Trying their little hands at Native American pottery 
                                                                              – The Bay Net Photos by Tom Latchaw

August 12, was the annual American Indian Heritage Day at the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St. Leonard. According to Michele Parlett this was the eighth annual such event that traditionally draws about 500 people.  The weather for this day was promising a record crowd as admissions were already over 1,200 at 1pm.

 
Andrew Twele helped some young visitors to clean a hide

The Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is located on Mackall Road. in St. Leonard.  It is about 560 acres of retired farmland with barns, riverside waterfront and a visitor’s center.  The mission of the Park and Museum is to preserve and promote the natural and human history of Southern Maryland and their motto is “Experience, Discover, Learn and Have FUN!”  Programs include archaeology, natural history, native peoples, and revolutionary and war of 1812 era re-enactments. 

The atmosphere was very family friendly with crafts, games, storytelling, music and dance demonstrations that encouraged participation.  Children made pots, strung beads, painted a mural, wove baskets, and had their faces painted into fantastic creatures.  The food available to sustain the visitors between activities was superb and made freshly. The fry bread lunch, was one meal well worth waiting in line for.

 
Jan Horton (R), candidate for Calvert County Commissioner

During the summer of an election year it is expected that you will find politicians at events such as these, and this one was no exception.  I encountered one active politician, Jan Horton, a candidate for Calvert County Commissioner, who kindly posed by the barn for a picture with her son.  I didn’t have much time to talk politics with her, but she assured me that the bulk of her positions can be found at www.janhorton.com  (this is not an endorsement). Also present was perennial Calvert fixture retired state’s senator Bernie Fowler.  He was in fine shape and really let his hair down by dancing the circle and snake dances with the Baltimore American Indian Center Dancers.

A short wagon ride away was a native “hamlet” consisting of one Hogan-style home built of branches, bark and leaves, and an open-sided pavilion constructed of similar materials.  These were constructed by “Earth Connection School of Primitive Survival and Ancient Skills” (www.earth-connection.com).  Earth Connection was there in association with MAPS, the Mid-Atlantic Primit