John Hodge (l), chair of the Greater Piedmont Chapter of the Explorers Club, congratulates Marcy Hayden, program coordinator for Native American Affairs at the SC Commission of Minority Affairs, on her interesting presentation. Marcy L. Hayden, program coordinator for Native American Affairs at the S.C. Commission of Minority Affairs, spoke to the Greater Piedmont Chapter of the Explorers Club in Columbia January 8. She is a USC anthropology graduate, a protégé of Dr. Jon Leader, SC State Archeologist.

Hayden's talk focused on how the Native American (Indian) population is mostly invisible now. The old stereotypes of feather headdresses, mocassins, war drums, and tomahawks no longer hold true. Indians dress, act, and look like everyone else today.

The history of America's original residents dates back over 20,000 years, far before 1492. In South Carolina there were complex societies of Cofitachiqui, Catawba, and Cherokee people who met the early Spanish, French, and English explorers. European diseases took a disastrous toll. Colonization and slavery led to intermarriage of the Native Americans with the white settlers and black slaves.

In 1830, the remaining Native People were forcefully removed from the state to the western territories. Those who refused to leave and could identify with either the white or black population did so and were assimilated. They became "invisible."

Since the 1970s, Native Americans have been reclaiming their heritage through federal recognition and state legislation. Tribes, bands, groups, and special interest organizations have been organized to make the people "visible" once again.

There are over 31,000 people in S.C. who report themselves as fully or partially Native American. The Catawba Indian Nation is the only federally- recognized tribe in S.C. State recognized tribes include Beaver Creek Indians, Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina, Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, Santee Indian Organization, and Waccamaw Indian People. State recognized groups are the Chaloklowa Chickasaw Indian People; Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of SC; Natchez Tribe of South Carolina; Pee Dee Indian Tribe of Beaver Creek; Piedmont American Indian Association - Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina; and the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians.

Hayden said the major problems facing Native Americans today are suicide, hunger, diabetes, TB, alcoholism, and unemployment. She suggests the situation can be improved if white, black, and Hispanic people and organizations meet with Native American leaders to seek an understanding of Native American cultures. Schools, churches, civic clubs, and social organizations should incorporate Native People and develop an educational component culturally sensitive to Native American history.

Marcy L. Hayden can be reached at 803-333-9621 Ext. 23 or

www.state.sc.us/cma.

The Greater Piedmont Chapter of the Explorers Club meets monthly for lunch and a presentation. For information, contact John Hodge at jhodge7ac@bellsouth.net.