Native American Affairs Division | South Carolina Community of Minority Affairs

In 2001, the Native American Affairs Ad Hoc Committee was created and housed at the Commission with the goal of establishing an Indian Affairs Commission for the State of South Carolina through collaboration with the Commission. Through the hard work and dedication of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Commission’s statute was changed adding the Native American Affairs Initiative under the duties of the Commission. Since 2003, the Commission has been committed to strengthening the relationships between South Carolina’s Native American Indian communities and government.

The Commission carries out it’s duties under Chapter 31, Title 1 of the SC Code of Laws of 1976, Section 1-31-40(A)(6)(10) and Chapter 139, Article 1 of the Code of Regulations which include but are not limited to the following:

influencing public policy and state services;
maintaining an advisory committee;
development and implementation of statistical data;
addressing the needs of the population; and
state recognition of Native American entities.

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About the Advisory Committee

Per South Carolina Code of Regulations, Chapter 139, Article 2, Section 139-202, the Advisory Committee's role is to "A. Advise the Commission for Minority Affairs regarding socio-economic issues relevant to African Americans, Native American Indians, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians and other ethnic minority groups in South Carolina. B. Identify the needs and concerns of the various ethnic minorities and bring such needs and concerns to the attention of the Commission for Minority Affairs. C. Make recommendations to the Commission for Minority Affairs to address the needs and concerns of ethnic minority groups."

Current Advisory Committee Members

Beaver Creek Indians, Catawba Indian Nation, Chaloklowa Chickasaw Indian People, Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of SC, Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe of South Carolina, Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina, Natchez Tribe of South Carolina, Native American Studies Program, Office of the State Archaeologist, Office of the Governor, Pee Dee Indian Nation of Upper South Carolina, Pee Dee Indian Tribe, Pee Dee Indian Tribe of Beaver Creek, Piedmont American Indian Association (PAIA), Santee Indian Organization, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, University of South Carolina-Lancaster Native American Studies Center, The Waccamaw Indian People and the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians

South Carolina's Recognized Native American Indian Entities

Food Sovereignty

Grants for State Tribes

Native American Legislation

State and Local Resources

National and Federal Resources

Genealogy Research

Native American Resources | SC Department of Archives and History

Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (minneapolisfed.org)

Edisto Indian Free Clinic (Brochure)

Pine Hill Health Network (Brochure)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources