10/8 A Recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day at Matthewis Persen House

Sat, Oct 8, 2022 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Department:

Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack Announces NYS Path Through History Weekend Event at the Matthewis Persen House Museum Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day

Kingston, NY - Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack is pleased to announce the Matthewis Persen House Museum’s participation in the 2022 New York State Path Through History Weekend on Saturday, October 8 with a special event recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. The Persen House is an official Path Through History site, located at 74 John Street in uptown Kingston, at the corner of John and Crown Streets. Admission is free and all are welcome.

On Saturday, October 8 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Save Native Sites presents a NYS Path Through History Weekend event, “A Recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day.” This annual event has been hosted by Save Native Sites for over a decade with each year bringing new presenters, music, discussion, education, history and more. This year’s schedule is just as engaging and meaningful.

At 11:00am, Evan Pritchard will give a PowerPoint lecture, “Westward Migrations; Esopus-Munsee on the Susquehanna.” Evan is a historian, writer, lecturer and musician. He is the author of numerous books and publications including “No Word for Time” and “Native New Yorkers.” Evan will play the flute and read some of his writing, as well.

Doc, “Mud Turtle”, Morgan will be the featured speaker and teacher at 1:00 pm. While many of the Munsee-speaking people moved west, as Evan Pritchard points out, some stayed behind and lived on their ancestral land. Among these people were the ancestors of Doc Morgan. As an elder, he will tell us his story about growing up in Mahwah, N.J., on ancestral lands of the Ramapough/Lenape people. As a child, he and his family lived largely on and from the land, but over the decades, he witnessed changes that “development” brought to the Ramapo mountains and the Ramapo River. Once able to eat fish from the river, drink water from the streams and roam the mountains to hunt deer, Doc witnessed his mountains become Real Estate and the rivers become dumping grounds for industrial waste. Hear the stories of a life lived and wisdom gained over four generations in the Ramapo Mountains by Doc “Mud Turtle” Morgan.

“We are proud to, once again, be able to host such a meaningful event for Path Through History weekend this year,” said County Clerk Nina Postupack. “Judy Abbott of Save Native Sites has arranged a wonderful event in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. It is our privilege to host her program at the Persen House again this year.”

Path Through History Weekends are a showcase of New York State's rich and fascinating history and will feature hundreds of events happening at historic and cultural destinations throughout the state. Stickers will be distributed at all participating sites throughout the weekend and participants are urged post pictures wearing their stickers to social media with the hashtag #PTHWeekend and the event location. To learn more about NYS Path Through History Weekend and the many events planned throughout the state, please visit their website at paththroughhistory.iloveny.com.

For further information about the Matthewis Persen House Museum and other outreach programs of the Ulster County Clerk’s Office, please contact County Clerk Nina Postupack at (845) 340-3040 or countyclerk[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us or visit us on Facebook.

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