South Carolina tribes observe Native American Awareness Day

Tuesday, November 19, 2013  

Tribal leaders and members in South Carolina celebrated Native American Awareness Day on Monday.

South Carolina is home to one federally-recognized tribe -- the Catawba Nation -- and eight state-recognized tribes. The latest is the Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, whose status became official this week.

"We had to hide our identity — to be someone, to be able to own land, to be able to vote, to be a person,” Cheraw Chief Ralph Oxendine said at the celebration, The State newspaper reported.

The South Carolina Legislature recognized November 18 as Native American Awareness Day and November as National Native American History Month.

Get the Story:
SC to recognize eighth Native American tribe (The State 11/18)