The Museum of the Cherokee Indian (MCI) is pleased to announce Children’s Week, a week of cultural activities for children and their caregivers, from June 12-17, 2023. Open to children from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) community, the western North Carolina area, and beyond, the week features a robust schedule with hands-on experiences and demonstrations from Museum staff and EBCI craftspeople, cultural leaders, and community members from 12-4pm daily. Activities will be held both inside the Museum and outdoors in the summer sunshine. Local food trucks will be on-site with lunch and snacks available for purchase.
All activities are free of charge, and registration is not required. Craft activities will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Schedule
Monday, June 12
12-4pm: Craft Demonstrations and Activities
• Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
• Copper Artist Nathan Bush (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
• Craft Station: Pot Your Own Three Sisters Seeds
1-1:45pm: Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program Puppet Show
2-2:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Executive Director Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
3-3:45pm: Dance Demonstration
4-4:30pm: Storytelling
Tuesday, June 13
12-4pm: Career Day with Museum of the Cherokee Indian Executive Team and Guests
12-4pm: Craft Station: Birdseed Ornaments
2-2:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Registrar Atsei Cooper (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
4-4:30pm: Storytelling
Wednesday, June 14
12-4pm: Craft Demonstrations and Activities
• Craft Station: Paper Doll and Paper Moccasin Coloring
1-1:45pm: Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program Puppet Show
2-2:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Director of Operations Michael Slee (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
3-3:45pm: Dance Demonstration
4-4:30pm: Storytelling
Thursday, June 15
12-4pm: Craft Demonstrations and Activities
• Craft Station: Pipe Cleaner Corn
1-1:45pm: Screening: Inage’I Animated Series
2-2:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Aniyvwiyahi Community Program Coordinator Jenn Bird (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
3-3:45pm: Dance Demonstration
4-4:30pm: Storytelling
Friday, June 16
12-4pm: Craft Demonstrations and Activities
• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians artists
• Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
• Craft Station: Paper Mat Weavings with Lori Reed (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
1-1:45pm: Cherokee Language Master Program Puppet Show
2-2:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Manager of Visitor Services Alex Lane (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
3-3:45pm: Dance Demonstrations
4-4:30pm: Storytelling with MCI Lead Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialist Jarrett Wildcatt (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Saturday, June 17
12-4pm: Craft Demonstrations and Activities
• Shell Carver Nancy Pheasant (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
• Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
• Craft Station: Corn Husk Dolls with Nichole Efird (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
1-1:45pm: Screening: Inage’I Animated Series
2-3pm: Storytelling with Dustin Tramper (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
3-3:45pm: Dance Demonstrations with Medicine Lake Dancers
4-4:30pm: Storytelling with Dustin Tramper (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Schedule is subject to change.
2023 Children’s Week T-Shirt Design Contest
To celebrate the very first Children’s Week at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians aged 13 and under were invited to draw a t-shirt design based on the Cherokee legend of their choosing. A winner was selected by community vote on MCI’s Facebook page.
12-year-old Kayden Dial, a student at Cherokee Elementary School who illustrated the battle of the thunder and Uktena, was named the winner. Kayden receives a free t-shirt featuring his design, a small monetary award, and a museum swag bag. Shirts will be available for purchase at Children’s Week, with proceeds benefitting events and programming at MCI.
