|
June 16, 2008 - In what has become an annual event described as a “family reunion,” the Santee Indian Tribe opened its Holly Hill property to the public on Saturday for the Native American Fun Day.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, fresh off her Democratic primary victory last week for reelection to the House District 66 seat, was honored for her long-time support of native people in South Carolina with a traditional smudging ceremony.
The chiefs of several South Carolina Native American tribes and organizations carried out the smudging ceremony, which involves the burning of certain herbs and brushing the smoke over the individual with a feather. Native Americans believe the ceremony provides spiritual healing, helping to close up “dark holes” in the spirit and body. Smudging is also meant to be combined with a physical and spiritual cleansing of negative feelings or energy, and prayer.
Participants gathering at the 10.5-acre Santee Indian site were able to enjoy live gospel music performances, a moon walk and dunk tank and various concessions. T-shirts and other items were also on sale from several vendors.
Chief Roosevelt Scott of the Santee Indians, a state-recognized tribe by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs, said the Native American Fun Day served two purposes.
“We try to raise money through voluntary donations and the sales of T-shirts at this event,” Scott said. “We use it as a fund-raiser to help pay the light bill. It also serves the purpose of showing non-natives how we live. Years ago, we couldn’t be called an Indian, and just like the African-Americans, we’ve come up. We can now say we’re an Indian and we’re proud of it. We’re trying to better ourselves in the community, and let the community know we can stand on our own two feet.”
Frank Pye, an immediate past vice chief for the Edisto Indian Organization, said, “Events like this also serve to educate Native Americans themselves, because some don’t want to learn and some don’t want to listen unless they think it’s something they’re for.”
Cobb-Hunter said her support of the Santee Indians began with former Chief T.L. Scott, adding that she remains committed to the needs of and working with all of the state’s Native American communities.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is the legislation I sponsored which gave the Indian tribes statewide recognition,” Cobb-Hunter said. “There is a distinction between state and federal recognition, and it was something that took a few years for us to do on the state level, but the tribes worked very hard to gain state recognition. Federal recognition is such a cumbersome process, especially when you talk about the documentation that is required. The state process is cumbersome as well, but I thought it just made sense for us to look at the native communities and, as much as possible, provide them that opportunity.”
Cobb-Hunter added, “Retaining these native cultures is enriching for all South Carolinians because of the crucial role they played in our history, and frankly I feel not enough attention has been paid to the contributions they made. Sometimes we lose sight of that.”
The Santee Indians, a tribe Scott says is currently made up of approximately 700 members, were the recipient of a state grant to buy the Holly Hill tribal property. Scott said the purchase is only one part of an ongoing effort to meet the needs of his people.
“I got a grant of $41,000 from the state to buy this state property (10.5 acres), and Sen. John Matthews of Bowman helped us get the funds to purchase this property and the house on it,” he said. “Right now, we are in the process of rewriting our constitution in an effort to gain federal recognition so we can have our people come back into the area and create a viable Santee Indian community, complete with health care and other necessary items.”
Scott and others participating in Saturday’s Fun Day agreed that greater access to higher education is a significant need for the Santee and other South Carolina Indians. However, Chief James Caulder of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina noted further events like the Fun Day can help bring the cohesiveness needed for Native Americans to realize their goals.
“The reason events like this are important is because it symbolizes the unity we should have within our Native American communities,” Caulder said.
“We have one thing in common: we are all Native Americans, and we are all trying to bring about awareness of the native people that are inside the borders of South Carolina,” he added. “This includes bringing a greater understanding to our non-native communities about Indians. Although there is much to be done, people are becoming more aware of Native Americans in South Carolina and more accepting of what we’re doing.”
| 
