It was the flood no one saw coming. Surveillance video from inside the Long Room at the Cultural Heritage Center shows the floor rising in a dome shape.Within an hour, several inches of water came seeping through the concrete base and out the opened doors. Several months have passed since the eerie day that left CPN employees scurrying for mops and squeegees at the Cultural Heritage Center and all hope is not lost for attendees to the 2014 Family Reunion Festival looking to enjoy time spent in the museum that houses CPN history and many other activities.
In the past, the CHC has been a staple for events and classes during the Family Reunion Festival. This year will be like those of the past but just slightly different.
“All activities are a go at the Cultural Heritage Center for this year’s Family Reunion Festival,” said Kelli Mosteller, CHC Director. “It may look a little different but we are pleased to be able to offer most of everything from the previous years. The museum exhibits however will not be open and we should have a photo essay displayed for everyone to see what happened here the day it flooded and the process that is involved with getting everything back to normal.”
All classes, the adult art show and arts and crafts will be held as normal at the Heritage Center. The Eagle Aviary team will have an eagle at the CHC from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday during the Festival weekend. The Veteran’s breakfast is still at 8 a.m. on Saturday in the “Long Room” of the museum. Honored family interviews will be done inside the Video Production room at the museum. However, Tribal Rolls will be located at FireLake Arena.
Check your 2014 Family Reunion Schedule for exact times of all activities at the CHC or go to www.potawatomi.org/news/top-stories/1273-2014-family-reunion-schedule for an online schedule.