Honoring the First Peoples of the Land
As we commemorate 250 years of American history, we reflect not only on the founding of the United States but on the deeper, older histories of the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home for millennia. North Carolina is home to eight state-recognized tribes and several Native organizations that continue to preserve vibrant cultures, histories, languages, and traditions. Explore the stories of North Carolina’s American Indian communities, their ancestral lands, and the ongoing contributions they make to our state.
State-Recognized Tribes
📍Sampson and Harnett Counties
Descended from Neusiok and Tuscarora ancestors, the Coharie people settled along the Great Coharie River in the mid-1700s. State-recognized in 1971, they continue to preserve community and cultural life in eastern North Carolina.
📍Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Swain, and Jackson Counties
Located in the Qualla Boundary, the EBCI safeguards Cherokee culture, language, and traditions. The tribe promotes sovereignty, education, and economic development in the western mountains of the state.
📍Halifax and Warren Counties
Recognized in 1965, the Haliwa-Saponi are descendants of Saponi, Tuscarora, Nansemond, and other tribal nations. The tribe operates its own school and has long prioritized education, resilience, and cultural revival.
📍Robeson, Hoke, Scotland, and Cumberland Counties
As one of the largest tribes east of the Mississippi River, the Lumbee trace their ancestry to Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan peoples. Their legacy includes strong educational traditions and civic leadership.
📍Northampton, Bertie, Gates, and Hertford Counties
Known as the Kauwets'a·ka or “People of the Water,” the Meherrin are an Iroquoian-speaking tribe officially recognized in 1986. Their headquarters is near Ahoskie in northeastern North Carolina.
📍Alamance, Orange, and Caswell Counties
State-recognized in 2002, the OBSN are descendants of Siouan-speaking peoples. They have deep roots in the “Little Texas” community of North Carolina, where they settled in the late 1700s.
📍Person County, NC and Halifax County, VA
Living in the High Plains settlement since the 1700s, the Sappony are organized into seven primary clans. The tribe emphasizes strong connections to family, education, and cultural preservation.
📍Columbus and Bladen Counties
Known as the “People of the Falling Star,” the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe has lived near Lake Waccamaw for generations. Recognized in 1971, the tribe preserves its Siouan heritage through language, ceremony, and service.
Urban Indian Organizations
📍Cumberland County
Dedicated to empowering Native families through legal advocacy, cultural preservation, and wellness programs.
📍Guilford County
One of the oldest urban Indian organizations in the U.S., GNAA offers childcare, education, and employment services to Native families.
📍Mecklenburg County
Serving Native communities in and around Charlotte through job training, cultural awareness, and economic development programs.
📍Wake County
Recognized in 2000, TNAS connects Native people in the Triangle area and promotes tribal identity, education, and cultural continuity.