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Richardson, executive director of North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, was the speaker at the second annual American Indian Heritage Month at Halifax Community College Thursday.
Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr., president of HCC, said Gov. Beverly Perdue proclaimed November as American Indian Heritage Month in the state.
“Additionally, President Barack Obama proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month and designated Nov. 27 as Native American Heritage Day,” he said. “We are a little early.”
Griffin noted North Carolina’s American Indian population totals nearly 100,000. North Carolina has the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi and the eighth largest in the nation.
Eight tribes — Coharie, Eastern band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan — are in North Carolina.
Griffin added four additional American Indian organizations Cumberland County Association for Indian People, Guilford Native American Association, Metrolina Native American Association and Triangle Native American Association provide assistance and services to American Indian citizens.
Richardson said he was pleased the state had taken a lead with the proclamation. A native of Halifax County and a graduate of Aurelian Springs, Richardson was appointed executive director in 1995. In his remarks, he talked about American Indians statewide and nationally.
He applauded HCC for reaching out to American Indians. “A lot of institutions talk a good game about inclusion of cultural diversity,” Richardson said.
Richardson referred to Bernella DeLaMora, who is a Haliwa-Saponi Tribe member and a HCC board of trustees member. He noted he attended school with her. “It is important to have Bernella at the policy level,” he said.
“How many of you knew about the eight tribes,” Richardson said. “My goal today is to give some background on the tribes.”
Members of Haliwa-Saponi are located in Halifax and Warren counties with 3,800 members. It is the third largest tribe in the state.
Coharie is located in Sampson County.The Coharie community consists of four settlements: Holly Grove, New Bethel, Shiloh and Antioch.
Richardson said the Lumbee are seeking federal recognition with a bill currently in Congress.
In 1956, Congress passed House Resolution 4656, known as the Lumbee Act, which recognized the Lumbee as American Indians. However, the Act also specifically prohibited the Lumbee from receiving federal services ordinarily provided to federally recognized tribes through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The more than 55,000 members of the tribe reside primarily in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties.
Meherrin reside in a number of small communities in Hertford, Bertie, Gates and Northampton counties. They are the only non-reservated Indians in the state who live near the original reservation.
Sappony live along the border of North Carolina and Virginia in area known as the High Plains — part in Person County and Halifax, Va.
Waccamaw Siouan consist of more than 2,000 and is situated on the edge of Green Swamp about 37 miles west of Wilmington.
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation is located in Alamance and Orange counties. They are the smallest of the state recognized tribes.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is the only federally recognized tribe in the state.
Richardson talked about the role of the tribes in administering programs and maintaining tribal rolls. “Tribal business is not like it used to be,” he said. “It’s a high level position like a large public corporation.”
He gave advice on using the terms Native American and American Indian. “Check with them about the terminology used,” he said. “We use American Indian.”
This comes years after of treaties and volumes of general statutes, he said. The term Native American evolved in early the 1970s.
Richardson hopes to work on some collaborative efforts with the college in the future. “We would like to work with you to create programs and activities,” he said.
Richardson presented Griffin with the state proclamation. In an interview after his remarks, Richardson said the audience seemed very attentive. “The purpose today was to expose and educate about the American Indian culture.”
Adam Richardson read one of his poems. The Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School Dance team along with the Stoney Creek Drummers did several dances. Gwen Richardson, a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe and a teacher at the school, explained about the different dances, the school and tribe.
The audience was asked to stand during the grand entry, which showcased all of the dance styles.
An honor song was done where all veterans were asked to come on stage and march behind the lead dancer. “We want to pay tribute to those injured at Fort Hood, those currently serving and those no longer with us,” Gwen Richardson said.
Dance styles shown included the Grass Dance, the Jingle Dress Dance, the Ladies Fancy Shawl Dance and a Men’s traditional dance.
She emphasized the outfits the dancers were wearing weren’t costumes, but called regalia.
“A costume is normally worn one day of the year on Halloween,” she said. “We are American Indians 365 days of the year.”
She said it was a pleasure to present and educate people about the culture. “Some think Indians no longer exist,” she said. “We are still here and plan on staying.”
Empress Faison, an eighth grader at Roanoke Valley Early College, thought the event was educational and enjoyed seeing the different dance styles. “It made you think outside of your perspective,” she said.
Marquis Jones, a seventh grader, agreed. “I thought it was fun and entertaining,” he said. “We learned about so many different things.”
Jones added he would love to see the dancers again. “I would like to see the older adults because if the younger dancers do it that well, I would love to see how the adults do it.”
Roanoke Valley Early College Principal Monica Bernette Smith-Woofter thought it was a good event for the students. One of her students, Tyniesha Richardson, was one of the dancers.
She said, “It was good to see one of our students performing and being involved in the culture that can be passed on to the next generation.”
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