What began as a grassroots movement in Canada, in 2012, quickly expanded throughout the United States and beyond. As a committee within the South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission, Idle No More SC (INMSC) began in December 2012, which promotes the rights, cultures and sovereignty of Native American tribes in South Carolina. A primary focus of INMSC is advocacy for protecting land, water, air, and all creations threatened with harm from industry pollution and extractive practices. The impacts of pollution have caused great damage to our land, water, air, wildlife, and humans. INMSC advocates for the resurgence of our connection to nature and the environment through cultural knowledge and education. Additionally, INMSC calls for protecting ancestral lands, cultural sites, and the return of ancestors to tribes. The repatriation of human remains for state recognized tribes has never occurred in South Carolina, with a vast number of remains still held in museums and institutions.
Idle No More SC and Winyah Rivers Alliance host a community meeting about PFAS for Wildlife Action in Aynor, South Carolina, in May 2025. Photo: Cheryl Cail
The volunteer organization is currently working on a statewide campaign on PFAS contamination. PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are frequently found in consumer products and can leach into water, soil, and food, causing cancer and other diseases. PFAS are also used at industrial facilities. South Carolina is home to two Department of Defense sites that have been identified as highly contaminated. Cheryl Cail, Chair of Idle No More SC (INMSC), says that the group has been holding public education events within the region, recently distributing PFAS-free cookware. Winyah Rivers Alliance has been testing rivers to assist citizens, many of whom are unaware of the severity of the issue. INMSC is a member of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition which has driven national policy on regulating PFAS. Additionally, INMSC has supported the work of Southern Environmental Law Center for SC DES to require companies to disclose PFAS discharges into waterways as part of the permitting process.
Idle No More SC and Winyah Rivers Alliance host a community meeting about PFAS for community members of Andrews, South Carolina, in May 2025. Photo: Cheryl Cail