USC Lancaster Hosts Native American Studies Week April 9 - 18

Schedule of Activities   |  Reception and Gallery Opening

The region we today know as South Carolina has a long and complex history of Native American and European/Euro-American relations. As one of the earliest points of contact between European explorers-DeSoto, Pardo, De Allyon, etc.-the state’s indigenous population was, consequentially, among the first to suffer the destructive effects of colonialism. For over four centuries, South Carolina’s Native groups have struggled to preserve their identity and maintain their traditions. Many were unsuccessful, but others have managed to hold on to their heritage and their traditions. Today, South Carolina is 04/22/2008 ten tribes or groups who have received (or are in the process of receiving) recognition from the state, and over a dozen other separate Native American communities. These communities host powwows and festivals, foster traditional arts and crafts, work to improve health care and education in their regions, and strive to preserve their unique cultural heritage.

On Wednesday April 11th, USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Program will host a panel discussion among leaders of these South Carolina Native American/American Indian communities. Representatives from many of the diverse Native communities in our state will join in a roundtable discussion of issues and concerns shared by South Carolina’s Native Americans.

The roundtable will be just one of the many events the USCL Native American Studies Committee has planned between April 9th and April 18th. On April 17th, USCL will host award-winning Cherokee storyteller Freeman Owle. Mr. Owle will share stories from Cherokee history and tradition Tuesday evening at 7 pm in the Bundy Auditorium. Prior to his performance, Mr. Owle will discuss Cherokee oral traditions and demonstrate traditional Cherokee soapstone carving. Other traditional artists will demonstrate and discuss their work throughout the week.

From April 9th through the 12th, author and scholar Thomas Blumer will be signing copies of his new book Catawba Indian Nation: Treasures in History in the USCL campus bookstore. Dr. Blumer’s appearance is sponsored by the Friends of Medford Library. Copies of his book will be for sale in the campus bookstore.

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Week events are free and open to the public. USCL’s Native American Studies Program is supported by grants from Duke Energy, the Humanities Council SC, and the Lancaster County Arts Council.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies, at 803-313-7108 or by email at criswese@gwm.sc.edu.