474:. The focus of the dispute was on the right to use the "Chicora" name. Subsequently, Martin faced disorderly conduct charges, which were dismissed due to the incident occurring outside of Horry County's jurisdiction. Martin, citing his organization's entitlement to the term "Chicora", considered filing a civil suit against the Chicora-Waccamaw for a name change. Hatcher defended local use of the term "Chicora", stating the term was a regional designation rather than being an assertion of tribal heritage or identity. In 1994 Hatcher publicly expressed that he and Martin had put their dispute over the use of the name "Chicora" behind them. Later, in 2002, the Waccamaw Indian People dropped "Chicora" from the organization's name by popular vote in order to avoid being confused with the Chicora Indian Tribe.
289:, the community maintained its own church, and later a school, as members of the settlement refused to send their children to schools built for local African American children. During this era members were often referred to as "free coloreds" or "croatans". The settlement was the subject of speculation in newspapers within Horry County during the early 20th century, particularly regarding the racial origins of its inhabitants. This uncertainty fostered a local mystery and led to several legal cases when residents of the settlement were accused of marrying outside of their race due to
403:, in present-day Robeson County, from at least 1780 to 1795, where he was taxed and listed on census schedules as a Free Person of Color. Around 1795, Dimery sold his property in North Carolina and relocated to Marlboro County, where he lived among other families of similar origins before eventually moving east to Dog Bluff. His brother, William Dimery, remained in Marlboro County and became an ancestor to many modern members of the state-recognized Pee Dee Indian Tribe.
257:, being originally called the Chicora Indian Nation. The organization was established following Harold D. "Buster" Hatcher's departure from the Chicora Indian Tribe of South Carolina due to a disagreement with then chief, Gene Martin, in October of 1992. Hatcher is the organization's founder, president, agent, and inaugural chief. In 2002, the organization voted to remove the term "Chicora" from its name to avoid confusion with the Chicora Indian Tribe.
407:
research also found that during the Civil War, other Lumbee families, including the Ammons, Coopers, Hatchers, and
Turners, joined the settlement. The Hatcher family descends from David Hatcher, the progenitor of the Hatcher surname among members of both the modern Pee Dee Indian Tribe and the Waccamaw Indian People. David Hatcher, a 'half Indian' planter, moved into the area around 1810 after having earlier enlisted in the North Carolina militia in
27:
245:, first established during the early 19th century. Members of the organization allege that the Dimery Settlement originated as an 18th-century Waccamaw village. However, existent historical records can presently only demonstrate the settlement as being identified as an indigenous community beginning in the early twentieth century.
305:, in compiling historical documentation for their federal recognition bid. During his research, Hazel explored various local theories about the origins of the Dimery Settlement's origins, including the idea that community members might have been the descendants of the historic Waccamaw people, a foreign population of
406:
The U.S. Federal Census in 1850 shows that John Dimery Jr., who had earlier married
Elizabeth Hardwick in Marlboro, was living in the household of his father, John Dimery Sr. The birthplace and early residence of John Dimery Sr. in North Carolina further support his ties to the Robeson area. Hill's
353:
village site near
Jordanville, with excavated pottery shards dating to the 17th century. Yet, this theory, in Hazel's opinion, lacked concrete evidence and was not able to be supported by hard fact. Members of the Dimery Settlement, as evidenced in historical records from the 19th century, led lives
357:
Hazel investigated several other prominent surnames within the community, such as
Hatcher. He discovered a broad connection of this family to early 18th-century traders operating along the North Carolina-Virginia border, known for their dealings with various Carolinian tribes. Findings also included
414:
This connection between members of the
Waccamaw Indian People is most clearly demonstrated by the population's geographic proximity, overlapping surnames, and close relationships with modern families in Robeson County, effectively supporting Forest Hazel's original theory of their descent from an
461:
Before the
Waccamaw Indian People, formerly called the Chicora Indian Nation, chose to formally remove the term "Chicora" from its name, there were public disputes and legal confrontations over the organization's use of this term. A key incident occurred in 1993 between Chief Gene Martin of the
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In 2004, the
Waccamaw Indian People acquired twenty acres that once comprised part of the historic Dimery Settlement near Dog Bluff. This land is referred to as the "Waccamaw Tribal Grounds" and is used by the organization to host cultural events and an annual powwow every November.
233:
since 1971. The Tribal
Council of the Waccamaw Siouan Indians has issued a public proclamation stating that the two tribes share no relationship or association, and that the North Carolina Waccamaw do not recognize the Waccamaw Indian People as an Indian tribe or tribal entity.
268:
Members of the
Waccamaw Indian People trace lineal descent from the historic Dimery Settlement, an isolated population once located in Horry County near Dog Bluff. The Dimery family are considered to have comprised a distinct tri-racial isolate population, being descended from
213:. The organization was awarded the status of a state-recognized tribe by the South Carolina Commission of Minority Affairs on February 17, 2005 and holds the distinction of being the first state-recognized tribe within South Carolina. The Waccamaw Indian People are not
383:. S. Pony Hill has noted that comprehensive genealogical research has proven that members of the Waccamaw Indian People are often closely related, within one or two generations, to families such as the Ammons, Coopers, Dimerys, Hatchers, and Turners in the
446:(R-SC-7) introduced HR 1942 Waccamaw Indian Acknowledgment Act to attempt to secure federal recognition for the organization. However, no vote ever happened, and the bill was never mentioned during its two years in Congress.
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due to the presence of individuals carrying the Dimery surname in these regions at the time. Hazel noted the possibility of indigenous people inhabiting the Dog Bluff area at the time Dimery's arrival, given the nearby late
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Following the work of Forest Hazel, researchers into the 21st
Century have continued to emphasize the fluidity of movement among racially mixed populations across Horry, Marlboro, Dillon, and neighboring
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On October 5, 1994, while still named the Chicora-Waccamaw People, the organization submitted a letter of intent to submit a petition for federal acknowledgement of existence as a tribe to the
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ancestry. Hazel postulated that many of these families, including those prominent in the Dimery Settlement, likely originated near the historical Cheraw settlement in Marlboro County.
260:
On February 17, 2005, the Waccamaw Indian People was awarded the status of a state-recognized tribe by the SCCMA, becoming the first ever state-recognized tribe within South Carolina.
329:, who were also referred to as "croatan" by locals. Hazel was unable to substantiate any of these theories with historical records available at the time of his research.
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comparable to their neighbors, showing no distinctive indigenous customs or language, and were to some limited extent integrated into the local rural society.
340:, presumably residing near Dog Bluff. This census also indicates that John Dimery was born in North Carolina. It was speculated that he may have been born in
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453:
has been actively engaged in discussions and collaborative efforts with both the Waccamaw Indian People, supporting their pursuit of federal recognition.
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in 1809 and by 1813 had moved to Horry County, where he purchased three hundred acres from William Lewis. Dimery is classified as a "free colored" in the
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ancestors. Hatcher and many members of the Waccamaw Indian People descend from John Dimery, who is said to have founded the settlement near modern
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462:
Chicora Indian Tribe and Second-Chief Bill "Kicking Bear" Fowler of the Chicora-Waccamaw. The dispute escalated into a public altercation at a
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423:, it has been noted by Hill that the tribe currently emphasizes this claim while deemphasizing documented connections to the Lumbee.
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Research was able to confirm that the settlement's patriarch, John Dimery, first appears marrying his wife, Elizabeth Hardwick, in
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In the fall of 1994, historian Forest Hazel was hired to assist the Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People, supported by a grant from the
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419:. Despite extensive research over the past thirty years failing to validate the Dimery Settlement's descent from the historic
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1242:""The Waccamaw Indian People: Past, Present, and Future" Exhibit opens at the Horry County Museum on Tuesday, April 27"
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Members of the Waccamaw Indian People trace their origins to the Dimery Settlement, a
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and are one of two organizations that allege to be descended from the historic
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1071:(1st ed.). Palm Coast, Florida: Boxes & Arrows, Inc. p. 65-71.
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900:"The Dimery Settlement Indian Descendants in the South Carolina Low Country"
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1164:"Waccamaw Tribe in South Carolina fighting to become federally recognized"
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On October 28, 1992, the Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People first formed as a
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804:
Those Who Remain: A Photographer's Memoir of South Carolina Indians
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1069:
Strangers in Their Own Land South Carolina's State Indian Tribes
806:. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press. p. 122.
513:
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987:"For American Indian, life was no picnic in segregated South"
694:"South Carolina's Recognized Native American Indian Entities"
527:
724:"Meet Harold Hatcher, Chief of the Waccamaw Indian People"
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As of December of 2023, the office of U.S. Representative
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the presence of Hatchers, Dimerys, and Coopers within the
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areas. Hill highlights that John Dimery Sr. lived near
16:
State-recognized tribe in South Carolina, United States
1121:"H.R. 1942 (IH) – Waccamaw Indian Acknowledgement Act"
362:. Specifically, he traced the Lumbee Coopers back to
959:
Hatcher, Harold; Hatcher, C. Doug (16 October 1992).
755:. Federal Register. 22 January 2022. pp. 7554–58
492:
The Waccamaw Indian People: Past, Present, and Future
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1293:Non-profit organizations based in South Carolina
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1278:Cultural organizations based in South Carolina
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993:. No. 161. newspapers.com. 11 August 1994
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698:South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs
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535:South Carolina Commission on Minority Affairs
105:school, educational service provider, charity
1298:State-recognized tribes in the United States
1196:. Vol. 42, no. 339. newspapers.com
1023:. Vol. 50, no. 338. newspapers.com
718:
716:
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633:. Vol. 43, no. 309. newspapers.com
229:, who have been a state-recognized tribe in
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967:. Vol. 42, no. 76. newspapers.com
846:. Vol. 53, no. 92. newspapers.com
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840:"American Indians aim to preserve culture"
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285:during the early 19th century. During the
241:population once located near Dog Bluff in
1017:"Waccamaw Indians hope to educate others"
1015:Brockington, Lee G. (27 September 2001).
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303:Administration for Native Americans
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904:The Independent Republic Quarterly
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1190:"Native American chiefs face off"
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627:"Tribal chief reclaims heritage"
409:Granville County, North Carolina
374:Lumbee ancestry and kinship ties
255:501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
207:501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
25:
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625:Soraghan, Mike (18 July 1994).
346:Columbus County, North Carolina
313:, an amalgamation of Civil War
1240:SC Humanities (6 April 2021).
1188:Gaston, Elaine (7 July 1993).
1093:"List of Petitioners By State"
838:Mishoe, Peggy (3 April 2003).
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427:Pursuit of federal recognition
381:Robeson County, North Carolina
327:Robeson County, North Carolina
199:Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People
187:Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People
1:
334:Marion County, South Carolina
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1283:Horry County, South Carolina
1216:"Pow Wows in South Carolina"
596:"Waccamaw Indian People The"
566:"WACCAMAW INDIAN PEOPLE THE"
438:In 2021, US Representatives
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802:Crediford, Gene J. (2009).
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366:and noted their claims of
490:showcased the exhibition
338:1850 United States census
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113:B90: Educational Services
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930:"Waccamaw Indian People"
664:"Waccamaw Indian People"
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472:Pembroke, North Carolina
433:Bureau of Indian Affairs
85:, nonprofit organization
775:"NC Tribal Communities"
504:Waccamaw Siouan Indians
291:anti-miscegenation laws
227:Waccamaw Siouan Indians
1067:Hill, S. Pony (2009).
934:businessfilings.sc.gov
898:Hazel, Forest (1995).
570:businessfilings.sc.gov
297:Early research efforts
225:, the other being the
211:Conway, South Carolina
203:state-recognized tribe
195:Waccamaw Indian People
122:Conway, South Carolina
83:state-recognized tribe
58:; 31 years ago
33:Waccamaw Indian People
20:Waccamaw Indian People
753:Indian Affairs Bureau
283:Aynor, South Carolina
219:Native American tribe
185:Chicora Indian Nation
56:October 28, 1992
1246:Pee Dee News Network
457:Chicora name dispute
215:federally recognized
31:Official logo of the
488:Horry County Museum
21:
961:"Personal Notices"
728:South Carolina ETV
287:era of segregation
239:tri-racial isolate
145:Official language
19:
991:The Index-Journal
209:headquartered in
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159:Harold D. Hatcher
74:Harold D. Hatcher
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1249:. Retrieved
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1194:The Sun News
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631:The Sun News
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243:Horry County
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118:Headquarters
102:Legal status
1220:PowWows.com
1200:12 December
1173:12 December
1105:12 December
1027:12 December
997:12 December
939:27 December
914:12 December
850:12 December
784:27 December
733:27 December
637:12 December
575:12 December
451:Russell Fry
39:Named after
1267:Categories
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