Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday in Chattanooga was a celebration of accomplishment as Native Americans and preservationists marked the 20th anniversary of the national archaeological district at Moccasin Bend, a unique federal preserve on a cultural treasure trove of human history dating back 12,000 years.
The atmosphere was jubilant on the plaza at the Tennessee Aquarium, where the celebration events coincided with the kickoff of the 27th annual Trail of Tears Association Conference and Symposium, which runs through Wednesday. There were park ranger programs and food and games for the celebration, with plans for field trips across the region and a day of workshops and presentations as part of the conference Tuesday and Wednesday.
Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, called on the tribe and supporters of Moccasin Bend to keep their eyes on the future while remembering the importance of the past.
“At the Cherokee Nation, we are very much focused on and orientated toward our future, and we’re building toward a bright future, and we’re building toward that great Cherokee society that our ancestors always strived for,” Hoskin said. “But we cannot be future-focused if we don’t tend to our past, those trails that got us here, all of them. And we can’t do it alone.
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Chattanooga celebrates 20th anniversary of national archaeological district at Moccasin Bend
“It’s good to celebrate today not only as another Indigenous Peoples Day, but a day in which we can reflect on the progress and protection for Moccasin Bend and realize that collective action still matters in this country, and Indian Country can be a part of it,” Hoskins said. “And we can work together with our friends and neighbors across jurisdictions and across geography and the things that might divide us. And I just am so proud collectively of the work that’s been done to protect Moccasin Bend, but folks, we’ve got to remain vigilant.”