More Cherokee-Language Christian Harmony Singing, 1 November

[Erin Fulton]

The Cherokee Language Repertory Choir (and friends--perhaps you?) will be holding singing in connection with the Cherokee Heritage Day festival at New Echota, onetime capitol of the Cherokee Nation in northwest Georgia. Details:

1 November, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Council House, New Echota State Historic Site

1211 Hwy 225 NE, Calhoun, GA 30701

Admission to park with Georgia DNR Historic Site Pass or a la carte ($8 general, $6 youth/seniors, small children free)

Boy Scouts are providing hamburgers, hot dogs, soda-pop, water, etc.

This stretch of Highway 225 may show up as Chatsworth Road on some map services. To find the Council House from the parking area, put the museum on your left-hand side, walk past the homestead, then take the leftward path; Council House will be on your right and up a few stairs. I am informed it sings very well. 

Sara Snyder Hopkins is bringing booklets of Christian Harmony songs with texts from the Cherokee Hymnal, as they were being sung in western North Carolina in the 1890s. I think some additional bilingual repertoire in seven shapes is meant to be included that had not been formatted in time for the singing at Cullowhee in April. There will likely be multiple "explanations" throughout the day as festival-goers wander in and out. And singers are, of course, welcomed to duck out to enjoy the games, living history demonstrations, building tours, etc. also going on.

Sara (slsn...@email.wcu.edu) can answer singing-related questions, and our own Judy Mincey (mince...@yahoo.com), illustrious secretary of the Friends of New Echota, has got the best information about the site and festival.

[Erin Fulton]

Folks on Facebook asked if there are carpooling options from WNC and the answer is: Yes! My understanding as of late last week was that Sara and the WCU folks still have both van and hotel space available (though they will be in NWGA through daytime Sunday to visit the Etowah Mounds), and that Maddy and Clarke were wrangling a carpool from the Asheville area. Alas, my health has grounded me in Massachusetts, so I can't offer any more help than pointing to others ) : So go, those who can, and sing heartily! 

E. Fulton.