American Indians return to tradition
Law allows chiefs to perform marriage ceremonies
By Yvonne Wenger
The Post and Courier
Gov. Mark Sanford (center) introduces himself to the American Indians on hand for the signing of two bills - one allowing chiefs and spiritual leaders to perform marriage ceremonies and one removing restrictions on the type of feathers that can be used in arts and crafts - in Columbia on Tuesday. Among those looking on is Ben Thompson (right) vice chief of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina.
COLUMBIA — Americans Indians came to the Statehouse dressed in buckskin and beaded regalia Tuesday when Gov. Mark Sanford ceremoniously restored one very sacred right.
"It's a big step forward — we've been underprivileged for too long," Santee Indian Chief Roosevelt Scott said of the authority recently returned to tribe chiefs and spiritual leaders to perform marriage ceremonies.
The Legislature passed a bill, signed by the governor last month, that makes the addition to the short list of people with the authority to conduct a marriage ceremony in the state. The others are ministers, rabbis and officers, such as judges, granted the right to administer oaths.
Chief Louie Chavis of the Beaver Creek Indians in Orangeburg County was one of the bill's advocates.
"It is something that will bring our community back together," said Chavis, who said the last tribal ceremonies were legally conducted here in the early 1800s. Chiefs have continued to perform marriages but needed to sign off as registered notaries prior to the bill going into effect in June.
An estimated 27,000 American Indians live in South Carolina, although that number is believed to be highly underestimated, according to Marcy Hayden, program coordinator for Native American Affairs at the state Commission for Minority Affairs.
The demand for tribal wedding ceremonies is hard to predict, but Chief James Caulder of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina said he believes the new law will help pique interest.
"I do believe now young Indian maidens or Indian braves will want to have an Indian wedding," Caulder said.
Susan Hayes Hatcher of Conway, acting chief of the Waccamaw Indian People, and her husband, Harold "Buster" Hatcher, became the first couple married under the new law.
Chief Gene Norris of the Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina performed the ceremony at a powwow in Gray Court.
The crowd at the Statehouse also was excited about a second bill Sanford ceremoniously signed Tuesday that allows American Indian artists to use wild turkey feathers in the arts and crafts they are selling.
Using turkey feathers in crafts for sale was illegal until June 11, when the new law went into effect.
Lisa Leach, tribal admin-istrator for the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians in the Charleston area, said the next big mission is to educate the state about what it means to be an American Indian.
"We live in both worlds," said Leach, who also is a member of the state Native American Advisory Board. "We are contemporary natives because we have lived in a contemporary society, but we maintain our belief and culture."
Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.
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jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Santee Indian Chief Roosevelt Scott
Ok,, now I remember, the Roosevelt Indian tribe that was very well known through out SC.
July 16, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IHATEINBEV (anonymous) says...
I'M GLAD TO HEAR SOMETHING GOOD HAS ACTUALLY COME OUT OF THE POLITIANS, AND I AM ACTUALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME NATIVE AMERICANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT STILL WANT TO BE TRUE TO THERE HERITAGE. I GUESS I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT ANY NATIVE SC TRIBES STILL BEING AROUND. MAYBE THEY SHOULD DO MORE TO REMIND ALL OF US ABOUT THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
July 16, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
common_sense (anonymous) says...
I hear that indian rap, talkin' bout smackin' squaws & takin' scalps. All they seem to care about is the wampum.
Darn indian kids.
I'm just sayin...
July 16, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
CB, if you call Mrs Beer a squaw, she'd beat you. Lol
July 16, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
I think a squaw is a de-flowered maiden. I think it's telling that congress has such tight control over something that is a religious function. They not only control it tightly, they charge for it.
July 16, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
red_rider (anonymous) says...
As an archaeologist here in South Carolina who studies the Native Americans of the region it is good to see the state recognize the presence of these peoples publicly and to see that non Native Americans are interested in their history. Most residence and tourist to the state are well versed in the colonial, antebellum, and civil war history of the region, but most do not recognize the extensive history of Native Americans which dates back 15,000 years. Most people in Charleston do no realize that the area was inhabited extensively prior to the arrival of Europeans and that the capital used to build the plantations in the South Carolina colony came from both trade with and of Native Americans.
July 16, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
Yes jeff, the Scott tribe and Norris tribe very well known, anybody else sick of white people who's great grandfather or great great grandmother, was native American automatically think they are pure blooded cherokee???
July 16, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STREETLAW (anonymous) says...
Sanford gone mad. Rule of law cast aside. When these people accepted citizenship did they not subscribed to the American way of doing things.
What's next? Giving people the right to be married by a witch doctor? Giving atheist the right to just say they are married. It may be a short list now but this would certainly seem to open the door for the ACLU to make it much longer.
My understanding is there is a community near Beaufort where polygamy is openly practiced and you never hear of the Governor cracking down on it. He doesn't want the rest of the world to know just how backwards South Carolina is.
If Sanford want to really help the Indians, how about a nice casino and thoroughbred race track in the Santee area. With the traffic from I-95 and I-26 it would be a tremendous draw from surrounding states. Oh yes, be sure to let some of the money go to education.
Here's another good idea. Let people live where they want to and pay taxes to any country they desire, or just be citizens of the world? By example, why should anyone have to be a citizen of France just because they are born in France?
And why should they have to leave France to claim to be a citizen of the USA? Is it really government for the people or does the government OWN the people? You already know the answer.
Reminds me of a poem I once wrote. It's called Free.
Free?
Gaudy contradiction, tinsel on a tree.
Where is the one who is truly free?
A God without a universe to care for-
Never was and never shall be.
July 16, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
so because your 1/4 native American you think you should be entitled all these benefits? thats ridiculous! what about the 75% of a persons heritage? i guess that is all thrown out the window? should everybody with with irish ancestry get bennies to since they were treated bad as well? Jewish ancestry too? let's see, my mother is half puerto rican so that makes me 1/4, can i get hispanic scholarships and affirmative action laws to benefit me? probably, but again i think its ridiculous!
July 16, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
red_rider (anonymous) says...
How many benefits do you think Native Americans get for being registered as such? As a group they are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, across the board. Not to mention the treatment they are still subjected to by the US government; including stealing of tribal lands (yes it is still happening look as Sen. McCain's involvement energy consortium's attempts to exploit resources on Navajo lands)or the pilfering by the government of a trust fund set up a century ago for native groups. I think it is a small price to allow these people to define themselves and how they choose to worship. There is a lot more native ancestry in peoples families than they know, especially in the southeast, since colonial and frontier life was as pluralistic as todays society.
July 16, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
I may not attend church any more, but "red_rider" I have to give you a "AMEN" on your posting.
July 16, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
From what my Native American mother in-law told me squaw is a word they use for slut or whore she was full blooded her father was chief of their tribe in VA
July 16, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
I am really late on this one BUT I agree with blondjes. Add black folks to that too. I hate when people "claim" they are part native american or their great great great great grandma or grandpa was full blood native american. I doubt the people who claim it have dealt with half the crap that native americans have.
July 16, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
oh, also I think "squaw" was slang for a native american man's woman (wife or whatnot)
July 16, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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