Post by Okwes on Jan 19, 2008 17:24:29 GMT -5
A Spiritual Soul With A Native Heart
TONY HOLT
The authenticity inside Brooksville's newest Native American artifacts store is as palpable as the pungent aroma of incense that hits you as soon as you walk through the door.
Rows of medicine bags dangle from the walls, handcrafted leather outfits hang throughout the store and hundreds of jewelry pieces sparkle as the sunlight shines through the windows.
Mary Kirkconnell owns Peace Tree Trading in downtown Brooksville. The store is filled with all things Native American – from fry bread mix to traditional herbs.
"We cater to both kinds of customers," she said. "We have collectors and those who actually follow Native American (culture)."
In spite of her long black hair, Kirkconnell has no confirmed connection to any Native tribe. She is Dutch-Irish. She thinks she may have some traces of Native blood, but she does not talk about it as if it is part of her heritage. Her vested interest in the culture comes from what she has seen and learned.
"I remember having a passion for it as a teenager," she said. "It was more of a spiritual change for me. I think Native American art is beautiful and I love collecting it, but it was more about the culture that drew me in."
Kirkconnell makes no secret about her spirituality. She said she quit her lucrative career in the cosmetics industry to spend a year doing community service – all because God told her to.
She also said opening her first store in Tampa and relocating to downtown Brooksville were all a result of divine intervention.
"God told me I'd be moving into this building," she said.
At the time, the store space at 770 E. Jefferson St. was occupied by Cabin Creek Antiques, Kirkconnell said.
She approached the owner and told her about her message and she listened, although she may have seemed a little confused.
"I had a lovely conversation with the woman," Kirkconnell recalled.
Less than six months later, she received a call from the Cabin Creek owner, who told her she was moving to Pennsylvania.
A year after that, Peace Tree Trading opened.
Kirkconnell, 41, has long forgotten about her past life working for Revlon.
"It was a mundane world of ego and keeping up with the Joneses," she said.
Since she started in the corporate world, she had always had one foot in the cosmetics industry and one foot firmly planted in Native American culture.
Kirkconnell has participated in flute circles, drum circles and has taught people of all ages how to sing traditional Native songs.
She liked the idea of opening her store in Brooksville because of the presence of so many descendents of tribes in the area.
She recalled meeting an Apache woman more than a month ago. The stranger was walking into Peace Tree Trading for the first time. She was astonished at what she saw.
"You've got real stuff here," the woman said in a state of disbelief.
Kirkconnell was dressed in denim and wore a necklace with a thick cross and hoop earrings. While she hardly looked out of place inside a Native American culture store, she said she has never and would never wear the vintage clothes she has in her inventory.
She is not Native American. Therefore, she does not believe in pretending to be Native American. To her, it would be like stealing. In her mind, whites have done enough of that throughout history.
"We have taken their land, their ceremonies, their children," Kirkconnell said. "The last thing we need to do is take away their identity, too."
Biz at a glance:
Name of biz: Peace Tree Trading
Owner: Mary Kirkconnell
What it is: Native American store
Where it is: 770 East Jefferson St.
Get in touch: 352-797-7886
On the Web: www.peacetreetrading.com
Reporter Tony Holt can be contacted at 352-544-5283 and wholt@hernandotoday.com.
TONY HOLT
The authenticity inside Brooksville's newest Native American artifacts store is as palpable as the pungent aroma of incense that hits you as soon as you walk through the door.
Rows of medicine bags dangle from the walls, handcrafted leather outfits hang throughout the store and hundreds of jewelry pieces sparkle as the sunlight shines through the windows.
Mary Kirkconnell owns Peace Tree Trading in downtown Brooksville. The store is filled with all things Native American – from fry bread mix to traditional herbs.
"We cater to both kinds of customers," she said. "We have collectors and those who actually follow Native American (culture)."
In spite of her long black hair, Kirkconnell has no confirmed connection to any Native tribe. She is Dutch-Irish. She thinks she may have some traces of Native blood, but she does not talk about it as if it is part of her heritage. Her vested interest in the culture comes from what she has seen and learned.
"I remember having a passion for it as a teenager," she said. "It was more of a spiritual change for me. I think Native American art is beautiful and I love collecting it, but it was more about the culture that drew me in."
Kirkconnell makes no secret about her spirituality. She said she quit her lucrative career in the cosmetics industry to spend a year doing community service – all because God told her to.
She also said opening her first store in Tampa and relocating to downtown Brooksville were all a result of divine intervention.
"God told me I'd be moving into this building," she said.
At the time, the store space at 770 E. Jefferson St. was occupied by Cabin Creek Antiques, Kirkconnell said.
She approached the owner and told her about her message and she listened, although she may have seemed a little confused.
"I had a lovely conversation with the woman," Kirkconnell recalled.
Less than six months later, she received a call from the Cabin Creek owner, who told her she was moving to Pennsylvania.
A year after that, Peace Tree Trading opened.
Kirkconnell, 41, has long forgotten about her past life working for Revlon.
"It was a mundane world of ego and keeping up with the Joneses," she said.
Since she started in the corporate world, she had always had one foot in the cosmetics industry and one foot firmly planted in Native American culture.
Kirkconnell has participated in flute circles, drum circles and has taught people of all ages how to sing traditional Native songs.
She liked the idea of opening her store in Brooksville because of the presence of so many descendents of tribes in the area.
She recalled meeting an Apache woman more than a month ago. The stranger was walking into Peace Tree Trading for the first time. She was astonished at what she saw.
"You've got real stuff here," the woman said in a state of disbelief.
Kirkconnell was dressed in denim and wore a necklace with a thick cross and hoop earrings. While she hardly looked out of place inside a Native American culture store, she said she has never and would never wear the vintage clothes she has in her inventory.
She is not Native American. Therefore, she does not believe in pretending to be Native American. To her, it would be like stealing. In her mind, whites have done enough of that throughout history.
"We have taken their land, their ceremonies, their children," Kirkconnell said. "The last thing we need to do is take away their identity, too."
Biz at a glance:
Name of biz: Peace Tree Trading
Owner: Mary Kirkconnell
What it is: Native American store
Where it is: 770 East Jefferson St.
Get in touch: 352-797-7886
On the Web: www.peacetreetrading.com
Reporter Tony Holt can be contacted at 352-544-5283 and wholt@hernandotoday.com.