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JIM: Who do you portray and what is your persona’s name.
TURTLE: White Turtle.
JIM: What is your real name:
TURTLE: (grinning) White Turtle.
JIM: (grinning too now, realizing how seriously he takes this hobby) How did you get the name White Turtle?
TURTLE: Actually it goes back to my childhood. My dad caught turtles for food and money, and they called him Big Turtle. When I started going with him, naturally I was Little Turtle.
JIM: How long have you been re-enacting?
TURTLE: since 1989. I first belonged to a group called AMM (American Mountain Men). I started as a fur trader for 4 or 5 years. From there I got interested in being an Eastern Long Hunter as it became more popular in the 90’s.
JIM: Then how did White Turtle come about?
TURTLE: (Slipping into his persona) As a four or five year old white child my family was killed in The French and Indian War. The French traded me to the Shawnees and after a while I was adopted by my Shawnee captors who raised me.
JIM: So you portray a Shawnee Indian.
TURTLE: No that is not quite so. I portray a captive white man who was raised as a Native American and learned to love their ways.
JIM: What time period do you like best in history.
TURTLE: 1750 to 1795 give or take a few years. In school, history was my worst subject. I just did not understand it - it was boring. But doing living history - now that is another story. Everything comes alive - in living color. I just can’t get enough of it. I read all the time and am on the internet as much as I can be. I learn something new every day.
JIM: Who are your favorite characters in history?
TURTLE: Simon Kenton as a pioneer. He was on a different path than Daniel Boone. And the native I admire most (and there are many) would be Chief Logan, followed by Tecumseh.
JIM: In closing what do you like about the whole re-enacting scene.
TURTLE: Well, I love the outdoors. I love to camp and doing it pioneer style is a blast. And of course I can’t get enough of the history. When talking living history to a group of students at our camp - just seeing their reactions is wonderful. And their parents - seeing their child’s reaction - opens their eyes to the way the pioneers lived.
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