WALESKA, Ga. - November is Native American Heritage Month, and it is also a great time to visit the Funk Heritage Center. November features several special events at the Heritage Center that are not to be missed – a special month-long mini exhibit of Native American masks, Native American Heritage Day on Nov. 6, and History Alive on Nov. 12.
Native American Masks of the Pacific Northwest
Visit anytime during November to see a special mini exhibit of Native American Masks from the Pacific Northwest. “We’ve had these beautiful masks in storage,” said Riki Welch, programs and education coordinator, “but to our knowledge, they’ve never been on display here. We decided it was time to bring them out of storage for our guests to see.”
“The mask are ceremonial masks from the Pacific Northwest coast,” Welch continued. “They are made of cedar, animal fur, and bone and generally use 4 main colors- black, blue, red, and white. Some of these masks reflect the importance of the raven and shamans in Pacific Northwest Indian culture. Masks tend to tell family and tribal histories, represent totems, or were used during hunting ceremonies.”
The masks will be on display throughout November, so be sure to stop by to see them before they head back into storage.
Native American Heritage Day
On Nov. 6, the Heritage Center celebrates Native American Heritage Day from noon to 4:00 p.m.
“On Native American Heritage Day, we invite the Reinhardt community and the public to join us for a special program. We have two special guests lined up– Alice Taylor-Colbert and Edwin Countryman,” said Jeff Bishop, director of the Funk Heritage Center.
At 1:00 p.m., Taylor-Colbert will give a lecture on “Living between the Two Cultures: The Story of the Ridge Family.” Taylor-Colbert is a public historian with the South Carolina Humanities Council. She holds a Master of Arts and a doctorate in American Studies from Emory University.
Throughout the afternoon, guests can view artifacts and family heirlooms from Countryman. Countryman is familiar to many Heritage Center guests from events such as History Alive. Each of the items he brings, ranging from baskets and pottery to handmade regalia and jewelry has a story, and Countryman can tell you about each item. Many of the items have been passed down through Countryman’s family or through tribal traditions. Items are primarily representative of the Cherokee, but some items come from other tribes such as Sauk, Sioux and Crow. “Those who have passed before us have left a legacy,” said Countryman. “Because I have been so blessed to have these items, I feel like it is my duty to share them. It’s sad that so much is lost to history but being able to share these items at schools and events such as this helps the stories continue to live.”
Special Programming for Native American Heritage Day is included in general admission.
History Alive
History Alive is the perfect program for school field trips and for home school families. Students learn how the Appalachian settlers lived in the 1840s and how pioneer families coped with daily difficulties. Touring a historic log cabin and blacksmith shop, students hear from living history volunteers dressed in period clothing. Volunteers discuss the daily life of settlers and the importance of skills such as blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving, quilting. Advanced reservations are required for this program, and there is an additional admission fee. Call the Heritage Center for reservations at 770-720-5970.
The Funk Heritage Center is open Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. General admission is $7. Admission for Reinhardt University students, alumni, faculty, and staff is free. Learn more at
https://www.reinhardt.edu/funkheritage/.
About Funk Heritage Center
The Funk Heritage Center, located on the campus of Reinhardt University, tells the story of the early Appalachian settlers and Southeastern Indians. Visitors to the Heritage Center enjoy the Bennett History Museum, the Hall of Ancients with interactive exhibits, the Sellers Collection of Historic Hand Tools, and the Rogers Contemporary American Indian Art Gallery. Guests can also visit the Appalachian Settlement and take a walk on the Lou Retta Barton Northcutt Walking Train. The Funk Heritage Center is a National Park Service Trail of Tears Interpretive Site.
About Reinhardt University
Founded in 1883, Reinhardt University is a private, comprehensive institution grounded in the liberal arts. Reinhardt offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs online and on campus, including business, education, music, theater, and nursing. Reinhardt’s 525-acre campus is ideally located in Waleska in the heart of Georgia’s high country and nearby the great international city of Atlanta. For more information, please contact Reinhardt at (770) 720-5600 or see
Reinhardt.edu.
WALESKA, Ga. - November is Native American Heritage Month, and it is also a great time to visit the Funk Heritage Center. November features several special events at the Heritage Center that are not to be missed – a special month-long mini exhibit of Native American masks, Native American Heritage Day on Nov. 6, and History Alive on Nov. 12.