The Waccamaw Indian People of SC face many challenges: the “pencil and paper erasure” of their people; tainted drinking water; and repetitive flooding in marginalized communities across Horry County. Headquartered in Aynor since 1992 and recognized by the state of South Carolina since 2005, the tribe’s mission is to reclaim their history, culture, and land. They educate about their heritage, collaborate with Coastal Carolina University, raise awareness about PFAS contamination in the soil and water, and advocate for oversight and accountability. Promoting an indigenous perspective on living in harmony with nature, they help communities address flooding and land loss. They work with residents in flood-prone areas to choose nature-based resilience methods, specifically planting rain gardens with native, culturally significant species to minimize flooding, filter pollutants, and beautify the landscape. They seek environmental justice and celebrate the rich histories of their communities.
Photo from SC Picture Project, PFASProject.com
The Waccamaw Indian People are a Native American tribe in South Carolina that made history by becoming one of the first two state-recognized tribes in South Carolina in 2005. Although the tribe was first chartered as a nonprofit in Aynor in 1992, the presence of the ancestors of the Waccamaw Indian People in the area is attested to over 10,000 years ago. Today the tribe is led by a seven-member Council of Elders, in addition to Judicial and Administrative offices. The tribe fights to reclaim their history, culture, and land, while also working to address environmental issues in the area from an indigenous perspective of living in harmony with nature. Namely, this includes the planting of rain gardens with native, culturally significant species. Finally, the Waccamaw Indian People have collaborated extensively with Coastal Carolina University to educate the public about the tribe’s ongoing history.