COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a recent proclamation, governor Henry McMaster declared November Native American Heritage Month.
It’s something Joshua Shumak with the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs (CMA) says is important to recognize.
“It's just a time of recognizing them, putting awareness to them, because it's such a small population in one of the fastest growing states. That is great to see that the governor coming to address this and commune with the Native tribes,” Shumak said.
The month is set to recognize all the contributions Native Americans have made and continue to make in the Palmetto State.
“It's something about culture and something very unique to the state. We have people in communities in the state that have existed before the United States was even founded. We have community that were contacted by the British government, that had treaties with the British government, and we have some of these cultural practices and traditions that have spanned thousands of years being practiced in your backyard with people that are your neighbors,” Shumak said.
Currently, South Carolina has 10 recognized tribes, four state recognized groups and one special interest organization. The CMA says about 11, 000 people in the state identify as Native American.
“We are still here, and we want to let people know that we’re still here, and we’re really not going anywhere," Chief Eric Pratt, said. "We just want a lot more people to just see us for who we are.”
Pratt is the Chief of the Santee Indian Organization. He says there are struggles the community faces, one of them being land.
“Native Americans don't have the land for being able to grow their own crops. These big developments step in and build houses everywhere and take up a lot of the farm land throughout the state,” Pratt said.
The CMA says Native Americans contribute to the state in many ways.
“We have veterans from native tribes, and the native tribes and native people contribute to the army in far larger numbers in comparison to any other population group, and they hire in our community. They are business leaders, they are nonprofit leaders, and they also want to contribute to a more equitable and better society for South Carolina,” Shumak said.
November 29th has been declared as South Carolina’s Native American Heritage Day.