Contact: Steven Leibman or Todd Carroll
802.864.1848 ext. 125 or 131
sleibman@echovermont.org or tcarroll@echovermont.org

High definition photos available at
www.echovermont.org/visitors/photos.html
 

“WINTER GATHERING” OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN’S NATIVE PEOPLES

Festival at ECHO February 19th & 20th

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A unique opportunity to experience the Lake Champlain Basin’s indigenous culture first hand will take place at the “Winter Gathering,” at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on February 19th from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and February 20th 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The festival will feature Abenaki chiefs and tribe members, and showcase, among other activities, dancing, drumming, games, a roundtable, and the premiere of the “Circle of Courage” photography exhibition by Native teenagers.

The “Winter Gathering” is a special event of ECHO’s permanent exhibit, “INDIGENOUS EXPRESSIONS: Native Peoples of the Lake Champlain,” and is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the support of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy; with additional support from the ECHO Annual Fund, KeyBank, the Vermont Arts Council, and from a 2009 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

“Winter Gathering” features eclectic activities for all ages, including:

• Eastern Woodlands dancing, drumming, and singing.

• Special presentation of “Materials of Culture: 10,200 Years of Abenaki Clothing, Ceremony & Implements.”

• Indoor and outdoor games featuring hands-on atlatl (a spear-throwing, hunting tool) training and snow snake (a hunting agility drill) competition.

• Clay working, storytelling, and an “Artifact Road Show.”

• Roundtable discussion on the state of modern indigenous culture.

A featured portion of the February 19th event will be the premiere of a new, contemporary Native photography exhibition, “Circle of Courage.” This extraordinary collection grew from the Swanton, Vermont afterschool program of the same name, where Ned Castle — the acclaimed photographer/curator of ECHO’s “INDIGENOUS EXPRESSIONS” Contemporary Portrait Gallery – mentored the Abenaki teenagers. Castle states, “The ‘Circle of Courage’ program provides the tools for visual exploration of the world. This (exhibition’s) images present various stories of the Abenaki students, and the world as they see it.” The original exhibition of the “INDIGENOUS EXPRESSIONS” Contemporary Portrait Gallery will continue to be available for viewing at ECHO until the end of February.

For a complete listing of “Winter Gathering” events go to echovermont.org/events/calendar. Additional “Winter Gathering” programming, including special ECHO Encounters, are scheduled for the New York and Vermont school vacation weeks. The event on the 19th is free for members and $7 for the general public; on the 20th, admission is free for members, but non-members may receive discounted admission through ECHO’s Open Door community access program, the Vermont and New York discount — which offers $2 off for everyone in a party, requiring just one valid ID from either state.

Originally launched as ECHO’s Quadricentennial event, “INDIGENOUS EXPRESSIONS: Native Peoples of the Lake Champlain Basin” is now a permanent exhibit; integrated throughout the facility with exhibits, resonant live species, contemporary portraits, artifacts, and periodic special events.

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ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is located at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont’s Burlington Waterfront. ECHO features 70 live species, more than 100 interactive experiences, changing and permanent exhibits and seasonal events — all exploring the Ecology, Culture, History, and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The 2.2 acre Leahy Center environmental campus is also highlighted by the Lake Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, UVM’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake Champlain Navy Memorial, ECHO’s Eclectic Gift Shop, and ecology-themed Think! Café. Open year-round, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day. For more information visit echovermont.org, call (toll-free) 1.877.324.6386, or write to ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
 

©2012 LCBSC - ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain - One College St. - Burlington VT 05401
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