User:Zackc28/sandbox
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 700 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( South Carolina) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Cherokee, historically Catawban languages | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Waccamaw, Cheraw, Catawba and other Siouan peoples |
The Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc. or ECSIUT is state-recognized Native American Indian group in the state of South Carolina under the SC Code Section 1-31-40 (A) (7)(10), Statutory Authority Chapter 139 (100-111) and obtained this status on February 17, 2005.
The ECSIUT is organized to promote interest in scholarly research, to foster accurate documentation and inspire genealogical, biographical and historical research and heraldry surrounding the Cherokee and other Native American Tribes and individuals of Native American descent of South Carolina.
Government
The tribe is governed by a chief, vice chief and nine member tribal council, all of which are elected.[1] Additionally, an elders council provides the tribal council with consultation and advice. Their tribal land is located in Orangeburg County.[citation needed]
History
Dating from the American Revolutionary War through to the late 20th century numerous sources and official government forms documented their people as being 'Indian'.[2] This greatly assisted the tribe in achieving state recognition in the early 21st century. This provided proof that their people had a continuity of cultural and ethnic identity after the American Revolutionary War and throughout the coming years.[1]
In the mid 19th century, their people filed a petition with the state of South Carolina on the behalf of Indian families residing near Edgefield County, South Carolina. The petition was in regards to the poll tax. More specifically, it inquired as to whether "persons of Indian descent are considered to be free persons of color".[3]
During mid 19th century censuses their people were recorded as "mulatto". Additionally, several early 20th century birth and death certificates designate their people's race as "Croatan".[3] This term was often used to denote a person of mixed Indian ethnicity. Many of their people were also recorded as "Indian" on World War I civil enlistments.
The Beaver Creek Indian people were also discussed in a 1948 article by Brewton Berry entitled "The Mestizos of South Carolina". Berry denotes what he calls "outcasts". He goes on to write that they were "not white", and further "do not fit into the biracial caste system". Their people were sometimes referred to by whites as "brass ankles" or "redlegs".[3]
Four Pines School for Indians was founded near Rocky Swamp sometime during the first half of the 20th century. Beaver Creek Indians attended the school as children up until the 1960s when South Carolina public schools were desegregated.[3] During documented interviews that took place around the start of the 21st century many Beaver Creek Indian elders shared that while growing up their families always felt the need to be as secretive as possible about being Indians. They went on to state that they were forbidden to speak publicly about being Indians.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d Hill, S. Pony (2009-12-31). Strangers in Their Own Land: South Carolina's State Indian Tribes. Backintyme. ISBN 9780939479344.