South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 4070


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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ASSIST THE PEE DEE INDIAN TRIBE IN ACHIEVING FEDERAL RECOGNITION AND GRANT THEM ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAT ARE GRANTED TO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

Whereas, the Pee Dee Indian Tribe is a small American Indian tribe located along the Pee Dee River within South Carolina's Pee Dee region with tribal government offices in Marlboro County. The tribe was once a profound cultural and political power in the region as evidenced in the Europeans' naming the region and river after the tribe; and

Whereas, the tribe is a proud member of the National Congress of American Indians, a member of the South Carolina Native American Affairs Commission, and obtained state recognition on January 27, 2006; and

Whereas, although the recognition from the State has been helpful in meeting certain needs, federal recognition would allow for the tribe to grow as a nation with access to special grants, government-backed loans, tax benefits, support for business development, help protecting natural resources, a range of social services, and assistance with infrastructure projects; and

Whereas, without federal recognition the tribe cannot assert its identity culturally or commercially and cannot easily secure the bones of the dead or the artifacts of its people. With federal recognition the tribe can achieve long-term sustainability; and

Whereas, recognizing the importance of preserving the history of South Carolina's indigenous people, the House urges our congressional delegation to undertake actions to aid the tribe in its interactions with the Department of the Interiors Bureau of Indian Affairs. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress to assist the Pee Dee Indian Tribe in achieving federal recognition and grant them all rights and privileges that are granted to nationally recognized Native American tribes.

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