Hillsborough, North Carolina
wita:he:hu:k meku: all friends are welcome
The Occaneechi Indian Replica Village
The Occaneechi Replica Village was created for visitors of all ages to explore, experience and enjoy learning about the history and cultural heritage of the indigenous tribe of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation in Orange County and in the State.
The replica village stands as a ”living bridge” between the past and present, celebrating the resilience and enduring spirit of the Occaneechi community. The replica offers great insight into the Occaneechi ways of life 400 years ago.
When you visit the Hillsborough site, you will be viewing a replica of a traditional village built by the Occaneechi Indian people, c., the late 1600s. The site lies near the Great Trading Path used for generations by Indian tribes in this region.
In the late 1990s, guided by the archeological findings, members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation began construction of a replica village here. Completed in 1998 under the leadership of tribal member, the late John Blackfeather Jeffries, the replica provides a setting for interpreting the village life of the Occaneechi.
“Our ancestors lived by a combination of hunting, fishing, gathering, farming, and trading with the Europeans,” John Blackfeather Jeffries said. “The surrounding woods gave us animals to hunt: wita:i (deer), ma:nda:hkai (turkey), mo:nti (bear), tąyǫ:yaha (rabbit), mika (raccoon), and squirrels.
The nearby river provided turtles, freshwater mussels, and wiho:i (fish). Our people gathered acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, blueberries, blackberries, and wild greens from the surrounding forest. They raised an assortment of ma:ta:xe (corn), ha:dine (beans), and mandamaį (squash) in gardens outside the village walls and made their clothing from the skins of animals.”
1680s until the early 1700s
The original settlement of the Occaneechi Indian people was located along the banks of the Eno River, less than a quarter mile east of today’s replica site. From the 1680s until the early 1700s the site was home for 35 to 75 people. They lived in a palisaded village covering roughly ¼ acre and containing as many as 10 At i: (huts).
1710 to the 1780s
The Occaneechi way of life was changing because of contact with the Europeans. Around 1710, the Occaneechi left the Orange County area to settle at Ft. Christanna, in present-day Lawrenceville, Virginia. The abandoned site of Occaneechi Town became the local horse
racing track for the settlers of what would eventually become the town of Hillsborough in 1754.
In the 1780s, the Occaneechi people returned. With the old village and land occupied, the Occaneechi families settled some 15 miles northwest of Hillsborough in the Texas Community of northeast Alamance County.
1780s to Today
In 2002, North Carolina officially recognized the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation as the eighth Indian Tribe in the state. The tribe’s main settlement is in the Burlington area, where they maintain a cultural center and host various events and activities. The center serves as a gathering place for tribal members and a hub for sharing Occaneechi traditions with the broader community.
The Occaneechi Tribe organizes several annual events celebrating their culture and heritage. One notable event is the Occaneechi Powwow, a vibrant gathering featuring traditional dances, drumming, storytelling, and crafts. The powwow offers an immersive experience for both tribal members and visitors to learn about and appreciate Occaneechi traditions.
In addition to the powwow, the tribe hosts educational workshops, cultural exchanges, and community outreach programs throughout the year. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of the Occaneechi people’s history and contributions, while also fostering understanding and appreciation of Native American cultures.
THE GREAT TRADING PATH
