Keeping watch over the work is Charlotte Collins of Locustville, the *clan mother for the Assateague Indians of Virginia. From the early 1600s until around 1835, Indiantown Park served as a Native American reservation.

To this day, Native American's tell stories of events which occurred on the area ­ of how life was for those driven to seek refuge there as the Europeans took over the Shore. Those stories, most undocumented, have led Collins and others to believe there is much at Indiantown Park which should be protected and preserved.

To do so, however, the remains of the former inhabitants and their homesite must be identified.
"Before this was a reservation," Collins said Tuesday, standing on the gentle rise of what may be an Indian burial ground, "the Colonials got it from the Natives. They knew this mound was here and they kept it as a formal garden."

Through the centuries, the "garden" has remained undisturbed, its secrets ­ if any ­ hidden beneath the rich soil of the forest floor.

Ironically, to ensure its continued preservation, the mound is now, for the first time, being disturbed. But it is a disturbance being done in a highly scientific manner, with the ceremony and precautions provided by the senior clan mother.

"If there are human remains," Collins explained, "their spirit is still here."

And she said, to locate the remains would provide the impetus to move forward to establish the site as a sacred area, one to be respected and preserved, but also one to be used as an educational opportunity for the entire community.

Collins envisions Indiantown Park, already the site of annual pow wows and other tribal activities, as one day boasting a museum, gymnasium and observatory for community use. She also sees the importance of the 55-acre county-owned property being preserved as an important stopover for migratory fowl using the Atlantic Flyway ­ as well as by other creatures of the Creator.

"Forgive me, Little Sister," Collins said as she inadvertently disturbed a spider's nest while strolling through the canopied forest. A little farther down the path, Collins emerged at a small clearing, obviously a place of importance, judging by the placement of stones and the ribbons of fabric tied to low branches surrounding it.

Here, in November of 1998, the remains of 10 Native Americans which had been unearthed during an archeological dig at Arlington Plantation in lower Northampton County were laid to rest.

Here, the women of the Assateague Tribe planted corn from ancient seed, gifted to them from another dig.

Here, the Stone People, rocks which, as a creation of the "Creator have a part of the Creator in them," were placed to stand guard over the burial site.

Over the next few days, it may well become evident whether other human remains are within the park.

An archeological dig, being funded by Northampton County, began yesterday. What is found during the two-week project will determine if a more extensive study will be conducted.

Collins, who serves as the liaison between the county and the tribe, anticipates that will become a reality. She also hopes to be present for more digs in other areas of the Shore ­ and more reburials. According to Collins, there are currently 600,000 sets of Native American bones yet to be returned to the earth, 1,200 of which belong in Virginia. She also notes that 1,100 sites on the Eastern Shore have been identified as potential archeological finds, 85 percent of which are of Native American origin.
For now, she is happy to see the work begin at Indiantown Park and she is most grateful to Barry Randall, director of the Northampton County Parks and Recreation Department, for the role he has played in the project. County Administrator Lance Metzler also has won her admiration for his dedication to preserving the Native American ­ and the county's ­ heritage.

They, she said, share her dream for Indiantown Park.

"My dream," said Collins, "is to see it protected and honored and to be a place people with heritage here on the Shore can bring the pieces of the puzzle together."