This dance group brings to life the Cherokee War Dance and Eagle Tail Dance as described by Lt. Henry Timberlake in 1762. Designated as official cultural ambassadors by the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, they have performed at Colonial Williamsburg, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the ITB conference in Berlin, Germany, and throughout the Southeastern U.S.
The War Dance was used when men went to war, but also when meeting with other nations for diplomacy and peace, and within the Cherokee nation was also used to raise money for people in need. It conveys the strength of the Cherokee nation.
The Warriors of AniKituhwa also perform Cherokee social dances including the Bear Dance, Beaver Hunting Dance, and Friendship Dance. They talk about the significance of the dances, their clothing, and Cherokee history and culture, and can provide other programs as well.
To book the Warriors for your event or for more information contact Barbara Duncan at bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org.
Designated as official cultural ambassadors by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the dancers include: John Grant Jr. Daniel Ledford John Bullet Standingdeer Bo Taylor Daniel Tramper Robert Tramper Will Tuska Pat Smith
SCHEDULE 2009
March 27
"Headwaters Gathering" - Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC
April 16-18
Red Clay Reunion, TN
June 13
Cherokee Voices Festival, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee, NC
July
Opening-Emissaries of Peace Exhibit, Tulsa, OK
July 17-18
Festival of Native Peoples, Cherokee, NC
September 18-19
Southeastern Tribes Cultural Arts Celebration, Cherokee, NC
October 6-10
Cherokee Indian Fair, Cherokee, NC
WARRIORS OF ANIKITUHWA 2005–2006 APPEARANCES:
Irish-Cherokee Cultural Exchange
Mountain Heritage Center Folklife Program, Western Carolina University
Fulbright Scholars Cherokee Experience
Rabun Gap Nacoochee School Cherokee Experience
North Carolina Humanities Council Cherokee Seminar
Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Community Event
Cherokee Voices Festival, Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Kituhwa Mound Annual Celebration
Maggie Valley Civil War Reenactment
Cherokee Fourth of July Powwow
Huber Corporation Documentary Film
Harrah’s Grand Opening of the Soco Tower
Bele Chere, Asheville
Stone Mountain Park
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum Festival
National Museum of the American Indian-First Anniversary Celebration
Festival of Native Peoples, Cherokee
Mountain Heritage Day at Western Carolina University
Cherokee Fall Fair
Colonial Williamsburg--historical reenactment and dance
SAMAB Conference, Cherokee
Warren Wilson College
North Carolina State
First Army, Atlanta
Cherokee High School Football games (2)
Opening of Emissaries of Peace: the 1762 Cherokee/British Delegations
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Dance workshops – three months of weekly workshops free to the community
Pucker Toe Moccasin workshop
Appearance at CHS football games
Available free of charge to Cherokee Central Schools
RESEARCH
Eastern Frontiers Conference, Akron, Ohio
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology
National Museum of the American Indian
Cherokee Language Immersion Class
FILM
Huber Corporation
Emissaries of Peace exhibit video
Agee Films documentary on the Appalachians for PBS
