Media Contact:

David Gomez, Site Manager

706-624-1321

david.Gomez@dnr.state.ga.us

New Echota to host Cherokee Artist

Ramona Lossiah

CALHOUN, GA. July 12, 2010 ---New Echota State Historic Site announces a Dog Days of Summer Event with visiting Cherokee artist Ramona Lossiah on Saturday, May 31st from 10:00-3:00. A member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee in North Carolina, Ms. Lossiah will demonstrate white oak and traditional river cane basketry and offer items for sale.

The Friends of New Echota Historic Site will also provide tours of the historic buildings and demonstrations of various life skills typical of the early 19th century New Echota days. Included will be hide tanning, weapons demonstrations, primitive tools and weapons construction and more. Other featured demonstrations will be flint knapping by Andy Lee, Native American stories with puppets by Norma Hornack, and hide tanning by Don and Sandra Barry.

Supported by the Calhoun-Gordon County Community Foundation and the Friends of New Echota Historic Site, this is a continuation of a visiting Cherokee artist series scheduled to occur each month. Visiting Artist Lossiah will be on site throughout the day along with Friends of New Echota Historic Site demonstrators from 10:00-3:00.

Regular admission fees of $3.50-$5.00 will be charged, with children 5 years and younger admitted free of charge. State Park & Historic Sites annual passes and Friends of Georgia State Parks Membership Passes are available for purchase in advance or on the day of the event at New Echota.

ABOUT NEW ECHOTA: New Echota-Cherokee Capital State Historic Site, located on State Highway 225, 1 mile north of Exit 317, Interstate 75 is a National Historic Landmark and is the beginning location for the Cherokee Trail of Tears. For more information, visit www.gastateparks.org , www.friendsofnewechota.org or call 706-624-1321. Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites are operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

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