This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Historical Lecture on Recreation of 1710 Cherokee Indian Village

Professor Alfred Vick of the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design will discuss his participation in the design of Diligwa, a 1710 Cherokee village in Park Hill, Oklahoma on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 3:00 pm at the Athens-Clarke County Library. His talk will present some of the principles of Cherokee traditional land use / town layout and ethno-ecology, as documented in archeological evidence, historical accounts and oral traditions. An understanding of these principles has been critical in the planning and construction of the village, which is the most historically-accurate representation of an early 18th century southeastern Cherokee town ever constructed.

 

Vick’s study of Cherokee heritage plants in the Southeast and his work at the Cherokee Heritage Center (CHC) led to the invitation to help design the village, which opened in June 2013. Vick and Jace Weaver, director of the UGA Institute of Native American Studies have brought UGA students to CHC to study Cherokee culture for the last six years. Weaver and Vick were also instrumental in locating the original footprint of the Cherokee Female Seminary, which burned in 1887, and with creating an exhibition on the seminary. 

Find out what's happening in Athenswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

The village features 14 interpretive stations and19 wattle and daub structures including eight residential sites, each with summer and winter homes, a corncrib and a kitchen garden. The public areas include a council house and summer council pavilion. The village took five years to design and two years to build. Future projects at the site include the addition of historically accurate plants, a stick ball game area, marble field and paths.

Find out what's happening in Athenswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Vick is the Georgia Power Professor in Environmental Ethics at the University of Georgia. He is a licensed landscape architect and a LEED Accredited Professional. His work focuses on preserving and enhancing the functioning of natural systems while effectively and attractively integrating human use. At the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design, he teaches landscape ecology and sustainable design and collaborates with other researchers in the Sustainability and Landscape Performance Lab.  His academic research focuses on green infrastructure and sustainable site design, native plant communities, and American Indian ethnobotany. 

 

This event, which is co-sponsored by the Athens Historical Society and the Heritage Room of the Athens-Clarke County Library, is free and open to the public. The presentation will be held in the library’s Appleton Auditorium. Free parking is available at the library, located at 2025 Baxter Street.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?