Native Americans role of 1812 will be commemorated Saturday, April 12th

TUSCUMBIA– An often overlooked piece of north Alabama history will be commemorated Saturday, April 12, at Colbert Ferry Park on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Historians from around the country will gather at the park, north of Cherokee,to recreate events associated with the role Native Americans who lived along the Natchez Trace played in helping the United States during the War of 1812. The commemoration is from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Trace was a key supply route for American troops traveling to and from the New Orleans area during the war. Native Americans who lived along the route, including in Colbert and Lauderdale counties in Alabama, provided food and other supplies for the soldiers.

At Saturday’s commemoration, living history stations will be set up to provide park visitors a glimpse of events along the Natchez Trace that helped shape the War of 1812. Admission is free.

Students from north Alabama and southern Tennessee schools will visit the park on Thursday and Friday to learn about Native Americans and the War of 1812.

On Friday night, representatives from Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw nations will be featured speakers at a banquet at the Roundhouse of the Tuscumbia Depot. Tickets for the 7 p.m. banquet are $20 and are available at Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau and Coldwater Books, both in Tuscumbia, and Florence-Lauderdale Tourism in Florence.

For more details, call 256-383-0783.

This event is made possible with support from the Alabama Humanities Foundation,

the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Schedule of Events for Saturday, April 12th:

(S is Speaker’s Tent)

9:00 am Event opens to the public

9:25 am Welcome:  Natchez Trace Parkway Association President Bryant Boswell and Alabama Chapter President Bud Pride ( S Tent)

9:30-9:50 am Tony Turnbow “The Chickasaw and Colbert Ferry” (S Tent)

10:00 10:15 am Living History Presentation, Colbert Ferry 1811:  George Colbert Welcomes Natchez Travelers

10:30-11:10 am Dr. Tom Kanon, Tennessee State Library and Archives:  “The Legacy of Tecumseh in the South-Past and Present” (S Tent)

11:30-11:50 am Living History Presentation, Natchez Trace 1811.  Tecumseh’s Arrival and Speech and Pushmataha’s Speech in Rebuttal

12:30-1:10 pm James Parker, Fort Jackson, “The Creek Civil War and the War of 1812”. (S Tent)

1:30-2:00 pm Living History Presentation, 1812 Indian Council at Colbert Ferry

2:15-2:30 pm Living History Presentation, Colbert Ferry 1814:  Red Stick Creeks Threaten Colbert, Colbert Departs for Big Town, Chickasaw Agent James Robertson hires Chickasaw Men to Guard the Ferry

2:40-3:00 pm Raymond Doherty-Archaeological Discoveries at George Colbert’s Big Town House (S Tent)

3:10-3:40 pm Robert Thrower, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Poarch Creek Nation, “Consequences of Decisions Made in the War of 1812.” (S Tent)

MEDIA RELEASE/COLBERT COUNTY TOURISM