| Regions with significant populations |
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| United States ( South Carolina) |
| Languages |
| Religion |
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Christianity (incl. syncretistic forms), Mormon |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Beaver Creek Indians are a state recognized tribe located in South Carolina, USA. They achieved state recognition on January 27, 2006.[1][2][3] It is seeking federal recognition. The tribe formally organized as a non-profit organization in 1998 to seek official recognition.[4]
Their traditional historical lands are between the two forks of the Edisto River in Orangeburg County, and especially along Beaver Creek.[5][6] Historical accounts document the tribe in this area since the 18th century. Most of the tribe members live in the area. They have traditionally farmed (it is a rural area) or held jobs within the local community.
The tribe's historical language family was Siouan, one of the major languages connecting them to such tribes as Cheraw and Catawba. Today all members speak English. Common family names within the tribe are: Chavis, Hutto, Williams, Barr, Bolin, Jackson, Huffman and Gleaton.
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The tribe is governed by a Chief (Louie Chavis) and a Vice Chief (Kenneth Adams), and a Tribal Council of nine members; an Elders Council of five members also provides consultation and advice. The tribe's current headquarters is in the town of Salley, South Carolina.
Lazarus Chavis (b. 1767 - d. after 1830) has been identified as the tribe's earliest known ancestor. He and his descendants are the central figures in the tribe's history, identity, and genealogy. Documentation of his life in numerous sources enabled the tribe to achieve state recognition in the 21st century, because records showed he identified as Indian. This provided proof that the people had a continuity of cultural and ethnic identity after the American Revolutionary War and through times of change.
Though Chavis lived during a time when Native Americans were treated poorly, leading many to deny or hide their ethnicity, he identified openly as Indian, and was so recorded in numerous legal documents. Records indicate he served in the American Revolutionary War and received a pension for the military service. He is also listed in the first U.S. Federal Census of 1790 and every census after that through 1830.
Because his Native American ethnicity is documented through multiple and unrelated sources, his life demonstrated continuity of identity through early colonial and republican history. Such documentation was critical for the tribe's achieving state recognition in the 21st century. As Chavis was the foundation of the tribe's legal existence, he has come to define the extent and limits of its ancestry. Today he is defined as the common ancestor for all the members of the tribe. To be a member of the tribe, an individual must demonstrate direct descent from Chavis.