Chapter 6 Conservation Goals and Priorities
6.6.2.6 Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN 2025) descend from several small Siouan speaking tribes who were living in the Piedmont of North Carolina and Virginia when the first European explorers arrived in the 1600s. The Occaneechi are a confederation of Saponi, Occaneechi, Eno, Tutelo, and Cheraw communities (OBSN 2025) . The OBSN are the smallest of the officially state-recognized tribes, but its members are active in their community and in statewide Indian events. Tribal members live primarily in Alamance, Caswell and Orange counties, with Tribal Grounds located in the Little Texas Community in Alamance County NC. The Tribe’s website is http://www.obsn.org. 6.6.2.7 Sappony Tribe The NCCIA (2025) notes that members of the Sappony Tribe (2023) have made the Piedmont Highlands their home for countless generations. The Sappony descend from seven main families, or clans—Coleman, Epps, Johnson, Martin, Shepherd, Stewart/Stuart and Talley. Historically, the town of Christie was the center of their traditional homelands known as the High Plains. Prior to European colonial contact, the Sappony were living in five villages along the James River as the Indians of Monassukapanough, which became known as Sappony (Sappony 2023) . The tribe’s website has more information https://www.sappony.org. 6.6.2.8 Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe According to the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe website (https://waccamaw-siouan.org), the “first written mention of the Waccamaw Siouan Indians appeared in historical records of 1521 by the Spanish explorer, Captain Franciso Gordillo, while visiting the South Carolina coast.” The Waccamaw were once known as the Waccommassus and are considered “People of the Fall Star.” The present day Waccamaw Siouan Tribal Office is located in Columbus and Bladen counties. The tribal homeland of the Waccamaw Siouan is situated on the edge of the Green Swamp, about 37 miles west of Wilmington and 7 miles from Lake Waccamaw. 6.6.3 Federal Resources Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is a national Native American non-profit organization that serves as an informative communication network between Tribal, federal, and state fish and wildlife management entities. NAFWS maintains a database of Tribal Natural Resource Departments staff. https://www.nafws.org
National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness,
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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