PORTER | Eileen Stewart stood in her Potawatomi-style tunic and bone beaded necklaces and told visitors about the hollowed-out gourds and baskets displayed on her blanket that contained dried food items such as venison jerky, corn husks and rice.
Stewart is a docent for the second annual History Comes Alive weekend at the Indiana Dunes State Park, a series of interpretive events designed to present the different eras of life along the lakefront.
"The Potawatomis used the three sisters garden, that's squash, corn and beans, and they didn't farm like we farm and how many bushels can we get per acre -- that wasn't their concern. They wanted to grow enough to sustain themselves," Stewart told the group.
As she spoke, she prepared venison stew and corn bread on a rustic fire using tree bark for baking sheets.
"The Potawatomis have a code of ethics and pride and wouldn't overdo something. They ate when they were hungry. They didn't have three meals a day," Stewart said.
"We are standing in their store," she said, gesturing to the woods.
Janet Williams, of Valparaiso, brought her two daughters to enjoy the day's activities.
"We got an e-mail from the Dunes and saw they were doing this, and we knew the kids would enjoy it," Williams said.
Her girls prepared story sticks at the nearby craft table, putting Native American symbols for sky, horse and lightning on Popsicle sticks before decorating them with feathers, string and beads.
"The Pima did story sticks, but other tribes made them as well," said Sharon Webb, a volunteer for the State Park who ran the children's table.
Other activities included Native American storytelling, French fur trader re-enactments and Native American flute music.
Continuing today, members of the Ouiatenon Brigade will be set up on the beach, just east of the Beach Pavilion. The Ouiatenon Brigade portrays the French-Canadian voyageurs of the 1700s and prides itself in its authenticity of dress, food and general lifestyle.
A special presentation on Lake Michigan shipwrecks is set for 2 p.m. today at the Dunes visitor center auditorium. A guided walk to sites along the beach will follow.
The program is free; however, there is the standard weekend park gate fee of $5 for Indiana vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. Annual park passes are available.
For more information about this program or others at Indiana Dunes State Park, call the Nature Center at (219) 926-1390.
