Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation facts for kids
Official seal of the
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation |
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| Named after | Occaneechi and Saponi people, Eno River |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1984, 1996 (nonprofit) |
| Type | state-recognized tribe, nonprofit organization |
| Legal status | Arts, culture, and humanities nonprofit, charity |
| Purpose | A23: Cultural, Ethnic Awareness |
| Location | |
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Membership (2018)
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2,000+ |
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Official language
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English |
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President
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Vickie Jeffries |
The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation is a Native American tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina. They first formed in 1984 as the Eno Occaneechi Indian Association. They changed their name in 1994. The tribe believes they are descendants of the historic Occaneechi and Saponi people, along with other Native American groups who spoke Siouan languages. These groups lived in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and Virginia long ago.
The tribe has an office in Mebane. Here, they run programs that help their more than 2,000 members. John "Blackfeather" Jeffries, who passed away in 2023, was the chairperson for many years.
Contents
Historical Connections of the Tribe
There isn't much old paperwork directly linking current tribe members to the ancient Occaneechi and Saponi tribes. After wars in the Southeast during the 1700s, most of the remaining Saponi people moved north. In 1740, some Saponi went to Shamokin in Pennsylvania to find safety with the Haudenosaunee.
By 1711, most Saponi had moved with the Cayuga people to an area near Ithaca, New York. Some stayed in Pennsylvania until 1778. After the American Revolution, they moved to Canada with the Iroquois, as they had been allies of the British.
After these migrations, the Saponi seemed to disappear from historical records in the Southeast. This might be because official records often didn't have a way to identify Native Americans. Instead, people were sometimes listed in other ways, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
If some Saponi stayed in North Carolina, they would have blended into the local communities. The community that claims descent from these tribes is located in the old "Little Texas" area of Pleasant Grove Township. The tribe now owns 25 acres (10 hectares) of land there. In the 1900s, this community worked hard to learn and keep Native American cultural traditions alive.
How the Tribe Works as a Nonprofit
In 1996, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation became a nonprofit organization. This means they are a group that works for a special purpose, not to make money. Vickie Jeffries is the main leader of this organization. Their main goal is "to bring awareness and recognition of the Occaneechi Indians."
State Recognition in North Carolina
The state of North Carolina set up a way to officially recognize Native American tribes. They created the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs (NCCIA) in 1971. In January 1990, the Occaneechi Band, then called the Eno Occaneechi Indian Association, asked the NCCIA to recognize them.
However, in 1995, the NCCIA's committee said no to their request. They felt there wasn't enough proof connecting the group to the historical tribes it claimed. The committee said the group "failed to meet the required five of eight criteria" and couldn't show a clear link to a North Carolina Indian tribe for at least the last 200 years.
In 1996, the Occaneechi Band challenged this decision. After a year and a half of discussions, a judge recommended that the NCCIA committee should recognize the tribe. But in June 1999, the NCCIA committee again decided against state recognition. The Occaneechi Band then took their case to the Orange County Superior Court, which sided with the NCCIA.
Finally, in August 2001, Judge Loretta Copeland Biggs made an important ruling. She said that the commission had not made its final decision within the correct time. Because of this, the judge's earlier recommendation stood. This meant the Occaneechi Band was officially recognized by the state of North Carolina.
Seeking Federal Recognition
The Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation also tried to get recognized by the U.S. federal government. In 1995, they sent a letter saying they planned to ask for this. Another group, the Eno-Occaneechi Tribe of Indians, sent a similar letter in 1997. However, neither group submitted all the necessary paperwork to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to complete their request.
Tribe Activities
The Occaneechi Band bought 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of farmland. This land is part of their Homeland Preservation Project. On this land, they built a copy of Occaneechi Town, an 1880s-style farm, and a 1930s-style farm. They also have a dance ground and a pavilion. They officially opened this land in April 2022.
The tribe hosts their yearly powwow on this land. It takes place on the second weekend in June. The location is on Dailey Store Road, about ten miles (16 km) north of Mebane.
See also
In Spanish: Banda Occaneechi de la Nación Saponi para niños
