HOBBS HAPPENINGS
The Osage Indians: Big, Scary, and Feared. Steve Dunlap to tell their story at Hobbs State Park
Not many Native American Indian tribes were given as wide a berth as the Osage. They weren’t exactly “cupcakes.” They were big. They were scary. They were feared. In the early 19th century, this tribe dominated much of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Their name, Osage, is a French version which roughly translates to“war-like.”
President Jefferson noted that Osage men averaged 6 ½ feet to 7 feet tall. That was really big by 1830 standards, since the white Europeans in the United States in 1830 averaged about 5 ½ feet tall. A very ominous-looking statue of a typical Osage Indian stands in the state capitol building in Little Rock.
Often the Osage would start off a hunting trip on foot, but come back with horses stolen from neighboring tribes. Such behavior repeatedly resulted in war between the tribes. Typical weapons used by the Osage included muskets, knives, lances, hatchets and strong bows with arrows made of Osage Orange wood. The military post at Fort Smith was established to end the warring between the Osage and other tribes, mainly the Cherokee. The Osage regarded the Cherokee as invaders.
The War Eagle myth: The town of War Eagle was not named after a Cherokee. According to the Arkansas Encyclopedia of History and Culture, the signature of Hurachais, the War Eagle, appears on the 1825 Osage treaty with the U.S. that ceded area lands from the Osage to the U.S. government. He is commonly thought to have been the Osage leader in the Huntsville area. A town, local creek, and township are named after him.
You will not want to miss Steve Dunlap’s presentation regarding the exciting and provocative story of the history of the Osage Indians in our area.
Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Ark. Hwy. 12 just east of the State Hwy. 12/War Eagle Road intersection.
When: 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 4, 2018 Cost: Free; public is invited
For information, call: 479-789-5000 This program is a continuation of the Friends of Hobbs Speaker’s Series. To learn more about upcoming Hobbs State Park programs, go to: http:// www.friendsofhobbs.com/ and www. ArkansasStateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea
Sweetheart Lunch/Eagle Watch Cruises Announced at Hobbs State Park
Do something unforgettable with your loved one this Valentine’s Day weekend. Share the wonders of nature on beautiful Beaver Lake looking for bald eagles plus enjoy a scrumptious and a musically fun lunch at Ventris Trails End Resort.
Lunch features bacon wrapped pork loin with mushrooms, onions, and salad with homemade bread rolls, chocolate sheet cake, tea, or coffee. Vegetarian option is a yummy portabella mushroom sandwich. Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional charge.
There are two Sweetheart Cruises to choose from. One will run Saturday, Feb. 10,and the other Sunday, Feb. 11. Each cruise will leave Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 11 a.m. and return at 2 p.m.
Cost: $40+ tax per person: Reservations and prepayment necessary. Contact Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area for reservations.
Breakfast with the birds
Our feathered friends will be at center stage at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area during our third annual
program series: Birds and Breakfast. Come enjoy a cup of coffee or juice and have breakfast with the birds. Have you ever seen all the feathers of a goldfinch, chickadee, or other songbird up close? Well, this is your chance. You will witness this unique scientific process up-close, and then help us release the birds back into the wild.
From 9-10:30 a.m., the Wildlife Society of the University of Arkansas will be catching song birds, handling these birds, and then releasing them back into the wild. Learn about how this type of research has taught us many things we now know about birds.
Where: Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Visitor Center
When: 9-10:30 a.m. Feb. 24, March 3 and April 14
Cost: Free; registration not required
Sallyann Brown to Head Fly Fishing Workshop
Those who wish to learn the basics of fly casting will want to attend the Fly Casting 101 workshop to be held at
the Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area visitor center from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2018. Two hours of instruction will be in the classroom, and two hours will be outside. Participants will learn four basic casts, the six basic types of flies, (lures) how to cast and “play”the flies in the water, how to read water, how to wade, how to purchase and assemble your equipment, how to store your equipment, as well as how to tie the four basic knots used by fly fishers. All equipment will be provided.
The workshop will be taught by Sallyann Brown, past recipient of the “Woman of the Year”and the“Federation of Fly Fishers Educator of the Year” awards from the Federation of Fly Fishers, Inc.
When: noon - 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2018
Where: The workshop will be held at the Hobbs State Park visitor center
Minimum age is 12 yrs. Cost: $35 per person + tax. Reservations and prepayment required. For questions, and to register call: 479-789-5000