What is the Occaneechi tribe known for?

They are first mentioned in historical records in 1650, when an Appomattox Indian guide told the English explorer Edward Bland that there was an island in the Roanoke River near present-day Clarksville, Va., where “some of the Occonacheans lived.” The Occaneechi reached their greatest prominence as middlemen in the fur …

Is the Occaneechi tribe federally recognized?

In 1995 the tribe amended its name to Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and worked toward its goal of state and federal recognition. In February 2002, the tribe realized one goal when it became the newest tribe legally recognized by North Carolina.

How did the Occaneechi live?

Occaneechi Indian Tribe history Living along the Eno and Haw Rivers, the land was rich for hunting and fishing, as they had vast land to hunt buffalo, deer, bears, rabbits, turkeys and more. The tribe knew the land, living in the area for thousands of years prior to European contact.

What language did the Occaneechi tribe speak?

eastern Siouan dialect
The Occaneechi language has is no longer spoken, but scholars believe the tribe spoke an eastern Siouan dialect similar to Saponi and Tutelo. Virginia explorer Abraham Wood visited the tribe in the late 1600s and described the tribes’ influence on the deerskin trade.

Who was the leader of the Occaneechi tribe?

Vickie Jeffries
Tribal Administrator & Treasurer, Vickie Jeffries Vickie Jeffries (Mihe Heyananhes Yattse) is the Tribal Administrator for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and she has held this position for the past 7 years. Ms. Jeffries is also the Chair for the annual OBSN Pow-wow.

What did the Eno tribe eat?

They ate reptiles and insects, such as snakes and grasshoppers. They also hunted ducks, which were available in large numbers.

What language do the haliwa-saponi speak?

Richardson is the project director for the Haliwa-Saponi Historic Legacy Project. He learns—and teaches Tutelo-Saponi, which is part of the Siouan language spoken by American Indians in central and eastern North Carolina centuries ago.

What is the meaning of Saponi?

Definition of Saponi 1 : an extinct Siouan people of central Virginia. 2 : a member of the Saponi people.

What does the name Meherrin mean?

Definition of Meherrin 1a : an Iroquoian people of the Meherrin river valley in Virginia and North Carolina. b : a member of such people. 2 : the language of the Meherrin people.

What language did the Occaneechi speak?

What happened to the Eno tribe?

In 1716 Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia tried to settle their remnant permanently at Eno-Town to act as protection from more hostile tribes, but the governors of North Carolina and South Carolina opposed the plan. From this time on, the Eno tribe disappears from the historical record.

Where does the Occaneechi tribe live?

In the late-twentieth century, the tribe organized under the name Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and in 2002 the state of North Carolina formally recognized the tribe. Today, Occaneechi live primarily in Alamance and Orange counties.

What does Occaneechi stand for?

The Occaneechi (also Occoneechee and Akenatzy) are Native Americans who lived in the 17th century primarily on the large, 4-mile (6.4 km) long Occoneechee Island and east of the confluence of the Dan and Roanoke rivers, near current-day Clarksville, Virginia.

What did the Occaneechi do for a living?

In addition to farming of tobacco and other crops, the Occaneechi are believed to have been heavily involved in the fur trade. They resided along the Great Trading Path, which was a prime location connecting the tribe with settlers and other area tribes, along with the Catawba and Cherokee.

When did the Occaneechi come to North Carolina?

Starting in the 1820s many Occaneechi moved to Ohio and other Midwestern states to join relatives. In the late-twentieth century, the tribe organized under the name Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and in 2002 the state of North Carolina formally recognized the tribe.