Wenonah Haire, 2015-02-03

File

Identifier: cc-ha0004

Staff Only

Wenonah Haire interview (includes transcript)

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Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Keeping Watch: City of Creeks includes video interviews with individuals, pairs, and groups of people about their experiences with Charlotte Mecklenburg creeks and rivers. The interviews were conducted by history graduate student Tenille Todd in cooperation with Mary Newsom, Associate Director of Urban and Regional Affairs at the Urban Institute. The interviews were part of Keeping Watch, a three-year initiative (2014-2016) led by the Urban Institute, the College of Arts and Architecture, and independent arts curator, June Lambla of Lambla artWORKS. The interdisciplinary project invited artists, historians, writers, scientists and environmental groups to engage the public around environmental issues.

Dates

Creation: 2015-02-03

Creator

From the Collection: University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Urban Institute (Organization)
From the Collection: Newsom, Mary (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Please contact Special Collections to request the creation of use copies for particular items; requests will be accommodated when possible. The remaining materials are open for research.

Biographical Note

Dr. Wenonah Haire was a 60-year-old woman at the time of this interview, which took place at the Catawba Cultural Center, Catawba Indian Nation Reservation, South Carolina. She was born in York County, South Carolina. She held a Doctorate of Dental Medicine, and was employed as a dentist, and was also the Cultural Director and THPO (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer) for the Catawba Indian Nation.

Extent

27 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Dr. Haire describes some of the traditional uses that the creeks have been used for in the past and present by the Catawba Indians. She also discusses the concerns that come from being south of the creeks in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. She stresses that it is important that we are all responsible for taking care of the creeks; it’s not just one entity but all of us. She relates the folklore of the Yehasuri, which were known to have resided in creek banks and recites a Catawba Indian water creation tale.