NC Native Americans Today

NC Native Americans Today

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Native Americans in North Carolina

Native people live, work, and go to school in every region of North Carolina. Many different native groups live in the state. Each native group is an ethnic group. An ethnic group is a group of people whose ancestors were from the same country, who are of the same race, or who share a way of life.

Open Ended

Review the definition of the term ethnic group. Besides American Indian groups, what do you think are some of the other ethnic groups in North Carolina?

Some native groups in North Carolina are recognized, or officially accepted, by the state as an American Indian group. The Meherrin, with about 550 members, form the smallest of these state-recognized groups. The Meherrin live in the Coastal Plain region, in Hertford, Bertie, and Gates Counties.

The next-largest state-recognized group is the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. This group has about 800 members. Most live in the Piedmont region, in Orange and Alamance Counties. The Sappony Indians of Person County also live in the Piedmont. Their group has about 850 members.

The Coharie Tribe has about 1,780 members. The Coharie live on the central Coastal Plain, mostly in Sampson and Harnett Counties. To the south of the Coharie live the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe. They live mostly in Bladen and Columbus Counties and have a population of about 2,000. The Haliwa-Saponi Tribe has about 3,800 members. They live mostly in Halifax and Warren Counties.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Lumbee are the largest state-recognized groups. About 13,400 North Carolinians belong to the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Most live in the Mountain region, in Swain, Graham, and Jackson Counties. About 52,500 North Carolinians are Lumbee. Most live on the Coastal Plain, in Robeson, Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland Counties.

Reorder

Compare and contrast the sizes and the locations of the North Carolina Tribes from LARGEST (1) to SMALLEST (5)

• Lumbee

• Cherokee

• Haliwa-Saponi

• Coharie

• Meherrin

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Many organizations in the state help American Indians. Among them are the Guilford Native American Association and the Triangle Native American Society, which help American Indian students. These organizations also provide support for American Indian businesses.

The Lumbee

The Lumbee are the largest American Indian group east of the Mississippi River. Almost half of North Carolina’s American Indians are Lumbee.

The Lumbee were recognized by the North Carolina state government in 1885. Since 1888, they have sent petitions to the United States government asking for federal, or national, recognition. A petition is a written request. Federal recognition would make the Lumbee eligible for funds and other support from the United States government.

Open Ended

Use the words petition in a sentence about American Indian groups.

In 1956, the United States Congress passed the Lumbee Act. This law recognized the Lumbee as an official American Indian group, but did not grant them any funds or services. In Nov. of 2020 the Lumbee Recognition Act was given unanimous approval by the U.S. House of Representatives paving the way for it to be sent to the Senate for approval.

Like many American Indian groups, the Lumbee hold powwows. At these gatherings, culture is celebrated through traditional songs, dances, stories, and games. Each spring and fall, the Lumbee hold powwows at Lumberton.

The Cherokee

The Cherokee are the largest American Indian group in the United States. The Cherokee in North Carolina are known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee. About one out of every four American Indians in North Carolina belongs to the Eastern Band of Cherokee.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee is the only American Indian group in the state that has full federal recognition. In North Carolina, most Cherokee live within the Qualla (KWAH•luh) Boundary, a Cherokee-controlled area of about 57,000 acres in western North Carolina.

The Qualla Boundary was set aside for the Cherokee by the United States government. The Cherokee’s unique written language can be seen throughout the Qualla Boundary and is taught in Cherokee schools.

Open Ended

Give an example of a way in which the Cherokee preserve their culture.

The Cherokee preserve and share their culture at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. The museum is located in the town of Cherokee.

Open Ended

Name THREE of the American Indian groups in North Carolina.