Working at the museum.
At the Cape Fear Museum, I collaborated on initiatives designed to expand public understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and resilience. Through exhibitions, educational materials, and community outreach, I helped create spaces where Indigenous stories are centered, honored, and shared with a wider audience.
This work focused on blending historical narratives with living culture, highlighting not only the past but the vibrant, ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities today. My goal was to make Indigenous voices visible, respected, and celebrated within museum spaces and beyond.
I was honored to receive a Stellar Award in recognition of my work on the field trip video, which uplifted the voices and stories of the Waccamaw Siouan people. The video was created to reflect the heart of our community, past, present, and future, and it was deeply meaningful to help shape a piece that centers Indigenous perspectives with authenticity, pride, and purpose.
What I do
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Over at the Cape Fear Museum, I'm on a mission to make sure Indigenous stories are front and center. We're reaching students across several counties with programs that show what modern tribal life really looks like - not just what's in history books. One of our most impactful projects came to life through an incredible partnership between NHC TV, the Cape Fear Museum, the Waccamaw Siouan STEM Studio, and the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe.
The day of filming was truly special. Tribal members came together to share their culture and way of life, bringing forward both traditional practices and contemporary experiences. From traditional dance performances to demonstrations of cultural practices and glimpses into everyday life, we captured authentic moments that powerfully reinforce the message that "we are still here."
This collaborative project did more than just create an educational video - it helped shift the narrative about Indigenous life in our region. Native voices deserve to be heard, honored, and placed at the forefront of their own storytelling. Through the dedication of every partner involved and the generous participation of tribal members, we created something that truly celebrates the living, breathing culture of the Waccamaw Siouan people. It's a perfect example of what can happen when organizations come together to support Indigenous representation done right.
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One of my most meaningful projects at the Cape Fear Museum centers around preserving and sharing the rich quilting traditions of the Waccamaw Siouan community. This isn't just about stitches and patterns – it's a story of survival, resistance, and community bonds that have stretched across generations.
Through intimate conversations with tribal members, I had the privilege of learning about the profound significance of quilting circles within the community. At the heart of our educational program stands the story of Ms. Lee, a remarkable Waccamaw Siouan quilter whose legacy continues to inspire. I was fortunate to work closely with her daughter, the late Ms. Virginia Caison, who generously shared stories, documents, and precious memories of her mother's work. Additional insights from Ms. Hattie about her Aunt Hattie, and perspectives from Brooke Moore, who grew up surrounded by these quilting traditions, helped paint a vivid picture of how these quilting circles served as spaces of both creativity and resistance.
Drawing from these rich oral histories and family memories, my team and I at the Cape Fear Museum developed an interactive quilting workshop that brings this tradition to life for young visitors. Children don't just learn about Ms. Lee's story – they get to experience a taste of the creativity and community spirit that filled those quilting circles. Using wooden quilt block pieces, each student creates their own unique design, contributing to a larger community quilt. It's beautiful to watch them understand how individual creativity, just like individual quilt blocks, comes together to create something bigger than themselves – just as it did in the traditional quilting circles of the Waccamaw Siouan community.
Through this hands-on experience, students not only learn about an important cultural practice but also connect with the very real people who kept this tradition alive through challenging times. It's more than a craft activity – it's a window into the resilience, creativity, and communal spirit of the Waccamaw Siouan people.
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As part of the exhibit team for Project Grace, I’ve had the honor of helping shape an exhibit that centers and celebrates Waccamaw Siouan history, culture, and identity. My role has included sourcing meaningful materials—from historical photos and artifacts to contemporary cultural items—that reflect the ongoing story of our people. I’ve worked to ensure that the exhibit presents a more complete and nuanced narrative: one that doesn’t just focus on the past, but highlights who we are today and the vitality of our living culture.
In addition to curatorial research and cultural sourcing, I’ve been actively involved in collaborative design meetings with the exhibit firm, contributing to visual concepts, layout discussions, and interpretive planning. I’ve also helped shape the exhibit label script to ensure that the language used throughout is accurate, inclusive, and reflective of our community’s voice.
This work is deeply personal to me. It’s about visibility, truth-telling, and making sure that museum spaces reflect the vibrancy and resilience of Indigenous communities, not as something frozen in time, but as present, evolving, and powerful.
Field Trip Video
