Recently, more than one television documentary has offered viewing audiences one spin after another about one of America’s favorite historical mysteries–the Lost Colony. Through my work with Coastal Carolina Indian Center, as well as my own roots in the region that go back to the earliest colonists and the Algonquian peoples of the coast, I have always had […]
Just because it’s on a sign, doesn’t mean it’s true
If you’re ever in the Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, NC and see this sign, just know it’s wrong. The “Tuscarora War,” which was actually an Indian War that included militants from multiple tribes, wasn’t fought anywhere near the town of Beaufort. On September 22, 1711, a group of more than 500 men, comprised of Tuscarora, […]
Remembering John Crazybear ‘Papa Bear’
Earlier this week we lost a dear friend. For our family, and so many others whose lives were enriched by knowing his friendship, very special memories will endure. I recall my first having met John Crazy Bear, known to many as ‘Papa Bear,’ in the 90’s when I was teaching courses in American Indian studies […]
The ‘Lost’ Colony and John White’s ‘Virgenia Pars’ Map: An Outer Banks historian provides some much-needed historical context
Editor’s note: As news trickled in late last week and over the weekend regarding the latest discovery beneath the patches on the John White ‘Virgenia Pars’ map, I immediately knew I wanted to speak to Scott Dawson, the most knowledgeable expert on the so-called ‘Lost Colony’ that I know. And let me be very clear […]
Updated Algonquian Word List by Scott Dawson
Algonquian is not a tribe, nor a language, but a language family with at least 29 dialects. The following is a list of words used by the Croatoan compiled by Scott Dawson.