Native American events and places The world of living history is dominated by the Civil War. But if you'd like to expose your students or children to more Native American culture, here are some selected events and places we recommend: An event at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum PHOTO: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum EAST TENNESSEE * The Eastern Band of the Cherokee operates the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, near Vonore (between Knoxville and Chattanooga). Its biggest event of the year occurs the weekend after Labor Day and is called the Great Island Festival; it takes place in conjunction with the 18th century Trade Fair at Fort Loudoun (only about a mile away). Click here to be taken to the Sequoyah museum's official website. * Red Clay State Historic Park (east of Chattanooga) is an important place that hosts a two-day event in early August called Cherokee Days of Recognition. * James White's Fort (downtown Knoxville) has an event every August called Cherokee Heritage Days. * The Crockett Tavern Museum in Morristown puts on a living history day in late September that includes Native Americans. An event at Rock Castle MIDDLE TENNESSEE * Long Hunter State Park (near Lebanon) hosts the huge Tennessee State Pow-Wow in October. That same month there is another large pow-wow in Leipers Fork. * Rock Castle, a historic home in Hendersonville, and Mansker's Station, a replica of a fort just north of the Nashville city limits, both host living history events in the spring and fall. * If you live in or near Nashville, the best living history event of the year (in terms of including all time periods) is the Tennessee History Festival at the Bicentennial Mall, which occurs in mid-October. Native American re-enactors are among the many living historians you will find there. Archaeofest at Pinson Mounds WEST TENNESSEE * Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park contains a museum and miles of trails that help you explore the largest group of Woodland-era mounds in North America. The biggest event there, Archaeofest, occurs in September. * The Chucalissa Museum and Archaeological Site in Memphis is located on the site of a Mississippian mound complex and hosts living history events, the two biggest being the Southeast Indian Heritage Festival in August and Heritage Days in October. Oconaluftee CLOSE TO TENNESSEE * The Museum of the Cherokee Indian and the Oconaluftee Indian Village are the best places to learn about Cherokee culture, but of course they are in North Carolina. At Oconaluftee, make use of the tour guides, and ask a lot of questions. * The Natural Tunnel State Park in southwestern Virginia hosts events such as Seige at the Blockhouse and Native American Day which features many reenactors. * In Northwest Georgia you will find some of the most important Cherokee sites, such as New Echota State Historic Site. Mark Finchum being interviewed by a reporter. RE-ENACTORS Two Cherokee reenactors we will cite are Mark and Sherry Finchum, who run Indian Creek Productions. Mark is a teacher at Jefferson County High School and a former president of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies. Sherry is director of curriculum for Jefferson County Schools. If you check their web site you can find out when and where they will be making an appearance. Finally, there is a book that contains information about Cherokee sites in great detail. It is called Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook and was written by Barbara Duncan and Brett Riggs.