to provide food, clothing, and shelter for yourself and your family.
This was the life of the prehistoric people. Through necessity they made tools, weapons, clothing, and shelters from the items nature provided.--stone, wood, plants and animals were all utilized—nothing was wasted. Shelters were in caves, or made with animal skins or logs, tree branches or straw. Animal skins provided clothing and bedding. Later they learned how to spin and weave flax and the fur from animals.
Many of these skills are now forgotten arts, and more are on the very edge of being forgotten. Echoes of the Past is an annual event that shows how these items were made, the materials from which they were made, and how they were used by the people of the past. The items shown and those offered for sale during Echoes are examples of both the entertainment and day-to-day living articles our ancestors used.
We need to keep these arts alive, not only so we can appreciate how much easier life is now, but so we can gain an understanding and appreciation of what those who came before experienced in order that future generations would have a better life.
Echoes of the Past is an annual event held at Echo Ridge campground in the beautiful Arrowhead State Park located on U.S. 69 and State Highway 113 at Canadian, OK. The event is hosted by the McAlester Archeological Society (M.A.S.) and the Tahlequah Archaeological Society (T.A.S.). Both are chapters of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society (O.A.S.) a part of the OU Campus in Norman, OK. (Click here for map)
Our goal for this event is to preserve the cultures, arts, diets, shelters, clothing, and entertainment of our ancestors and the ways of producing them. There will be booths for artisans, collectors, and craftsmen who have items for show and for sale.
On Saturday, we will have demonstrations of the atlatl throw, blowgun shoot, and bow and arrow shoot. We will also have a contest for period dress, so if your items are Native American, come dressed in that style. If items are from the American Civil War era, dress in that style; American Revolution, dress in the styles of that era, and so on. You do not have to come in period costume, but it will be interesting to see some of the older styles and types of dress. Everyone participating in the demonstrations will receive a ribbon and be eligible for a prize drawing.
Only items or re-creations of items used from around 1860 or before will be allowed as exhibits or items for purchase. In order to set up space for your items, we are asking that you donate a craft item for the Saturday night auction. This auction is to help defray expenses of the day's event.
If you know of anyone who would like to set up a booth for the event, have them contact Connie Masters at 918-339-4226 or Thomas Purdin at 918-456-1977 no later than March 15 so we can make sure there is room for all booths. We can also be reached at: samok56@yahoo.com or majtom46@yahoo.com
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a day of enjoyment, April 4, 2009. See how our ancestors made and used the items that were the forerunners of many things we run to the store to purchase today. This event will be entertaining, as well as educational for all those attending, and the event is FREE.
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