Commission aims for unity

People in South Carolina need to realize that American Indians live in the state, says Anthony Davidson, chief of the Edisto Tribe.

"There's a perception that there are only a few of us here in South Carolina," Davidson said.

And American Indians from different tribes and groups in the state must work together more closely, "so we can have a say-so" on issues such as health care, housing, education and culture, he said.

The state's Commission for Minority Affairs is trying to gather more information on the needs of American Indians in South Carolina, said Marcy Hayden, the commission's Native American Affairs coordinator. The office is holding day-long events throughout the state where American Indian residents are encouraged to fill out a needs-assessment survey.

American Indians from Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties were invited to the Ridge Baptist Church in Summerville on Saturday to complete the questionnaires.

Hayden said nobody knows just how many American Indians live in the state. But on the 2005 census' American Community Survey, 13,859 reported they were Native American. An additional 30,489 South Carolinians reported their race as Native American in combination with another race.

The commission will use the information gathered to develop strategies to better serve the state's native people, Hayden said.

Lisa Leach, the tribal administrator for the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians, said she thinks about 350 people in the Charleston area will complete surveys.

Some of the largest issues facing the American Indian community include low high-school graduation rates, lack of health insurance, too few jobs, and housing and family problems, Leach said.

Robin Semmler, a Moncks Corner resident from the Wassamasaw Tribe, said she welcomes the commission's efforts to bring groups together.

The state recognizes five tribes and six groups of American Indians and one special interest organization, Hayden said.

Semmler said the commission's work hopefully will inspire American Indians to be more community-minded instead of first thinking about their own needs or the needs of their small groups.

Reach Diane Knich at dknich@postandcourier.com or 937-5491.