Governor Josh Stein on Thursday celebrated American Indian Heritage Month with the North Carolina Department of Administration and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources at the Executive Mansion, his office said.
Stein said American Indian North Carolinians enrich the state’s culture and economy. “This month and all year round, we recognize American Indians’ lasting impact on our state,” he said.
The event came days after Stein urged the U.S. Census Bureau to withdraw a proposal to eliminate demographic questions from the 2030 Census. The governor’s office said his Nov. 2 public comment cited potentially damaging impacts on American Indian communities in North Carolina. The office linked to his comment letter.
The Department of Administration and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources emphasized the importance of American Indian contributions. Administration Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza said American Indians “remain vital to North Carolina’s future.” Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell said the month amplifies visibility for tribes in the state.
The governor’s office said North Carolina is home to approximately 130,000 American Indians, the seventh-largest American Indian population in the country and the second-largest east of the Mississippi River. It said tribal communities include the Catawba, Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan tribes, as well as the Cumberland County Association for Indian People, the Guilford and Metrolina Native American Associations, and the Triangle Native American Society. The office also noted members of the Catawba Nation, based in South Carolina, live in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, housed within the Department of Administration, addresses issues concerning the needs of the state’s American Indian community, the release said. The North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission advises and assists the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources in preserving, interpreting and promoting American Indian history, arts, customs and culture.
The governor’s office linked to a calendar of upcoming American Indian events and to the governor’s proclamation for American Indian Heritage Month. It did not provide further details on next steps regarding the Census Bureau proposal.