Pennsylvania Battle Re-enactors Up in Arms Over Fighting Ban

[Timber Rattler]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pennsylvania-battle-re-enactors-up-in-arms-over-fighting-ban/ar-AA176nSP?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=9ac490a1d0774a4195f6f5bd5ad10622&fbclid=IwAR0qTlxSQms018TiafAHnfcEd9kM4g9OUYzCxcD4JLCxJUGO_NxTUrc7f2I

A new rule in Pennsylvania that will require re-enactors of a 1763 battle to lay down their weapons is drawing fire from a local historical society, the latest skirmish in the re-enactment world, which has been diminishing as hobbyists get older and sensitivities about restaging historical events have grown.

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission said last month that it will no longer permit re-enactments on the 23 sites it owns in the state that involve the exchange of fire from weapons, the taking of casualties and hand-to-hand combat, “or any other form of simulated warfare or violence between opposing forces.” The commission said it made the change to align with National Park Service policy.

The announcement opened a new front in a dispute with the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, which said it would have to cancel a battlefield re-enactment it has put on every August for the past 40 years as part of a commemoration of a battle between British troops and Native Americans that took place during Pontiac’s Rebellion, just after the French and Indian War. At a community meeting on Sunday at Bushy Run Park 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, community members and local lawmakers also decried the new rule.

“This is not just a pretend weekend,” said Rob Malley, a board member of the local group, which touts the educational value of the event. “If this all stands, we have to reinvent ourselves.”

EXCERPT

[Kamaji]

[mountaineer]

Bushy Run is near me. I know my sister has attended. Many of the same reenactors participate in a different soldiers/settlers vs. Indians battle during Ft. Henry days in Wheeling, WV, and it's amazing.

This decree from the Pa. Historical Commission is an utter travesty.

[Timber Rattler]

Here's the whole story, following the links, of how this nonsense came about:

Concerns voiced as reenactors replay Penn Township battle of British, Native Americans

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/concerns-voiced-as-reenactors-replay-penn-township-battle-of-british-native-americans/

Bonnie Ramus, president of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society that operates the historic site and organizes reenactments there, said she received a request Friday afternoon to cancel the two-day battle reenactment, as many reenactors already were setting up their encampments.

Ramus said the phone call came from officials of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which oversees the site. It was prompted by a complaint from an out-of-state resident of Native American heritage who reportedly considers portrayals there of Native Americans by non-Natives as disrespectful.

With decades of precedent behind the annual reenactment, and given the fact that reenactors already were at the site, Ramus said she declined to cancel the event, which continues Sunday.

State officials: Bushy Run staff must consult with Native groups before staging reenactments

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/state-officials-bushy-run-staff-must-consult-with-native-groups-before-staging-reenactments/

If historic Bushy Run Battlefield Park intends to host future reenactments or programs portraying Native Americans, park management first will have to consult with appropriate Native groups.

That’s the policy of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which oversees the Penn Township park. The commission says it also must approve of any such activities in writing.

Questions about Bushy Run’s reenactments arose when a man who lives in another state and is of Native American heritage contacted the state historical commission to say he considered portrayals of Native Americans by non-Native reenactors at the park to be disrespectful, according to Bonnie Ramus.

Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment canceled amid new state guidelines

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/bushy-run-battlefield-reenactment-canceled-amid-new-state-guidelines/

A new state policy may scuttle reenactments of the Battle of Bushy Run.

The battle was part of Pontiac’s War, a pan-Native campaign that opposed British settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. The British routed members of the Seneca, Cayuga and Lenape nations on Aug. 5-6, 1763.

It has been reenacted at Bushy Run for decades, but new state guidelines may curtail the annual reenactment in Penn Township and similar events at other Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission sites. The guidelines go into effect May 1.

“It’s a ‘no-force-on-force’ policy, which means we can’t have two opposing sides shooting at one another,” said Bonnie Ramus, president of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, which is responsible for the site’s day-to-day operations. “That’s what our battle is, and we’re the only recognized Native American battlefield in Pennsylvania — so taking that away from us really defeats our purpose.”

It also means the society will lose the centerpiece of the historical weekend held each summer and will have to make changes to what has been its most significant annual fundraiser. Ramus said money raised from more than 1,500 attendees makes up roughly 50% of the society’s annual budget.

“It will have a big impact on our fundraising,” Ramus said.

Bushy Run draws support after state halts annual reenactment

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/bushy-run-draws-support-after-state-halts-annual-reenactment/

In Rob Malley’s opinion, Bushy Run is experiencing its third battle.

The first battle occurred in August 1763 between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War. The second happened in 2009, when the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission threatened to close the historical Penn Township park that memorializes the battle.

Now, Bushy Run faces yet another battle, as the state commission has enacted new guidelines that bar the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society from hosting its annual battle reenactment, the park’s biggest fundraiser that draws dozens of historical reenactors and thousands of observers.

“This is the Battle of Bushy Run No. 3,” said Malley, who sits on the historical society’s board.

Malley and other historical society directors briefed the public on the new regulations and the park’s future during a meeting at the park Sunday afternoon.

It's entirely punitive after the Bushy Run Heritage Society refused to cancel the reenactment because of a single out-of-state complaint a day before the reenactment last August.

[mountaineer]

 

[Kamaji]

and is of Native American heritage

What does that even mean?  Most likely it means that great-great-grandma was a native, but otherwise, the family has ignored its native ancestry until this bleep did some research on ancestry.com and discovered it.

[Cyber Liberty]

What does that even mean?  Most likely it means that great-great-grandma was a native, but otherwise, the family has ignored its native ancestry until this bleep did some research on ancestry.com and discovered it.

Hold on a minute...I need to give Liz Warren a quick call....

[Kamaji]

Hold on a minute...I need to give Liz Warren a quick call....

Exactly.

[DefiantMassRINO]

 

So, the French and Indian War of 1763 is being re-marketed as the French and Indian Group Hug of 1763?

[mountaineer]

So, the French and Indian War of 1763 is being re-marketed as the French and Indian Group Hug of 1763?

They'll meet in a field and braid each other's hair.

[Kamaji]

So, the French and Indian War of 1763 is being re-marketed as the French and Indian Group Hug of 1763?

Basically.  Or, more likely, it'll be re-branded as another instance of white supremacy destroying the peaceful lives of superior non-white natives.

[Fishrrman]

Not to worry.

Before too many more years pass, these "re-enactors" may get the opportunity to "go to battle" in their native land... but this time, for real.

[Timber Rattler]

UPDATE:

PHMC is in hot water with state legislators now.  Turns out that it was a couple of PHMC staff flunkies making those kinds of arbitrary decisions behind closed doors without bringing their proposals to the Commission for votes.

Local lawmakers join ‘battle’ to bring back Bushy Run reenactments

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/local-lawmakers-join-battle-to-bring-back-bushy-run-reenactments/?fbclid=IwAR0YoIvy4s_O247feZ-wO2oqwJU58XyGWojiPvxJW3weIPdxvDntovMO9cQ

Local lawmakers are pressing the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for more transparency and a possible reversal of its decision to end Bushy Run’s annual battle reenactment.

As a result of her and other lawmakers’ actions, state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, is hopeful that PHMC’s “no force-on-force” policy will at least be put to a vote by its own commission before it could take effect.

Ward — whose district includes the Penn Township battlefield where the British and Native Americans fought during Pontiac’s War in 1763 — said her goal is to see Bushy Run’s 260th reenactment take place in August and “move forward from there.”

“When decisions affect a community … (they need) to be transparent, and there needs to be input,” Ward said.

EXCERPT.

[Timber Rattler]

PHMC's side of the story, which makes no sense.

Pa. agency explains why it enacted new 'no force-on-force rule' for Bushy Run, other sites

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/pa-agency-explains-why-it-enacted-no-force-on-force-rule-for-bushy-run-other-sites/

The end to battle reenactments at Bushy Run Battlefield has left many members of the community saddened and frustrated.

But in Harrisburg, officials with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission consider the new “no force-on-force” policy a positive for state history.

“There are more impactful and safer educational methods through which we can teach the public about the complex mix of ideas, events, social structures, etc. that led to violent conflict,” PHMC external affairs director Howard Pollman wrote via email.

Pollman provided further details on why PHMC decided to enact the policy that halts the annual Penn Township reenactment that commemorates the August 1763 battle between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War.

As one of PHMC’s partner properties, Bushy Run relies on PHMC to oversee its strategic and interpretive direction. The site’s day-to-day operations are managed by the volunteer-based Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society.

(snip)

Because the decision fell in the field of professional interpretation, it was made by PHMC staff and was not voted on by PHMC’s commission that includes elected officials and other state leaders.

(snip)

During a public meeting on Jan. 29, Bushy Run leaders acknowledged PHMC’s consideration to delay the policy, but expressed they felt they had to cancel the 260th reenactment.

This is because, also in mid-January, Bushy Run leaders said PHMC staff told them that, effective immediately, they would no longer be allowed to have non-Native reenactors portray Native Americans at the site, according to Rob Malley, who sits on the heritage society’s board.

In past Bushy Run reenactments, most reenactors were not Native American. There are no federally recognized tribes in Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Representatives from federally recognized tribes attended the mid-January meeting with Bushy Run and PHMC leaders, according to Malley. During the meeting, the representatives told Bushy Run leaders that “they and others would not be available for our reenactment,” Malley said.

“That’s a reenactment without Native Americans that we were allowed to have,” he said. “That’s not much of a reenactment.”

Subsequently, Bushy Run leaders came to the conclusion that there was “no solution in holding a battle reenactment … with PHMC approval,” Malley told the public.

However, Pollman said that PHMC informed Bushy Run leaders that it intended to provide the funding to include Native American interpreters in the planning and implementation of Bushy Run’s 260th anniversary event.

EXCERPT.

[Smokin Joe]

They need to go to a Trapper's Rendezvous...in Germany.

Or are they banned from 'going native' for the event, too?

[Timber Rattler]

UPDATE:  PHMC backed down, at least for 2023:

'We're back': Bushy Run's 2023 battle reenactment will be held

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/were-back-bushy-runs-2023-battle-reenactment-will-be-held/?fbclid=IwAR1nNo8cOCXLCV518a3_8opI1hI9CzjMFUpnJyZnu6ksCeOU5S_1nTEiKMU

This year’s Battle of Bushy Run reenactment is back on after Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission members unanimously voted to allow the Penn Township site to hold the event this August.

The fate of future reenactments has yet to be determined. The commission plans to conduct a study and hold discussions to determine the reenactment’s status in 2024 and beyond.

About 20 Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society volunteers and supporters journeyed three hours to attend the meeting Wednesday morning in the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The crowd burst into applause upon the vote.

“We’re back,” said Rob Malley, a heritage society board member who has been a leading voice in the fight to preserve the reenactment. “(Now) we’re going to need the public’s support to show (the reenactment’s necessity to) PHMC.”

In January, commission staff members told Bushy Run they intended to adopt a no force-on-force policy at all PHMC sites. The policy, which was adopted from the National Park Service, deems force-on-force reenactments “disrespectful.”

Bushy Run leaders also were told that non-Native reenactors could no longer portray Native Americans at the site.

The no force-on-force standard resulted in the heritage society earlier this year announcing the cancellation of this year’s reenactment. Bushy Run’s largest annual fundraiser, the event portrays the 1763 battle between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War.

The commission’s decision provoked backlash from community members and local lawmakers, the latter of which pushed PHMC to put the no force-on-force policy to a vote. Because the initial decision fell in the field of professional interpretation, it was made by commission staff and was not voted on by the 12-person commission, which includes elected officials and other state leaders.

Sen. Michele Brooks, R-Mercer County, who sits on the commission, expressed hope that the group will be involved in future conversations as the group is tasked with crafting a policy.

“I agree with you that history will be forgotten if we don’t have folks like you and reenactments and a commitment to preserve history — not dilute or erase history,” Brooks said to the crowd at the meeting.

Before the vote, about 10 people publicly addressed the commission. Speakers included Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield; David King, leader of the Southwest Pennsylvania chapter of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism; and Bonnie Ramus, president of the Bushy Run heritage society board.

None of the speakers spoke in favor of the no force-on-force standard. In their allotted two minutes, each speaker took time to share the battle reenactment’s impact on their life, the community or local history.

Now, at least one more reenactment will take place Aug. 5 and 6. As part of the commission’s vote Wednesday, the heritage society bears full responsibility if a problem occurs during the reenactment.

Ramus said Bushy Run folks are “thrilled” by Wednesday’s decision. She hopes the reenactment will continue for years to come.

“The expression of the history known as the Battle of Bushy Run has been held at the site for the past 40 years,” Ramus told the commission before the vote, “and our effort is to continue for another 40.”

[Smokin Joe]

As for: "Bushy Run leaders also were told that non-Native reenactors could no longer portray Native Americans at the site."

Pity all those wokesters never heard the phrase "Imitation is the highest form of flattery."

I guess they'd rather be offended.

My people may have originated in Europe, but were well entrenched on these shores long before These United States came into being. How come we aren't "native Americans"? We were here before the country, too. Maybe capitalizing the 'N' in "native" makes that much difference.

But the idea that humans developed in this hemisphere AND in Africa nearly simultaneously, (even though no early hominid fossils have been found in the Americas) would be a bit too much simultaneous evolution for even the most hardcore Darwinist. (that whenever, by whatever mechanism, humans migrated to this continent, whether it be from the descendents of primordial ooze in Africa, The Garden of Eden (evicted!), or the foot of the Tower of Babel, it sure appears that the people who were here when that Erikson fellow sailed up moved in from somewhere west of there.