Tuscarora occupation of fort neoheroka aims to pro

[blackcrowheart]

Tuscarora occupation of fort neoheroka aims to protect ancestral
Posted by: "[e-mail]" [e-mail] tamra_ndnnews
Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:01 pm (PST)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11 P.M. EST - October 29, 2006

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tuscarora occupation of fort neoheroka aims to protect ancestral remains
Snow Hill, n.c., October 29, 2006: North Carolina Tuscaroras have
assembled at the historic Fort Neoheroka in Snow Hill, N.C. in hopes
of establishing protection for the site and any remains buried
therein.

Fort Neoheroka was the final stronghold destroyed by colonial forces
during the Tuscarora War of 1711-1713. The 1713 siege on the fort,
led by Col. James Moore lasted for more than three weeks, beginning
about March 1, 1713 with the final attack being launched on March
20. The Tuscarora resistance, however, continued their defense of
the fort until the early morning hours of Sunday, March 22, when
they were finally defeated.

At the battles end, more than 950 Tuscarora men, women and children
were either killed or captured and sold into slavery. Of the
Tuscarora who had originally taken refuge within the confines of the
fort, there were a number who managed to escape prior to the final
siege by making use of the fort's intricately planned underground
tunnel system.

Fort Neoheroka is located on what is today a privately-owned family
farm. Excavation of the fort began in 1990 and was sponsored by East
Carolina University's Institute for Historical and Cultural Research
in conjunction with ECU's summer field school for archaeology
students. Years of digging yielded boxes and boxes of artifacts,
including Tuscarora skeletal remains, as well as personal items.
According to an ECU press release issued in 1995, the archaelogy lab
in the Old Cafeteria Building was, "lined wall-to-wall, floor-to-
ceiling with cardboard boxes that contain the fruits of their [the
archaeologists] labor. The boxes contain items numbering into the
thousands."

The Tuscarora people presently involved in the "peaceful occupation"
of the fort site have expressed concern that the area continues to
be farmed and that no steps have been taken to section off the site
to protect it from further disturbance. Concerns have also been
expressed that neither the State of North Carolina, nor the federal
government have allowed for the Tuscarora people of North Carolina
to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the fate of
the site. The Tuscarora have also stated that they want all
ancestral remains being presently stored in boxes at ECU to be
properly re-interred.

One of the organizers involved with the occupation at the fort
explained, "More Tuscarora lives were lost in the final three days
of battle at the fort than at any point during the war. These
weren't just warriors, there were hundreds of women and children and
elders who were killed in the siege on Neoheroka. This place is a
sacred site to our people and we want it treated as such."

A press conference will be held on Monday morning
(October 30, 2006) at 10 A.M. EST at the fort site.

Click below to send an e-mail of support!
www.winwinworld.net/neoheroke/

Continuing updates at
www.myspace.com/tuscarorasforneoheroke

[blackcrowheart]

Authorities end protest at Tuscarora historical site Associated Press
www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/158950\
44.htm
<http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/15895\
044.htm> SNOW HILL, N.C. - About two dozen Tuscarora Indians
protesting the use of their ancestral land in Greene County left the
private property after a day when the owner threatened to charge them
with trespassing. Chris Hardison, a spokesman for the group, said 25
people set up a peaceful protest on a field near the site of Fort
Neoheroka. The group has been working with landowners and authorities to
maintain the historic battle site. "We have tried to work within the
system," Hardison said. "But our requests fall on deaf ears." Greene
County Sheriff Lemmie Smith said his officers said the protesters left
Monday at the request of his officers. The Tuscaroras built Fort
Neoheroka during the Tuscarora War of the early 1700s. During a
three-day battle in 1713, Colonial settlers - comprised primarily of
Yamassee and Cherokee Indians - captured Fort Neoheroka and killed
hundreds of Tuscaroras. The protesters want residents to stop farming
the land at Neoheroka, transfer ownership back to the Tuscaroras and
want officials to establish a repatriation site for proper burial of the
Tuscaroras who died in the battle, Hardison said. Property resident
Cornelia Mewborn said her husband's family has owned land that includes
Neoheroka since 1909 and that the family has no plans to sell. She also
said that the family won't disrupt the fort. Researchers at East
Carolina University have found some American Indian remains at the site.
The federally recognized Tuscaroras of New York have asked the school to
hold the remains until the group can find a burial site, said Charles
Ewen, an archaeology lab director at the school.

[Okwes]

11/9/06 - "Tuscarora put up fight to protect sacred site and ancestral remains at Fort Neoheroka" (Article on News From Indian Country website.)

11/9/06 - Tiokasin Ghosthorse of First Voices Indigenous Radio out of New York City (WBAI) interviews Chris Hardison, Timothy Jacobs and Sara Whitford, North Carolina Tuscaroras on the issue of protecting the Tuscarora sacred site of Neoheroka, as well as repatriating remains excavated there in the early 90s. Visit the First Voices Indigenous Radio website and listen live each Thursday at 10:00am EST.


"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what's left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"

www.ProtectSacredSites.org