The future of the Waccamaw people is one of hope. On March 16th, 2020, U.S. representative Tom Rice introduced a bill, HR1942, which would extend federal recognition to the Waccamaw people. With federal recognition comes the ability for native groups to engage in government to government relationships with the U.S. and gain powers and funding as a sovereign entity.
Why is this important?
In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) allowed for Native Americans to take possession of their ancestors’ remains and other objects of cultural importance. This act was very important as it allowed native groups a voice in the application of their cultural items as well as the location and treatment of their ancestral remains. This law does not apply to the Waccamaw people. NAGPRA only applied to tribes that have been recognized by the federal government. Without federal recognition, the people of the Waccamaw tribe cannot properly bury their ancestors.
This is why federal recognition is important to the Waccamaw Indian People. By not having a legal system that includes them as well as the opportunity to account for the remains of their own ancestors, they have been denied their basic rights as a people.
An easy way you could help the Waccamaw gain federal recognition is by contacting your Representative to let them know this issue is important. You can also easily contact your representative using Resistbot.
Citations
Congress.gov. “Tom Rice.” Congress.Gov | Library of Congress, www.congress.gov/member/tom-rice/R000597?searchResultViewType=expanded. Accessed 29 Mar. 2021.
National Park Service. “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, www.nps.gov/subjects/nagpra/index.htm. Accessed 29 Mar. 2021.