AN IMMERSIVE HISTORICAL SITE IN HILLSBOROUGH, NC
THE OCCANEECHI INDIAN REPLICA VILLAGE
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA
EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY AND THE OCCANEECHI INDIAN PEOPLE WITH A VISIT TO THE REPLICA VILLAGE OF OCCANEECHI
TOWN CONSTRUCTED USING TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES.
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.
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.
In the late 1990s, guided by the archeological findings, members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation abegan construction of a replica village here.
“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.”
OCCANEECHI INDIAN REPLICA VILLAGE
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
The Great Trading Path, also known as the Occaneechi Path, was part of a series of Indian trading routes that linked smaller villages across the North Carolina Piedmont. At first the path was the route of travel and commerce for the villages. Tribes regularly traded goods between themselves and settlements.
Over the years, the path evolved into the primary route commercial cargo and commerce between English and Virginia traders originating from Petersburg VA and expanded extending southwest past Charlotte.
For roughly 30 years the path was heavily traveled bringing imports of European-made items such as cloth, trinkets, firearms and rum to the area. On their return, the tribes exported furs, deerskins and other items headed for Europe.
The Occaneechi Tribe were an important component of the Great Trading Path and often acted as middlemen and contacts between tribes and traders. Their language became widely used and understood by leaders of nations.
Today, you can see remnants of this historical Trading Path on the grounds of Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NC.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OCCANEECHI INDIAN PEOPLE AND PLAN YOUR VISIT.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OCCANEECHI Learn more about Occaneechi Kōwa Mahanañka (history) of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation by visiting their website: WWW.OBSN.ORG
OCCANEECHI REPLICA VILLAGE
The Replica Village is open to the public and is located on Margaret Lane behind the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. in Hillsborough, North Carolina. For guided tours, call The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough at (919) 732-7741.
TRIBAL GROUNDS & OFFICE 4902 Dailey Store Road, Burlington, NC 27217
OCCANEECHI BAND OF THE SAPONI NATION, INC.
P.O. Box 356, Mebane, NC 27302 (336) 421-1317 obsntribe@gmail.com
A publication of The Orange County Visitors Bureau. WWW.VISITCHAPELHILL.ORG 308 West Franklin Street | Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (888) 968-2060 • (919) 245-4320 info@visitchapelhill.org ™