By Lauren Wester

lauren.wester@fct.wpengine.com

The South is known for being steeped in culture, but what some people might now know much about is the culture that started long before the settlers put their roots down on this continent: Native American culture. 

The Sacred Way Sanctuary Interpretive Center and Museum in Florence is now partnering with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in an effort to accurately portray the story of the Native Americans and their culture in Northwest Alabama – and this resource aims to reach out in Franklin County. Dr. Yvette Collin, one of the founders of Sacred Way Sanctuary, expressed her interest in bringing this history to Franklin. 

“We want to come to the Franklin community, especially the schools, and educate people on the true history of the Native Americans from the area,” she said. 

In the past, Collin said, Sacred Way has worked with schools and coordinated with their curriculums and also introduced new information in places that previously weren’t teaching about the culture. 

Local Native American artifacts can be found in the museum from Florence and within a one-hour radius of the area. Collin and her husband and co-founder Sean Collin work with local Native Americans and Native American scholars to make sure that every piece is authentic and that they accurately depict the story of each piece. 

All of their work and teachings are based on research, education and preservation, Yvette said.

Collin earned her doctorate in indigenous studies from the University of Alaska–Fairbanks. Her research focused on the relationship between the Native Americans and the indigenous horses. At Sacred Way, they work on the preservation of the Native American horse and other animals important to the Native Americans. 

The Sanctuary includes an interpretive center and museum that tell the history of the horses indigenous to the Americas and their relationship with the Native Americans. There is also an outdoor classroom experience where tourists can witness horses and other animals in a natural state and learn how the Native Americans care for the horses in a more traditional way. 

“We want to make it as authentic and real as possible so that people can connect with the experience and have it resonate with them,” Yvette said, referencing all people, Native and non-Native alike. 

Sacred Way is situated on a 100-acre preserve, where tourists can visit the interpretive center and museum, outdoor classroom, trading post full of only Native-made products and even become a caretaker of some of their horses. 

“Our intent and hope is that it is a life-changing experience for visitors,” Yvette said. 

MSNHA interim director Carrie Barske said Sacred Way and MSNHA – which includes Franklin County in its six-county region – will “partner on educational events and programs such as sponsoring Native American speakers and other community activities that help preserve native history and culture.”