VERGENNES — September is Vermont Archaeology Month and Bixby Library will make use of its Native American Collections to present focused programs for children and adults. The children’s program will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17. Children will have a chance to view the Bixby Library collection then work with kits that provide hands-on experience with facsimiles of Native American artifacts.
Children 5-7 years old will meet from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and children 8-12 years old will meet from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Both programs are guaranteed to be a fun-filled hour as well as a solid learning experience. Pre-registration is required and can be done by emailing [email protected] or calling 877-2211.
The adult program will take place on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. and the subject will be “Exploring Repatriation.” The library recently came into compliance with the Native American Graves Repatriation Act. In the process, several Native American tribes expressed an interest in repatriating select artifacts in the Bixby collection.
These tribes include the Cheyenne River Sioux, Quapaw and Chickasaw Nation as well as the four Vermont state recognized Abenaki tribes. Kat Raynor, an archaeologist who (along with a team of dedicated volunteers) brought the collection into compliance, will explain why these particular artifacts are candidates for repatriation and what that process would entail. The collection will be open for viewing at 6:30 p.m. as well as after the presentation. The program is free and open to the public and no preregistration is required. For more information call 877-2211 and ask for Jane Spencer.