LHS Native American Month Program features first Nanticoke Curator Wright  Nov. 18

Continuing its tradition of more than a decade of presentations by Delaware's Nanticoke People and its observance of Native American Month, The Lewes Historical Society has invited former Nanticoke Museum Curator Odette Wright to speak at the Friday, Nov. 18 program. Her presentation, titled "Keeping History Alive," will focus on the importance of the museum and its role in preserving Nanticoke history. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, Kings Highway, Lewes.

As the first curator of the Nanticoke Museum which opened in 1984, Wright and her husband were instrumental in converting the former Indian school on Route 24 into the museum which now features hundreds of artifacts, books, crafts, regalia and animal displays. She said,"When we started the museum we asked our members to give or perhaps place on loan things that we could display that help would preserve our past for future generations." She said that "many items now on display are crafts or heirlooms that families had stored away and may never have been seen by tribal members or others wanting to learn about the our people."

She will bring baskets, animal traps, regalia and other tribal items to be on display at the presentation. She says that they "are important because they help keep our history alive." She points out that during the year hundreds of school children come to the museum and have a great opportunity to learn about the ways of the Nanticokes, their customs and crafts.

Today Wright is a tribal ambassador. For her work preserving the history of the Nanticoke People and educating a larger audience she was named this year as one of the News Journal's "50 Who Matter." She has traveled to Japan, Germany and Korea sharing her passion for history, for making tribal crafts and lecturing on the Nanticoke culture. She certainly lives up to her Indian name: "She Who Knows." Also as part of her presentation she will sing and ask attendees to participate in the traditional friendship dance. Other tribal people may also be on hand to participate in this presentation.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following her presentation.