Bent’s Fort Chapter Annual Meeting January 9th

The Bent’s Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association will hold its Annual Meeting on January 9th at the JW Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum in Las Animas, CO.  The Museum is located at 560 Bent Avenue (corner of Hwy 50 and 5th St.).  The general meeting will start at 11 AM.  At 1 PM, following the meeting and lunch, there will be a presentation by Ken Weidner a farmer and rancher from Copeland, Kansas.

When Ken is not farming, you won’t find him at the coffee shop as he is usually researching or making reproduction Plains Indian artifacts.  Ken’s interest began in grade school when he first began reading about the Fur Trade and various battles of the Indian Wars.  His main interest lies with the Southern Cheyenne, but also include the surrounding tribes, both friend and foe alike.

Ken has taken the hobby from simply reading, to learning how to tan hides, make beadwork, silverwork, paint rawhide parfleche and many other craft forms.  His specialty is making Indian saddles and horse tack.  Yes, although Indians did ride bareback, they also made and used saddles.  By learning to actually make items, it helps him learn how they lived their life.   Ken and several other of his friends, also set up tipi camps where they continue their search for answers.   By wearing the clothing, sleeping on buffalo robes, riding Indian style saddles, and eating the foods of the time period, they learn more than could ever be learned from a book.

Come learn about the art of making Indian wares along with the knowledge of the Indian way of life Ken has gained through his craft.

The public is invited at 1 PM to hear Ken’s talk.  If you have any questions, please call Pat Palmer 719-931-4323.

The Bent’s Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Santa Fe Trail and to promote awareness of the historical legacy associated with it.