Oconee Town Acquisition Celebration 2017
In 2006, a historic marker was placed at Oconee Station. It is named Oconee Station because it is beside a Cherokee village site named Oconee Town.
The Oconee Town site was located on the Todd Family Farm. Over the years, the museum and the Todd Family came into an agreement that the family would sell the area where the Cherokee village site was.
This process took 11 years to work through. The museum is extremely excited because now there is a Cherokee village site that will be saved forever and people can come visit this site.
The museum has officially turned the Oconee Town site over to the park system.
Wampum Belts are a symbolic item that the Cherokees would make. It symbolizes what was going to be done or what was going to be discussed. The belt symbolizes a compact.
Dr. Karen Coody Cooper, who made this wampum belt, is a Citizen of The Cherokee Nation and lived in Oklahoma. She now resides in Florida. Just like the Cherokees, she made this belt out of shell beads. It took her months to make this. The Cherokee Nation likes what we are doing here in Oconee, SC. Ms. Cooper said that she is so glad that they have a place to come home to.
*You can read more about these belts in Ms. Cooper’s book called, Cherokee Wampum War & Peace Belts: 1730 to Present. Sold at the Museum of the Cherokee in SC.
Richard Sneed
Principal Chief, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Mr. Sneed, located center of photo, giving Luther Lyle a Certificate of Appreciation. For recognition of valuable contributions to the preservation of Cherokee History.
Jerry Wolfe
Beloved Man of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Mr. wolfe came to the ceremony and said a Cherokee prayer. We were honored to have him join us with this wonderful celebration.
Located to the left of photo, Luther Lyle, Museum Director / Curator
Located to the right of photo, Jerry Wolfe (1924-2018), Beloved Man of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
