South Carolina Tribes

South Carolina Tribes such as the Catawba, Pee Dee, Edisto, Santee, and Yamasee, among others, lived along its rivers, coasts, and piedmont regions long before European colonization.

The Catawba Nation, known as the “People of the River,” is the only federally recognized tribe in the state and has maintained a continuous presence despite war, disease, and forced land loss. Other tribes, like the Pee Dee and Waccamaw, are state-recognized and continue to fight for federal recognition and cultural preservation.

Though colonization and displacement scattered many communities, South Carolina’s tribes remain rooted in their heritage, reviving languages, celebrating traditions, and asserting their identities in a land that still bears the imprint of their ancestors.

FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
(Federal List Last Updated 5/16)

Catawba Indian Nation (Catawba Tribe of South Carolina)

STATE RECOGNIZED TRIBES
(Not recognized by the Federal Government)

Beaver Creek Band of Pee Dee Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/26/1998.State recognized 2006.

Chaloklowa Chickasaw Indian People. Letter of Intent to Petiion 8/14/2002. State recognized 2005.

Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois & United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc. (aka Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina or ECSIUT, recognized 2005.

Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe of South Carolina (petitioned as Four Holes Indian Organization, Edisto Tribal Council)

Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/14/2005. State recognized 2005.

Pee Dee Tribe of South Carolina, recognized 2005.

Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina

Piemont American Indian Association of South Carolina. Letter of Intent to Petition 8/20/1998.

Santee Indian Organization (formerly White Oak Indian Community). Letter of Intent to Petition 06/04/1979. State recognized 2006.

Waccamaw Indian People of Conway, South Carolina, recognized 2005. (petitioned as The Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People)

Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians

UNRECOGNIZED / PETITIONING TRIBES

Aquidneck Indian Council

? Edisto Tribe

Pokanoket Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/05/1994.

Pokanoket-Wampanoag Federation: Wampanoag Nation/Pokanoket Tribe and Bands. Letter of intent to petition 1/5/1998.

Rhode Island Indian Council

Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/29/1998.

? Summerville Indian Group

Wappinger Tribal Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 7/7/2003.

Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/15/2000.

FIRST CONTACT TO PRESENT

In 1520, Spanish explorer Lucas Vásquez Ayllón explored the area near Pawley’s Island. The group took about 140 Native Americans as slaves including one man they named Francisco Chicora.

Chicora was taken to Spain and taught Spanish. In 1523, he was brought back to the area to assist in establishing a colony, but escaped soon after his arrival. Following exploration of the coast in 1521 by Francisco de Gordillo, the Spanish tried unsuccessfully to establish a colony near present-day Georgetown in 1526.

The French also failed to colonize Parris Island near Fort Royal in 1562 with the assistance of the Cusabo Indians.

PRE-CONTACT CAROLINA TRIBES
PRE-HISTORIC CULTURES IN SOUTH CAROLINA

RESOURCES
Genealogy:Sources of records on US Indian tribes