POST EVENT NEWS:

Mike and Judy Serna are proud to report that this event raised $5,346 for the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park.

A tremendous thanks to the participants, musicians and other entertainers, drums, vendors, volunteer staff, our young "busy bees", the Meigs County Rescue Squad, Park Board members, County Mayor Ken Jones, Congressman Zach Wamp and all others who helped to make this event a huge success!

Mike and Judy Serna

JUNE 20, 2009

9am-7pm

Location:

Cherokee Removal Memorial Park

6800 Blythe Ferry Ln

Birchwood, TN 37308

where the Tennessee and 

Hiwassee Rivers meet 

One of the most inhumane acts of mankind took place when an entire race of peoples were driven from their homelands in 1838 in a removal now referred to as the Trail of Tears. At Blythe Ferry approximately 9,000 Cherokees and 500 Creeks camped and crossed this site after suffering through the long, dry summer in stockades under deplorable conditions. Between August and November 1838, nine detachments crossed the river by ferry at Blythe Ferry. This park, now a federally certified Trail of Tears site, is dedicated to the memory of these peoples.

The Cherokee Removal Memorial Park at Blythe Ferry has been 12 years in the making and has been made possible through grants and matching state funds. Those funds now exhausted, the Park now has NO MONIES for operating expenses.

Please give generously so that it may continue to serve as a true memorial to those who suffered and perished during the forced removal of 1838.

THIS EVENT IS A 100% FUNDRAISER

FOR THE CHEROKEE REMOVAL MEMORIAL PARK

ALL performers and drums have donated their time and talent. Please show your appreciation with generous donations to the Park.

Monetary donations for this fundraiser can be made payable to: CHEROKEE REMOVAL PARK/MEIGS COUNTY and mailed to Judy Serna, 401 Haney Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37411. Donations will be submitted to the Park at the conclusion of the Fundraiser on June 20, 2009.

For SILENT AUCTION donations: contact Judy Serna 423-322-5632 or judyserna@bellsouth.net

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS!

feature performer:

ARVEL BIRD

Arvel Bird earned the 2007 Native American Music Awards “Artist of the Year” and the 2007 “Best Instrumentalist” at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.  Arvel tours around the world and is considered by world music lovers to be the ultimate fusion artist, blending his Native American and Scottish heritage to deliver an accomplished sound that spans nearly every genre, including classical, folk, Celtic, country, fusion jazz and bluegrass.

 

A Native American sensibility drives Arvel’s fiddling, storytelling and dance performing but doesn’t overwhelm it. It’s his charismatic, endearing personality that delights us as he offers Native American wisdom, history and tradition, and most of all, a deeply-felt musicianship that will amaze and inspire.

 

For eleven years Arvel toured with Glen Campbell, Clay Walker, Louise Mandrell, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Loretta Lynn and others. Now as a touring recording artist, Arvel performs internationally an average of 160 dates each year to a growing legion of fans. He is undoubtedly the best-known Native American entertainer touring today.

 

This award-winning violinist has released 14 CDs and one DVD since 2001. Five of his CDs have received numerous nominations at the Native American Music Awards (NAMA), Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA), Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, and Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA).  By 2006, Arvel started racking up wins his instrumental work on 3 CD in addition to taking home the coveted 9th Annual NAMA “Artist of the Year” title for Animal Totems 2.

 

Arvel Bird is signed to Singing Wolf Records in Nashville, TN and maintains a full-time touring schedule in his own coach with his wife and two spoiled rotten Shih Tzus.

More on Arvel Bird at:

arvelbird.com

myspace.com/arvelbird

singingwolfrecords.com

other entertainment by:

MIKE SERNA

Born of Mescalero Apache-Gabrieleno descent in LA, California Mike holds many accomplishments. In addition to being a flutist, flute maker, singer/songwriter, recording artist, published poet, educator and a traditional dancer, he is a proud U.S. Army Veteran 1975-1976, Berlin Brigade.

Mike has released three cds to date: “Clouds In The Pass” (2004) ; “Music In My Soul” (2006) – top 50s charting May-June, 2006 and top 100s charting July-August, newagereporter.com, nominated for Best Native American Album and Best Cover Art, New Age Reporter (NAR) 2006 Lifestyle Music Awards; and “Warrior’s Last Breath” (2009) featuring Arvel Bird (top 50s charting February-March-April, 2009, newagereporter.com).

In 2006, Mike took first place at the national flute competition “Musical Echoes” in Ft. Walton Beach, FL where he won the hearts of fans and many renowned recording artists along with judges Jeff Ball, Dock Greene and Raymond Redfeather who voted Serna winner of this coveted award.

Other accomplishments include:

2004 & 2005 – Contributing musician – Rolling Thunder Run For The Wall DVD Documentary

2006 – Tennessee Eagle Award recipient (for contributions that have benefitted Native Americans in Tennessee)

2009 – Silver Arrow Award (Spirit Wind Records)

2009 – Signed to Ravenhawk Productions and Spirit Wind Records

More on Mike Serna at:

www.mikeserna.com

www.myspace.com/mikeserna57

blackbearcovenativeamericanfestival.blogspot.com

Performing with Mike Serna

Keith Stalcup

Keith Stalcup, 25 year veteran session player and live sideman with national credits as diverse as Jerry Lee Lewis, Sara Evans, Lorrie Morgan, Doug Stone, Joan Osborne, Robert Cray and many others. Bred in South Georgia on the blues and reared on the road behind some of the finest vocal artists out there.

“Ace” Bailey

Songwriter and guitarist, Ace’s first band “Daze” was formed in 1984 with Mike Serna’s brother, Paul. Since 1989 Ace has played guitar in bands “Diamond Back”, “Renegade”, “12 Gauge”, “Royal Flush” and “Legal Tender”. In 1996 Ace debuted an album with “Royal Flush” with a song co-written with Paul Serna. Ace now performs with “The Vintage Band” which recently took first place at the Battle of the Bands at Mtn. Creek Harley-Davidson in Dalton, Georgia. Ace also performs regularly with Mike Serna.

ED WINDDANCER

Ed Winddancer is a respected educator who is proud of his Nanticoke heritage. As gifted player of the American Indian flute, and also a respected traditional dancer, Ed has performed for audiences throughout the United States and Europe, and has dedicated his life to preserving his culture through the art of music, dance, and education.

More on Ed Winddancer at:

www.nativeflutist.com

GRADY “ShadowHawk” JONES

Grady traces his heritage to his Cherokee Father and Cherokee/Shawnee Mother and was raised in Tennessee.  He is a self-taught Native American Flutist. His CD “Whispering Winds” was nominated for a NAMMY in the Category of “Best Traditional Recording”. The original flute compositions on this CD have been inspired by nature and it is his hope that the songs will help heal his people and all those who listen to the soothing messages.

 

Grady is also a Dancer. He started out Traditional Dancing and most recently dances Southern Straight. He has been the Head Man Dancer at several Pow-Wows and Events all over the Southeast.

 

He has promoted different venue’s with storytelling, flute and dancing such as Grassmere Wildlife Park, County Celebrations, Folk Art Festivals, Heritage Days Events, County Fairs, Cannonsburg Village, Scarrit-Bennett College, Churches and Schools all over the mid-state for many years.

 

In 2002 he was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Tennessee Historical Commission for his efforts to preserve the Culture and History of his People in Tennessee.  He has also received a Tennessee Eagle Award in 1998 for his Contributions to the Native American Communities in Tennessee.

 

Grady is proud of his Heritage and will tell anyone who will listen. He practices his heritage. His only wish is that his pride in his People shows through in his dancing, flute playing or other demonstrations and if one of his stories changes one person’s way of life, all he has done will be worthwhile.

Contact Grady at:

8059 Maple St.

Lyles, TN 37098-1796

931-670-5465  615-290-4682

More on Grady at:

shadowhawkjones@aol.com 

or tsilajones@aol.com

CYNTHIA ZAVALA

Cynthia was born and raised in Alabama she is Cherokee and Creek decent, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Tribe. She still resides in her Mvskoke ancestors homeland of Alabama with her Husband Jesse. She was a member of her tribes all womans drum group for several years. She has stepped away from the big drum and Plays her hand drum called to sing the message of spirit!

ROBERT “redhawk” ELDRIDGE

Presented for the very first time “The Removal” is a dramatic presentation of the events leading up to the relocation of the Cherokee people of this area and northern Georgia to Indian Territory in the west. Written, directed and presented by Robert RedHawk Eldridge, this first person account by a fictitious character uses actual historical events to portray the live of a mixed heritage family living in the early 1800s.

nashville songwriters round

LISA HANNAH

Lisa Hannah, a native of Nashville, grew up in and around music, and began singing and performing at an early age. After fronting several band projects, she struck out on her own to pursue a career as an independent recording artist and her passion for songwriting.  Although growing up in the heart of country music, her songwriting extends beyond the country genre, and includes other genres such as pop, rock, alternative rock, and progressive folk. She is currently working on her debut CD project with a targeted release date of September 2009. Lisa regularly plays venues in Nashville and elsewhere.

PAUL NIELSEN

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Paul Nielsen began making music at the early age of seven when his dad showed him a few chords on the family ukelele. He immediately started writing songs and playing by ear the radio hits of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and others. By age seventeen, Paul was performing in popular cover bands and acoustic duos in the LA area.

 

 Paul continued writing songs all along, moving to Nashville in February 2003 to pursue a songwriting career in earnest.  Almost immediately, his songs were being plugged on Music Row by Americana Entertainment, which counted him as one of their own. He has had several independent cuts (His jazzy ballad “Just Because” has been recorded in two languages!).  Currently Paul’s catalog is being represented by Soundhaven Publishing. Paul performs regularly at Nashville’s most prestigious songwriter venues, including the famous Bluebird Café, and he has been featured at several songwriter showcases. 

 

In 2005, Paul recorded his first independent CD project, “Trust the Water” (co-produced with Chip Martin). Paul wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks on this CD, which has been receiving universally high praise. His rocker “I’ll Be Forgiven” spent 6 weeks at #1 on the Nashville Independent Music radio chart. 

 

In addition to being a seasoned songwriter, Paul is an accomplished guitarist.He is often seen accompanying songwriters and artists in showcases in Nashville and around the country, including radio and television broadcasts.

DUANE DEEMER “Choctaw Cowboy”

More on Cowboy at: 

www.myspace.com/duanedeemer

www.myspace.com/choctawcowboymusic

www.choctawcowboy.com

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blowgun demonstrations

ALVA CROW

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master of ceremonies

 SCOTT CRISP

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drums

SOUTHERN ECHO

Southern Echo’s Drum Keeper, Bert Iron Turtle Cox, Maliceet, his two sons, Cody and Lil Bert, as well as friend Shaun Hedgecoth, were previously members of Tanasi Thunder drum group from Nashville, TN. When the economy declined, travel became too expensive and at the suggestion of Bert’s wife, Cindy, the group decided to start a drum group in Crossville, TN. Bert and Cindy had been gifted a drum for their wedding, so they started practicing and realized it was a good idea. They are now all close to home, and the formation of “Southern Echo” has added one more drum to Mother Earth. After chasing the sons around and them mimicking each other’s every word, Cindy said it was like hearing echos. Thus, the name “Southern Echo”.

BATTLE CREEK SINGERS

(Southern style drum group) – Battle Creek Singers was formed in 2003. Over time several good singers have sat on the drum with Battle Creek. The name Battle Creek comes from a community at the foot of Mt. Eagle Mountain, also know Martin Springs, which had been a camp for the trail of tears removal (Bells Route). Battle Creek Singers have performed at powwows throughout the state of Tennessee – MTSU Indian Festival, Cookeville Powwow, Fayetteville Indian Festival, Elkton TN Festival, Port Royal Powwow, and more.

Members of Battle Creek: 

Lee Trevino Jr. – Apache, Lead singer & Drum Keeper

Jesse Zavala – Apache, Lead Singer

Carle Head – Chippewa, Singer

Jared Welden – Cherokee, Singer

Dwayne Long – Cherokee, Singer

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honor guards:

UCAN Veterans Society;

Native American Warriors’ Society

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a day of music music music

– drums – dancing 

– storytelling

– food – crafts – 50/50 

– HUGE silent auction

special flute duel between 

Mike Serna and Ed Winddancer

(donate $$$ to vote 

– loser must admit that

he is a “LOUSY MUSICIAN 

and UGLY!”) 

All proceeds will be

donated to the Park.

__________________

Bring lawn chairs or blankets 

and enjoy the weekend!

__________________

Questions???

Call Mike Serna - 423-322-9334 cell

mikeserna@bellsouth.net

or 

or Judy Serna - 423-322-5632 cell

judyserna@bellsouth.net

__________________

NO ALCOHOL – NO FIREARMS

NO ATTITUDES – NO POLITICS

A tremendous THANKS to the following sponsors:

COLLECTION FOR PINE RIDGE 

RESERVATION 

Clothing (new or pre-loved) and school supplies are being requested for the Native Americans on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

If you would like to contribute to this effort, please bring clothing or school supplies to the Blythe Ferry Fundraiser and the collection will be delivered to Gene Faithful Eagle and Wanda MorningStar Ruffin of Montgomery Alabama, who will depart for Pine Ridge the first part of September. All contributions and prayers for this mission are greatly appreciated.