UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE

COLLINSVILLE, IL -- During the next few weeks Cahokia Mounds will feature an Indian Market, the Winter Indian Art Show, a photographic exhibit, and an observance of the Winter Solstice sunrise.

            For those unique holiday gifts, be sure to come to the Indian Market Days on Saturday and Sunday, November 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center. Vendors include Roseanna Preston (Sac & Fox) with woodburning, beadwork, clan shields, and ribbon work; Debbie Galyen (Cherokee) with Nuwati Herbals, selling remedies from the medicine cabinet of Mother Earth; Santerra (Cherokee) of Sacred Feathers, with painted drums; Mary Lou Lindahl of the Anchorage Museum, ivory and baleen carvings; Sarah Biondo (Osage/Navajo) from Versatile Visual will sell pottery, masks, gold jewelry and Osage jewelry; and Yolanda Kronert of White Cloud Silver, will feature a Mayan collection of historical and classical silver jewelry. The event is free and open to the public.

            The Winter Indian Art Shpw will be Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center.  A dozen American Indian artists will display and sell their works of fine art in this free show.  Artists include Alex Davis (Seneca/Cayuga), painting, pen and ink; Nelson Garcia (Santo Domingo), silver and turquoise jewelry; William Harjo (Muscogee), flutes, bags; Ron Mitchell (Cherokee), paintings; Terry Whetstone (Cherokee), paintings, flutes, music; Catherine Mowry (Miami), paintings and dolls; Tillier Wesley (Muscogee), paintings; Emerson Quannie (Hopi), jewelry; Micah Wesley (Kiowa/Muscogee), paintings; Maria Susanna Lovato (Santo Domingo), necklaces and jewelry; Mel Cornshucker (Cherokee), pottery; Dan Corley, masks.

            The temporary photography exhibit, "Native Heritage," featuring photos submitted for the first annual Cahokia Mounds Photography Contest, may be viewed through December 12. It includes color and black-and-white prints of subjects relating in some way to American Indians. There are portraits of people, young and old, as well as sacred places, structures, landscapes, symbols and activities.  Many of these are museum quality images taken by both amateur and professional photographers.  Most of the images are available for purchase and may be picked up at the end of the show.

The observance of the Winter Solstice Sunrise will be held at the reconstructed Woodhenge, one half mile west of Monks Mound, on Sunday morning, December 19 at 7 a.m. The observances are held on the Sunday closest to the actual event so that more people can attend.  An archaeologist will give a presentation on the discovery, form and function of this ancient post-circle monument that was used by the Mississippian Indians as a solar calendar.  No rituals or ceremonies will be performed.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis in Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55/70 and 255, and Illinois Route 111, on Collinsville Road. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be closed Christmas Day. There is no admission charge but a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children is suggested.  For more information, call (618) 346-5160, or visit our web site at www.cahokiamounds.com.