This past Saturday, I took Chris to an event all about the history of the Catawba Nation. Held at the historic Hugh Torance House and Store on Gilead Road in Huntersville, the event featured speakers and cultural performances by members of the tribe.
The first speaker was Ensley Guffey, Tribal Archivist for the Catawba Nation. He shared fascinating stories about the Catawba militia and their role in the Revolutionary War. He also highlighted the important roles Catawba women played in the tribe’s history. Another speaker, Kassidy Plyler, Catawba Citizen and Cultural Public Programs Specialist, greeted the attendees in the Catawba language before she switched to English to discuss topics such as tribal genealogy and traditional drumming and dancing.
As I listened to the speakers, I realized with embarrassment how little I had known about the people who for millennia inhabited the land where we now live and worship. I’m guessing that many of us hear the word ‘Catawba’ and primarily think of the river, or the road in Cornelius, rather than thinking of the people who also carry the name. Their history is complicated, and I have a lot more to learn, but I am glad to now know a bit more than I did.
I heard about the wonderful Catawba Nation event by attending a recent StAART (St. Alban’s Anti-Racism Team) meeting. I am grateful to be part of StAART for many so reasons, one of them being that the people involved in StAART always seem to know about the most interesting community happenings! If you are curious about StAART, I encourage you to find the StAART table at our All Things St. Alban’s event this coming Sunday, October 27 following the 10:30 a.m. service. You’ll meet some of the wonderful folks who are active in StAART and learn about the work the team is focusing on right now. Not only is this work interesting and important—it is also, I believe, deeply rooted in the promises we make at our baptism to “strive for justice and peace among all people” and “respect the dignity of every human being.” -Book of Common Prayer, page 305
Yours in Christ,
Carmen
P.S. If you are curious about the Catawba Nation, you can read the following excerpts, taken from the tribe’s website, www.catawba.com.
The Catawba Indians have lived on their ancestral lands along the banks of the Catawba River dating back at least 6000 years. Before contact with the Europeans it is believed that the Nation inhabited most of the Piedmont area of South Carolina, North Carolina and parts of Virginia. Early counts of the Catawba people made by Spanish explorers estimated the population of the tribe at the time as between 15,000-25,000. After settlers arrived in the area, two rounds of smallpox decimated the tribe’s numbers, and by the early 1800’s, our once large group was down to under 100 citizens.
The tribal people called themselves yeh is-WAH h’reh, meaning “people of the river.” The colonists who came to trade began calling all the tribes along the Catawba River Valley by the name Catawba.
Early Catawbas lived in villages which were surrounded by a wooden palisade or wall. There was a large council house in the village as well as a sweat lodge, homes, and an open plaza for meetings, games, and dances. The homes were rounded on top and made of bark. The dwellings were small with extended families living in a single structure. Catawbas were farmers. They planted crops like corn and squash along the banks of the river. They also fished and hunted. The Catawbas were a large and powerful group and waged war with neighboring tribes, especially the Cherokee.
The Catawba have long understood the need to work together and adapt to our ever-changing circumstances. No one knew this better than King Hagler who led the tribe from 1754-1763. He adopted the title of King because the settlers coming into Catawba territory at the time were led by a king.
That heritage has been passed on through many generations since King Hagler. We fought along the side of the Patriots when the settlers decided they wanted to be free from England, one of only three tribes to do so. George Washington’s journals mention the fierceness of the Catawba Warriors many times and how valuable they were to the effort.
When other tribes were being moved west on the Trail of Tears, the state of South Carolina decided not to spend the money because the tribe membership was so low in numbers at the time that it was expected the Catawba would be extinct soon. That warrior spirit and resiliency of the Catawba have helped us through many hard times.
We still live on our beautiful ancestral lands along the banks of the Catawba river today. Due to growth and development in our area, we are now close to the thriving city of Rock Hill, SC which is a suburb to the Charlotte metropolitan area.
The Catawba people have endured many changes throughout the years and learned to adapt and evolve with their new surroundings. Traditionally, Catawba communities were matriarchal societies. Catawba women were seen as dominant centers of their communities.
The Catawba have learned to survive through the changes around them while also continuing to preserve the most essential parts of our culture. Today, the Catawba citizenship is diverse. We have over 3000 enrolled tribal citizens and continue to grow. We live throughout the United States and have citizens outside of the country, though the majority live on or near our reservation lands.
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