It wasn’t until recently that people of Indian descent began to realize that their heritage was a source of pride and not shame, and many Indian leaders in the state have begun to help return some ethnic pride to our people.

Indian People in South Carolina have suffered the same atrocities as other ethnic groups. We were enslaved, sold, killed, robbed of our lands and possessions, and deprived even of our identity. We didn’t fit into either of the two dominant ethnic groups (black and white) consequently were often forgotten, ignored, and even abused.

The federal government has set aside some funding, grants, educational loans, and other assets to allow Indian People equal opportunities.

However, many who have never suffered the hardships and stigma imposed upon us, are robbing us of those opportunities. In their desire to profit at our expense, they have declared themselves to be Indians by simply purchasing a charter from the Secretary of State.

The charter enables them to apply for (and often obtain) monies earmarked for Indians in South Carolina. The Secretary of State requires nothing more than an application and a check for twenty-five dollars before issuing a charter establishing an Indian nation, authentic or not. Subsequently, non-Indian groups are rising all over the state seeking funding earmarked for the indigenous peoples of South Carolina.

Groups lead by such people can meet no standard to verify their lines of ethnicity and depend on the limited knowledge and good hearts of private organizations, individuals, and leaders of the state’s agencies who control such opportunities.

The South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission is a non-profit organization that understands the issue and has set about to provide you with information as to whom you can trust as true, historic, and indigenous tribal entities and organizations in South Carolina. These groups historically know each other, each has a history that we can attest to, and you can be assured that if an organization is a member of the South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission, it is a legitimate Indian group and will not defraud you.

These groups seated upon the South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission work together as one to improve the lives of South Carolina’s Indian People through networking and resources as well as to substantiate, establish and provide essential leadership for government-to-government relations for the legitimate tribes with the state government of South Carolina.

The SCIAC is open for membership to any and all groups who can show that they are legitimate and who are indigenous to South Carolina. Interested parties may contact the SCIAC through Chair Chief Harold Hatcher regarding membership criteria.