Participation Type
Roundtable
Session Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Session Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
Presentation #1 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Lisa J. Lefler, Ph.D. (Western Carolina University) is a medical anthropologist and Director of WCU’s Culturally Based Native Health Programs. She is a member of the Cherokee Studies faculty at WCU, a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s Health & Culture Workgroup, and a Consulting Scholar at the American Philosophical Society’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR). Lisa is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Cultural IRB.
Presentation #2 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
The Kituwah or Cherokee people have lived in the Southern Appalachian region for more than 10,000 years. In that time, we have observed and learned much about one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world. We have come to learn about our place in this world and the existence of both the upper and underworlds. There are many places that we understand as sacred and also see the need to protect those places.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
T.J.Holland (EBCI), T.J. is the Cultural Resources Officer for the EBCI and Director and Curator for the Tribe’s Junaluska Memorial and Museum in Robbinsville. Holland serves on the advisory board for the American Philosophical Society’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research. TJ is Chair of the EBCI Cultural IRB and a member of the Tribe’s Medical IRB. He is a member of the Snowbird Cherokee community in Graham County.
Presentation #3 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Thomas N. Belt (Oklahoma Cherokee) Tom is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a fluent Cherokee speaker. He attended the Universities of Oklahoma and Colorado and taught Cherokee language at the Cherokee elementary school for seven years in Cherokee, NC. At WCU, he taught Cherokee language classes. He is a frequent guest lecturer at other universities, including Stanford, Duke, Yale, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Purdue. He works with the Center for Native Health, Inc. as a consultant.
Presentation #4 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Onita Bush (EBCI) Onita is an elder and member of the Snowbird community in Graham County, NC. She is a fluent speaker and works actively in the community. She has assisted the Center for Native Health for many years with providing insight for Elders and Clinicians meetings and annual Medicine Walks for the clinical community in Cherokee. She has also been a regular speaker and participant at Rooted in the Mountains symposia.
Presentation #5 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #5 Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #5
Silas House, MFA (Berea College) Silas is the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair in Appalachian Studies and is Assistant Professor of Appalachian Studies at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center at Berea College. Silas is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, the recipient of three honorary doctorates, and is the winner of the Nautilus Award, an EB White Award, the Appalachian Book of the Year, the Jesse Stuart Award, the Lee Smith Award, and many other honors.
Presentation #6 Title
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
Presentation #6 Abstract or Summary
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #6
Pam Duncan, MA (Western Carolina University) Pam is an Associate Professor of English and Director of WCU’s annual Literary Festival. She is an award-winning author of the novels, Moon Women, Plant Life, and the Big Beautiful. She writes of Appalachian women, their work lives, families, and the humor that make them resilient.
Sacred Spaces, Thin Places: A Discussion of Identity and Sacred Place for Cherokees and Appalachian People
In 2010, Silas House was keynote speaker at Western Carolina University’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium, a conference that integrates Traditional Knowledge with environmental and health issues. In that year, one of the first for the meeting, Silas spoke of “Thin Places” for mountain people, places where this world and the spirit world meet. He said,” He did not know a time when the mountain was there, a wall and a guard, a protector and an obstacle, a presence larger than anything else, an entity that dictated where water flowed, where people put their homes and trailers and churches, where the roads were able to cut through. The boss. The mountain was our past and our present, our family and our future, our whole identity as a way of life.” That year and in the subsequent eight years of meetings, we have heard from others who have spoken about the importance of these sacred places, for us as Appalachian people and for the Kituwah or Cherokee, the first inhabitants of these mountains. This roundtable, initiated by EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Cultural Resources Officer and Tribal member TJ Holland, will provide a forum for discussion of these places and how they sustain us, heal us, and provide a core identity for those of us who claim cultural heritage of being Appalachian.
