For nearly three decades, Belinda Adams and her husband Mike, also known as Morning Star and Blue Hawk, have shared Native American artifacts and stories of the Plains Indians with students at The Oakridge School.
Though the Kansas historians and educators are silver-haired and a little slower in movement, they couldn't wait to make their annual journey to Texas to speak at Oakridge this year.
"This is our 29th year to be exact and we still get delighted to see the children and tell them about the Plains Indians, Mountain Men, and early explorers of the Civil War era," said Morning Star, who will visit with Lower School students and teachers during a four week-long program.
Dr. Sarah Schecter, Head of Lower School, said Tipi Day is one of the most exciting traditions for her students.
"This type of long-format program isn't presented anywhere else in our community and we're really proud of that," she said. "Our students are exploring and experiencing history in a more personal way."
In addition to a buffalo hide Tipi, which resembles what the Plains Indians would have lived in during the 1600-1700s, the couple also will introduce students to moose, elk, horse, deer, and bear hides, other important relics, tomahawk throwing and storytelling.
Morning Star and Blue Hawk's mission is to take history out of the textbook and make it come alive for audiences. They have dedicated more than 20 years to active research of the Fur Trade era. Commissioned pieces of their work reside in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the University of Kansas Natural History Museum. Read more about them at www.sme-portalsoftime.com.