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PRESS RELEASE BY THE NESBITT MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Sunshine Reyes presented an interesting and enlightening Native American History Program about the dances and the regalia worn on Thursday, Nov. 2. Attendees learned that members of various tribes used dance to pass down their accounts of important events from generation to generation. She presented many photos of magnificent regalia worn in the dances and shared the symbolism of some of elements used in the regalia. She also discussed some of the dances and the symbolism of the movements.
Native American people’s spiritual relationship with nature and ‘Mother Earth’ are also expressed through these dances and regalia. For this reason, it is important to always ask permission before taking photos of a dancer. Ms. Reyes was born a Kootenai Ksanka Indian from the Flathead Reservation in Montana. She has been the Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Columbus since June of 2022. Sunshine’s goal of increasing our respect and knowledge of these ancient people was achieved.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the 20th annual Live Oaks and Dead Folks Cemetery Tour was held at the Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus.
Over 220 attendees met at dusk and were led by the following guides: Sylvester Bedford, Amanda Briscoe, Susan Cogburn, Brandy Divin, Cody Graves, Rita Tait Jackson, Sarah Koller, Currie Luedecke, Carrie McRee, Gary Paricio, Susie Purcell, Tracey Wegenhoft and Regena Williamson.
A path meandered from one end of the cemetery to the other with stops at the following gravesites: Lura Perry Traylor (Susan Chandler), Malzena Zumwalt (Donna Pustejovsky), William F. Archer (Sam Hodge), August Ilse (Brent Leftwich), Sarah Zouks Stafford (Ester Chandler), Louise Hastings Buescher (Carley Howlett), Dr. Josiah Payne (Gary Chandler), Howard Asa Townsend (Mark Candela), Dr. William W. Gunn (Shalor Townzen, Berthold Leysaht (Ann Butler), Charles Kearney (Will Kearney), Ida Dietrich Zwiener (Patsy Hodge) and Gus Steger, Jr. (John Batla).
Other volunteers were Roger and Marilyn Wade, Jim Kearney, Kenneth Wegenhoft, Bob and Lois Robinson, Bob and Nancy Stiles, Joe Wegenhoft, Jessica Commanda, and Eric Braden. The Cemetery Tour is the annual fundraiser for the Nesbitt Memorial Library Foundation.
Thank you to all of the volunteers and attendees!
