Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe facts for kids
Official seal of the
Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe |
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| Named after | Halifax, Warren, and Saponi people |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1953 |
| Type | state-recognized tribe, nonprofit organization |
| Legal status | social advocacy organization; ethnic center; arts, culture, and humanities nonprofit, charity |
| Purpose | A23: Cultural, Ethnic Awareness |
| Location | |
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Membership
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4,300 |
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Official language
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English |
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Executive Director, Tribal Administrator
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Kathy Harris, Interim Tribal Administrator |
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Revenue (2020)
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$3,111,855 |
| Expenses (2020) | $2,915,7762 |
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Staff (2020)
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105 |
The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe is a Native American tribe located in North Carolina. They are recognized by the state of North Carolina but not by the United States federal government.
Their main office is in Hollister, North Carolina.
The tribe was first called the Haliwarnash Indian Club. They set up their current government in 1953. In 1965, North Carolina officially recognized them as a tribe. The Haliwa-Saponi have created schools and other groups to keep their culture and identity strong. Most tribal members are Protestant Christians, mainly Baptist and Methodist.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Haliwa comes from two counties: Halifax and Warren. It's like combining parts of two words to make a new one!
In 1979, the tribe added Saponi to their name. This was to show their connection to the historic Saponi people. The Saponi were part of the larger Siouan language family. They used to live in the Piedmont area of what is now Virginia and the Carolinas.
Who are the Haliwa-Saponi?
The Haliwa-Saponi tribe has a bit more than 3,800 members. About 80% of them live close to the small town of Hollister. This area is in Halifax and Warren counties. Some members also live in Nash and Franklin counties.
How the Tribe is Governed
The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe is led by an 11-member council. These members are elected by the tribe for three-year terms. The council includes an elected chief and a vice-chief.
Official Recognition
The state of North Carolina officially recognized the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe in 1965. In 1997, the state passed a new law that confirmed this recognition.
However, the Haliwa-Saponi are not recognized by the U.S. federal government. They have never officially asked for federal recognition.
In 2022, a North Carolina representative named G. K. Butterfield introduced a bill to support federal recognition for the tribe. He had tried to pass a similar bill in 2021, but it didn't become law.
Education and Community
Early Schools
In 1957, tribal members started the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School. The state helped fund it as a public school. At that time, other public schools were separated by race. The Haliwa-Saponi wanted their own school to keep their identity. This school closed in the late 1960s when public schools became integrated (meaning students of all races could attend together).
Modern Schools and Programs
In 1999, the tribe opened a new charter school in the same building. This school focuses on Haliwa-Saponi culture. It has grown over time and by 2007, it taught students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The tribe also opened the Haliwa-Saponi Day Care Center in 1977 for young children. Today, the tribe runs many programs for its members. These include housing help, cultural programs, and support for youth.
A Look at History
The Haliwa-Saponi people trace their family lines back to the Tuscarora, Nansemond, and Saponi tribes. These were Native American tribes from the Southeastern Piedmont region of North America.
The 1700s
In the early 1700s, wars and diseases from Europeans greatly reduced the Saponi population. The Saponi joined with other tribes and moved closer to Virginia's trade centers. They became allies with the colonists.
Around 1711, the Carolina colony went to war with the Tuscarora tribe. After the Tuscarora were defeated, many of them moved to New York. The Saponi made a new trade agreement with Virginia's governor.
In 1714, several small tribes, including the Saponi, joined together to form "The Saponi Nation." Even with this, disease continued to reduce their numbers. The Virginia Council asked the Nansemond tribe to join the Saponi. They hoped these combined groups could protect Virginia's settlements.
Fort Christanna
To protect its borders, Virginia built Fort Christanna. This fort was meant to defend the colony and also to educate and convert the Saponi and other groups to Christianity. It was also a major trading post. About 70 Saponi children were educated there.
Changes in Trade and Migration
By 1717, the trading company running Fort Christanna was shut down. The Saponi Nation continued peaceful trade. Some Saponi stayed near the fort, while others moved north into Virginia.
Historians believe the modern Haliwa-Saponi tribe came from a group that formed in the 1730s. This was a difficult time for Native American trade. Smaller tribes came together to keep their culture alive.
Some Saponi moved south to live with the Catawba tribe in South Carolina. But they returned to the Fort Christanna area a few years later. They found that colonists had taken their traditional lands. So, the Saponi made agreements with Virginia for new lands.
Many Saponi moved to North Carolina with traders and settlers. They settled in what are now Halifax and Warren counties. During the 1730s and 1740s, and through the American Revolution, the Saponi married people from European and African backgrounds. However, Saponi mothers raised their children in Saponi culture. After the Revolution, they kept their separate identity and mostly married within their own community.
The 1800s
Throughout the 1800s, the Haliwa-Saponi kept their community strong in Halifax, Warren, Nash, and Franklin counties. They mostly married within their tribe. They became Christians and established churches, like Jeremiah Methodist Church in the 1870s.
After the American Civil War, public schools were created. However, they were segregated, meaning white and black children went to separate schools. People of mixed heritage were often classified as "black." Haliwa-Saponi children were forced to attend schools with African American children. After 1877, the Haliwa fought for their own Indian schools. They also started to organize their tribal government more formally.
With the rise of Jim Crow laws in the late 1800s, the Haliwa-Saponi and African Americans lost their right to vote. The Haliwa continued to work hard to build and keep their separate cultural groups. These efforts led to the state approving Indian schools like Bethlehem School (1882) and Secret Hill School.
The 1900s
In the early 1900s, more African American workers moved into the Haliwa-Saponi area. Some Haliwa wanted separate places of worship and started St. Paul's Baptist Church, which was all-Indian until the 1950s.
Later in the 20th century, the local Indian schools closed. In the 1940s, tribal leaders tried to have birth certificates show their American Indian ethnicity. But the state only classified people as "black" or "white."
The tribe organized in the 1940s as the Haliwarnash Indian Club, later shortened to Haliwa Indian Club. In 1979, they changed their name to include "Saponi." In 1956, the Haliwa-Saponi joined the National Congress of American Indians.
Haliwa-Saponi Today
Tribal Organization
In 1953, the tribe reorganized its government into its current structure. Leaders like John C. Hedgepeth and Chief Jerry Richardson helped make this happen.
After the US Supreme Court ruled against school segregation in 1954, North Carolina allowed communities to create private schools. The Haliwa-Saponi used this to build and run the private Haliwa Indian School from 1957 to 1969. Only Indian children attended this school. The state later provided money for teacher salaries, and tribal members paid for other costs.
In 1957, the Haliwa Indian Tribe built the Saponi Indian Church, now called Mt. Bethel Indian Baptist Church. In 1965, North Carolina officially recognized the Haliwa Indian Tribe. In 1967, the Haliwa opened their annual Pow-wow to the public. They added "Saponi" to their tribal name in 1979.
Programs and Services
In 1974, the Haliwa-Saponi became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their goal is to protect the interests and culture of the Haliwa-Saponi people.
The tribe has built a modern headquarters and a multipurpose building. They offer many programs and services for their members. These include tribal housing, daycare, senior citizen programs, and cultural activities. They also have after-school and youth programs.
In 2000, the Haliwa-Saponi opened the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School. About 98% of its students identify as American Indian. This public charter school follows North Carolina's curriculum. It offers small classes, technology, and American Indian studies. In 2020, 161 students were enrolled.
Tribal Activities
Annual Powwow
The Haliwa-Saponi host an annual powwow every year. It takes place on the third weekend in April at the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School dance grounds. They started this powwow in 1965 to celebrate their state recognition. The powwow is a big celebration of their culture and community. It is funded by ticket sales, donations, and grants.
Cultural Programs
The tribe also has a cultural program for all ages. It's held at the tribe's multipurpose building. This program teaches pottery, beadwork, dance, drumming, and Haliwa-Saponi history. They also take day trips to important cultural places.
Famous Haliwa-Saponi People
- Cameron Lynch, an American football player. He played as a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Brooke Simpson, a singer who was a contestant on the TV show The Voice.
