Event to Preserve Native Sites and Culture March 13
March 10th, 2010Learn About the Threatened Ceremonial Mound in Oxford
A Native American Indian mound in Oxford, Alabama, where the sitting mayor sold the land to Wal-mart with plans for a Sam’s Club store…
Some Native Americans and others interested in preserving native sites and culture in Alabama will hold an event on the public square in Jacksonville all day Saturday, March 13.
It is not clear if there is an organized tribe or non-profit group behind the event, but it is being promoted on the social networking site Facebook as an opportunity for “education about Alabama’s rich and native cultural heritage.”
Dr. Harry Holstein of Jacksonville State University will give a talk on archaeology and preservation. Director of the Janney Iron Furnace and Native American Museum, Tim Moon, will be there, and a documentary on the threatened ceremonial mound at Oxford will be shown by Rob and Cora Dunaway, according to the Facebook announcement.
There will be a raffle for the chance to win great camping and outdoor gear donated by Camping World, as well as arts and crafts donated by local craft vendor Kathy Morehart of Morehart Creations. Raffle tickets will be $1 each. You don’t have to be present to win. Proceeds for the raffle will go toward funding the event. The raffle winner will be announced at the end of the day.
Local artist Shanna Butler has donated some of her artwork for proceeds to funding the event.
There will be Native American arts and crafts as well as hot dogs and nachos, funnel cakes and assorted baked goodies for sale to help the cause. Native American music will be spotlighted as well as other local musicians to entertain the crowd.
Tags: Event to Preserve Native Sites and Culture March 13, Learn About the Threatened Ceremonial Mound in Oxford
March 10th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
The Anniston Star newspaper has covered some stories related to the mound, although it is “fair and balanced” corporate-style coverage and none of it appears to be investigative, watchdog journalism.
Oxford stone mound coverage
March 10th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
There are many questions left unanswered about this story.
Why, for example, is there no investigation of the mayor who reportedly sold the land for $7 million — while he was an elected official prohibited by law from profiting from his position — where a strip mall has already been built on top of a Native American burial ground?
What, no one’s even filed an ethics complaint with the state Ethics Commission?
March 10th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Time to invoke the spirit of William Weatherford on this one! This is an historic site, a burial site. “No” should be the resounding answer.
March 10th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
My understanding is this is a ceremonial mound, not a burial mound. This photo was taken from the backside of a Home Depot, which is located in the strip mall — built on top of the burial ground!
I will know more after I get a chance to get with the folks who know on the ground there this weekend.
Anybody got a video camera who wants to come along for the ride? Up for a little “citizen journalism?” That’s what the TeeVee networks call it anyway, when they get people to send them pictures and video (content) for free! Funny how the corporate media wants it free, and here on the Web Press, we are trying to figure out a way to pay writers and photographers…