The Meherrin Nation is one of eight state-recognized Nations of Native Americans in North Carolina. They received formal state recognition in 1986. The Meherrin have an enrollment of 900 people.[1] Their ancestral language has been extinct for many years. Some members are participating in a revival of traditional arts and crafts.
The Meherrin are Iroquoian-language Native Americans, related to the Tuscarora and Iroquois, who reside in rural northeastern North Carolina, near the river of the same name on the Virginia-North Carolina border. Originally inhabiting Virginia, they moved south in response to encroachment by Anglo-American colonists.
By 1706 they had resettled on lands previously occupied by the Chowanoke near the mouth of the Meherrin River.[2] In 1711-1712 they were allies of the Tuscarora during the Tuscarora War. This reservation was confirmed as theirs by treaty with the colony in 1726.[3]
The tribe reorganized and became chartered in 1977 after increasing activism by members. They were recognized by the state in 1986. The Meherrin tribal seat is Winton, North Carolina. The Nation's residents principally reside in and around the "Little California/Pleasant Plains/Union" area of Hertford County, North Carolina. They work in a wide variety of professional fields, as a high proportion of the tribe have college degrees compared to the general population in the county.[4]
Meherrin is the name of a small village in Southside Virginia.
References
- ^ Brenda Linton and Leslie S. Stewart, "Economic Development Assessment for the Meherrin Tribe", University of North Carolina, Jul 2003, accessed 26 Oct 2009
- ^ Meherrin Indian Tribe, Official Website, accessed 26 Oct 2009,
- ^ Brenda Linton and Leslie S. Stewart, "Economic Development Assessment for the Meherrin Tribe", University of North Carolina, Jul 2003, accessed 26 Oct 2009
- ^ Brenda Linton and Leslie S. Stewart, "Economic Development Assessment for the Meherrin Tribe", University of North Carolina, Jul 2003, accessed 26 Oct 2009
External links
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