Earthskills Rendezvous this weekend in northwest Georgia

For two decades, people from throughout North America (and other continents) have been drawn to the Southern Appalachian mountains twice annually to reclaim our collective ancestral heritage by making camp to share knowledge of primitive and pioneer living skills. We have witnessed the universal appeal of skills that some might think obsolete in this age of dependence on complex technologies.

Children of all ages, adults and elders of diverse cultural origins and social backgrounds revel in applying themselves to the arts and tasks of their distant forbearers. Our temporary village exhibits the age-old values of cooperation generosity of spirit, a desire for tolerance and harmonious relations; it comes alive with art, music, dance, stories and the heartbeat of drums around the nightly council fire and the quiet, earnest talk of friends around campsite hearths. There will also be a variety of classes designed especially for children.

When: April 9-16, 2006
Where: Cherokee Farms, LaFayette, Georgia

Classes include:

• friction fire making
• hide tanning
• flintknapping
• bow making
• blowguns
• atlatl and spear
• primitive pottery
• basketry
• edible and medicinal plants
• primitive cookery
• cordage and other fiber arts
• primitive shelter
• bone and antler tools
• stalking and tracking skills
• tribal games and sports
• blacksmithing
• buckskin clothing and moccasins
• and much more.

For more information contact Earthskills Rendezvous, PO Box 10, Marble Hill, GA 30148, call 1-866-787-2263, visit earthskillsrendezvous.org or send email.

Friday, April 14: Music by Bill Pound and Sapien.