Celebrating Native Heritage : BDC Display Case by Olivia Santos

Olivia is still here (yeah!) and is learning her tasks well. As the BDC's assistant one of her responsibilities is to select items that highlight the variety and depth of BDC materials on a particular theme and then write a blog post about her choices. For November that theme is Native American Heritage Month. My comments are in orange italics below - when I have something to add or explain further.-- Grace Cordial

Fall is officially in full swing. The trick-or-treaters have gathered their candy, jack-o-lanterns have started to wither away on front porches, a cold front temporarily swept in, and fake leaves are strewn about the display case. As we roll into November and other parts of the country begin bundling up for the winter ahead, we Southerners get to enjoy a bit more warmth and sunshine. And while leaves continue to fall elsewhere, I try not to get too weirded out at the prospect of not freezing through another holiday season in Illinois, where snow will start falling later this month or next.  

Besides the holidays and changing of seasons, November is also Native American Heritage Month. Nationally approved in 1990, the idea “started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contribution the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S,” according to the official Native American Heritage Month website. 

The history and cultural tradition of Native people of the Southeast is rich, and here at the BDC we have a fair amount of information about the various tribes that once resided here, as well as those still active in the community. Naturally, we figured November would be an ideal time to showcase our Native knowledge and resources, with our display case celebrating said holiday all month long. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.  

Shelf 1 has two books on display: Blood and Thunder at Bloody Point by Roger Pinckney (2017), and SC Native Pathways: A Visitor’s and Resource Guide to American Indian Heritage and Historic Sites in South Carolina by William Moreau Goins (2008), in association with the South Carolina Native American Indian Heritage Tourism Committee. 

Filled with photos, maps, and prints, Blood and Thunder at Bloody Point tells the story of Bloody Point on Daufuskie Island, where a violent battle broke out during the Yamasee War of 1715-1718. So violent was this battle that the area was later infamously named Bloody Point, although Pinckney does not focus on a specific time period in this area, instead taking readers across centuries of history in a short span on words. Pinckney, a native of Beaufort, asserts on the back cover of his book that “The birthplace of America was right here off Bloody Point, where patriots stole a shipload of British gunpowder and used it to turn an invasion of Charleston on June 28, 1770.” Pinckney reminds readers that Bloody Point, while the center of a well-known and gruesome battle hundreds of years ago, has other rich history worth talking about. The focus for this shelf accidentally ended up being more about recent histories and writings about Native people, as Pinckney’s book was published in 2017 and talks about Bloody Point not only during the time of the Yamasee, but also within his own lifetime. Currently, the BDC owns the only copy of Blood and Thunder at Bloody Point within the entire SCLENDS consortium. 

For the interested historian, traveler, or tourist, SC Native Pathways serves as a great introduction to Native historic sites all throughout South Carolina. Divided up between the coastal region, midlands, and the upstate region, this book serves as a guide to various Native sites throughout South Carolina, featuring quite a few in Beaufort. The Green's Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve and the Sea Pines Shell Ring on Hilton Head are highlighted, as well as the Costal Discovery Museum, which is also on Hilton Head. Closer to home, and the BDC’s next-door neighbor, the Beaufort History Museum and Arsenal is mentioned, along with the South Bluff Heritage Preserve, which is a bit farther out on Coosaw Island. The last two sites mentioned are Altamaha Town, which was a major community of the Yamasee in the early 18th century, and Daws Island Heritage Preserve, where several shell rings reside. The book also features arts and crafts venues and outlets and Native festivals and events that occur year-round. I chose this book not only for its colorful cover and photos, but also because it serves as a more recent account of the happenings of Native groups in South Carolina and what the state has to offer in terms of tourism and historical landmarks. The BDC currently owns the only copy of SC Native Pathways in the Beaufort County Library system. 

This shelf also includes a map of South Carolina, depicting the location of various tribes and groups that are either unrecognized by a governmental entity, recognized by the state, federally recognized, or recognized as a special interest organization, which includes only one group: the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of South Carolina. Among all these groups, whether recognized or unrecognized by a governmental body, none are currently within Beaufort County. However, at one time in the past, the Yamasee people resided in what in now Beaufort County until the middle of the 18th century when war with European colonists drove them out to other parts of the Southeast, which we’ll talk more about in a bit. Therefore, they are not included on this list, as it only included currently active Native groups and tribes. I felt this map served as a helpful, and once again, current guide for Native tribes and groups within the state. It is also a useful tool when used in conjuncture with SC Native Pathways, as readers can see where on the map tribes and groups may coincide with different landmarks featured in the book.  

Grace's Note Well: "Yamasee" is the correct spelling when referring to the Native American people; "Yemassee" is the correct spelling of the village that straddles the county line between Hampton and Beaufort counties at the Amtrak station. The correct pronunciation of the Native American tribe's name is Yah-MAH-see with the vocal stress on the second syllable. Local natives say "YEM-a-see" when talking about the present-day town.

There is additionally a small reminder to check out our WordPress site, where we have a page specifically dedicated to resources we have to offer about Native Americans at the BDC, as well as online and in the main library system.  

While Shelf 1 focused on current times and information we have about Native people of South Carolina, Shelf 2 became more focused on the history of Native people, specifically the Yamasee, as they were the main tribe active in this area pre-contact with Europeans.  

Displayed on Shelf 2 is a ‘Native American Heritage Month’ sign, as well as three books: The Yamasee Indians: From Florida to South Carolina by Denise I. Bossy (2018), The Savannah River Chiefdoms: Political Change in the Late Prehistoric Southeast by David G. Anderson (1994), and The Yamasee War: A Study of Culture, Economy, and Conflict in the Colonial South by William L. Ramsey (2008). 

The Yamasee Indians is a great introduction to Native life among the Yamasee, as well as their migration patterns and general life histories. Beginning with the Spanish invasion of Florida, Bossy gives us an idea of what interactions between the Yamasee and Spaniards were like, with personal accounts and letters of colonists in Florida during this time. The archaeology of the Yamasee is discussed, their material culture and identity, as well as how their culture changed over time with the coming of the Europeans. Towards the end of her book, Bossy goes into some detail about the Yamasee War and its aftereffects, both on the Europeans and the native population. This book is available for checkout at any Beaufort County Library location, as well as for viewing within the BDC. 

The Yamasee War largely picks up where Bossy’s book leaves off, giving a thorough account of the Yamasee War; how it started, the actual battles fought, as well as the aftermath and repercussions that followed. Beginning in 1715, these wars spanned three years, over which many land and diplomatic disputes occurred between Native Southeastern tribes and English colonists in South Carolina, such as at Pinckney’s previously mentioned Bloody Point. This book discusses the racial motivations and ideology English colonists had at the time of the battles, the shift in Anglo-Indian trade relations, and how this all relates to South Carolina and Southern history as a whole. This book is available for viewing in the BDC, as well as for checkout at any of our Beaufort County Library branches.  

Covering an earlier time period and broader range of knowledge, The Savannah River Chiefdoms discusses the politics of Native tribes in the Southeast during the Late Prehistoric Period, otherwise known as the Pre-contact Period, before colonists came to the so-called ‘New World’ in search of land, religious freedom, gold, and the like. Discussing political evolution during the Mississippian Period, Anderson supports his findings with ethno-historic and archeological evidence, while also discussing the evidence supporting Mississippian occupation in the Savannah River Valley and political change in chiefdom society. The Yamasee are specifically mentioned, as well as the Yamasee War and its political impacts. This book served as a helpful tool for giving broader context to not only the Yamasee way of life and politics, but also to other topics discussed in the previous two books and the Yamasee in their interactions with Europeans post-contact. The BDC’s copy of The Savannah River Chiefdoms is the only copy available within the Beaufort County Library System. 

Shelf 3 holds two more books: The Tuscarora War: Indians, Settlers, and the Fight for the Carolina Colonies by David La Vere (2013), and The Only Land They Knew: The Tragic Story of the American Indians in the Old South by J. Leitch Wright (1981). 

The Tuscarora War describes battles fought between Native tribes and European colonists in September of 1711, where hundreds of farms were destroyed, and people killed. Similar to the battles fought at Bloody Point on Daufuskie Island, the author asserts that the Tuscarora War became “North Carolina’s bloodiest colonial war and surely one of its most brutal.” Now, while these battles did take place in North Carolina among the Europeans and the Tuscaroras, a tribe also of North Carolina, the book does reference the Yamasee in a number of places, as well as the Yamasee War and John Barnwell’s involvement in both.

Barnwell (ca. 1671-1724) led expeditions against the Tuscarora in North Carolina, earning him the moniker “Tuscarora Jack,” as well as against the Yamasee during the 1715 wars. He was a resident of Beaufort and after his death was buried in the graveyard at the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort. If you would like to check out this book for yourself, a copy is available downstairs in the main area of the Beaufort Branch of the Beaufort County Library, or at other branches in the county. Note: Remember to register for the upcoming Beaufort History Museum/ Beaufort County Library local history program about Tuscarora Jack beginning November 22nd.

It is no secret that there are dark parts of Native history, specifically post-contact with Europeans. Similar to Bossy’s The Yamasee Indians, The Only Land They Knew gives an account of the goings on of Southern Native tribes. However, while Bossy focuses specifically on the Yamasee, Wright describes the history, customs, and culture of the Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Seminoles, Powhatans, and Catawbas, in addition to the Yamasee. Native life post-contact is discussed, as well as shift in power and land ownership from Native groups to Europeans. The BDC currently houses the only copy of The Only Land They Knew within the Beaufort County Library System. 

Also included on this shelf is a small gray reproduction of an arrowhead, as well as a print behind it with the phrase “pifces ferinam reliquam annonam uftulandi ratio” above two Native people cooking over a fire. The print was originally done by Theodore de Bry (ca 1528-1598), and the phrase above describes how two Native people are smoking fish, snakes, and other animals over a fire.  Note: According to Mr. Google the phrase pifces ferinam reliquam annonam uftulandi ratio roughly translates into English as "the pieces of the game for the rest of the market."

For Shelf 4 I decided to focus more on the archeological side of Native history. As a former anthropology major in college, I couldn’t help but feature at least one item that talks specifically about archeology in relation to Native material culture, as there is a vast amount of work that has been done in the field.

South Carolina Indian Lore by Bert W. Bierer (1972), while a slightly misleading title, has hundreds of photographs and maps describing the material culture of Native people of South Carolina. And while the cover is a bit bland and its inclusion of the outdated term ‘Indian’ makes me sigh a little, I reminded myself that this book was indeed written fifty years ago, and despite that has stood the test of time and still has copious amounts of valuable information within its pages. Beginning with a brief overview of the various tribes that once resided in South Carolina, Bierer discusses Native remains found throughout South Carolina, as well as paths, trails, trade routes, and material culture of Native groups. Photos include detailed accounts of shell mounds, ancient stone objects such as arrowheads and bowls, and ceramics. The BDC is currently the only entity within the Beaufort County Library System that houses this book, making it an invaluable addition to our collection. 

The pamphlets included on this shelf of the display case are ‘Reflections of our Past: The Archeology of South Carolina,’ and a photo and small info sheet about Sitting Bull. The archeology pamphlet discusses what archeology is as a whole and how it relates to Native material culture throughout time, from 12,000 B.C.E. to the present.  

While not a native of South Carolina or part of a tribe within the state or nearby, I felt it was also important to include Sitting Bull’s photo as a reminder that Native people are not a group or culture of the past that we only learn about in history class. There continues to be active work and events done by and for Native groups all throughout the Southeast and beyond, with Sitting Bull continuing to be a figure of great import within Native history and society as a whole.  

As per instructions issued by Beaufort County government at 1:36pm 9 November 2022: All Beaufort County buildings and programs will be closed Thursday, November 10, 2022 in advance of the impending tropical storm. Beaufort County schools will be closed but will implement e-learning services. Friday, November 11, 2022 will remain a County holiday for Veterans Day. Thus, all units of the Beaufort County Library will be closed Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 11. The BDC staff will return on Monday, November 14, 2022 - barring anything unforeseen. Please monitor the Library system's website for additional announcements.