William Tarrant leads the Culture and Historic Preservation Program’s efforts to preserve important sites and artifacts, and educate future generations about our culture and religion. Much of this work is focused on identifying and maintaining important historic sites and properties. For example, in the last few years The Rock House roof was replaced, and an extensive overhaul of the Longhouse was made. 

Every summer 40 youth attend the Tribal Youth Summer Camp. The camp is a week packed with learning and activity. Participants learn about our language, history, beliefs and practices. Last year, through a partnership with the Euchee Butterfly Farm, youth learned about the importance of pollinators such as butterflies and bees for the growth of the three traditional foods of corn, beans, and squash. Everyone went home with a butterfly kit to raise their own monarch butterfly, and milkweed seedlings to plant. The week always includes a Lacrosse game with neighboring youth programs.

William also leads six teenagers every summer to identify, restore, and preserve tribal cemeteries. This is hard work, that takes a lot of dedication and care. An environmentally-friendly cleaner is used to remove dirt. The cleaner also adds a protective layer which prevents lichen growth. If a broken headstone is found it is repaired using epoxy. Sometimes headstones have sunk into the ground. These stones are pulled up, a new foundation is built, and the stone is reset.

The teenagers in this program are doing important preservation work; they are also learning history in a very personal way. Several participants have discovered the unmarked graves of their own relatives. This experience helped them realize that these headstones mark the burial place of their direct ancestors, making a strong connection from history to the present. Another interesting discovery was the grave of RoMere Martin, who went by the stage name RoMere Darling. She was in several films, including the 1945 movie Anchors Aweigh, which was one of the first films to combine animation and live action.