NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1965 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 254

SENATE BILL 198

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 71 OF THE GENERAL STATUTES RELATIVE TO THE HALIWA INDIANS OF HALIFAX AND WARREN COUNTIES.

 

WHEREAS, many of the Indians now living in Halifax, Warren and adjoining counties are descendants of a once large and prosperous tribe which occupied lands along the Roanoke River at the time of the earliest white settlements in the Roanoke River Valley; and

WHEREAS, according to historical sources, when early colonists from coastal Virginia and North Carolina extended their colonization into that portion of the Roanoke River Valley country now designated as Halifax and Warren Counties, they found certain forbears of these Indians already well established there, a distinctive people living in settled towns and communities, in permanent family dwellings similar to European type residences, with some owning slaves, tending domesticated livestock, tilling the soil, and practicing many of the arts and crafts of European civilization; and

WHEREAS, by tribal legend supported by distinctive appearance and features, manner of speech, and by the frequent recurrence among the tribal members of family names of English and European origin, similar to family names found in the rosters of earlier English settlements or attempted settlements, these Indians may and with considerable reason do trace their origin to certain coastal Indian tribes; and

WHEREAS, evidences that these Indians populated this section have been found through exploratory and scientific operations and research in the Roanoke River Valley, and in the discovery of ceremonial Indian burial mounds; and

WHEREAS, these people are naturally and understandably proud of their heritage and are desirous of confirming their social and ethnic identity and preserving their racial history: Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1. Chapter 71 of the General Statutes of North Carolina pertaining to Indians shall be and the same is hereby amended by adding a new Section to be designated as "G. S. 71-7", which shall read as follows:

"71-7. The Indians now residing in Halifax, Warren and adjoining counties of North Carolina, originally found by the first permanent white settlers on the Roanoke River in Halifax and Warren Counties, and claiming descent from certain tribes of Indians originally inhabiting the coastal regions of North Carolina, shall, from and after the effective date of this Section be known and may be designated as the Haliwa Indians of North Carolina, and they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges and immunities as citizens of the State as now or hereafter provided by law, and shall continue to be subject to all the obligations and duties of citizens under the law."

Sec. 2. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 3. This Act shall become effective upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 15th day of April, 1965.