Friday, November 20, 2015

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the first Americans. North Carolina is rich in that heritage, said Susan Faircloth, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the Watson College of Education. The state is home to eight recognized tribal nations: Coharie, Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Ocaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan. Each has its own history and culture, explained Faircloth, an enrolled member of the Coharie Tribe.

“As an American Indian, I believe it is important to recognize the contributions of indigenous peoples to the founding and continued growth of this nation,” Faircloth said. “In the years to come, it is my hope that the state’s indigenous peoples will be increasingly integral partners with the University of North Carolina Wilmington as it continues its tradition of regional and community engagement.”

For those who want to know more, the federal government has a wealth of information about our nation’s Native American heritage. The presidential proclamation declaring Native American Heritage Month 2015 can be found here.

-- Tricia Vance

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