Wassamasaw Indian Nation Etiwan Tribe

11/12/2026

NATHPO Executive Director Ira L. Matt (Séliš) provided an update today on BAAJA and proposed amendments. Only one – proposed by Senator Adam Schiff – would achieve the necessary step of removing the historic preservation title so Congress can the time to craft new language in an open, transparent process that includes Tribal consultation, not a backroom deal even one of BAAJA's key backers admits failed to take Tribal voices into account.

"What began as a termination-era approach of cutting Tribal Nations out has shifted to an assimilation-era tactic of telling us how and when we can participate, what matters to our cultures, and which harms we must accept. Both approaches put federal control ahead of Tribal sovereignty. Congress has had repeated opportunities to engage Tribal Nations through an equitable, intentional, and authentic process. Rushed negotiations and selective endorsements do not meet that responsibility ... Our responsibility reaches beyond this week’s negotiations. We will not accept a weakened foundation that future generations must struggle to repair. Respect Tribal sovereignty. Let Tribal Nations speak for themselves. Strike Title III entirely."

Read the full memo:
https://www.nathpo.org/2026/11/11/nathpo-november-11th-2026-news-release/

11/11/2026

This Veterans Day, the Etiwan Tribe – Wassamasaw Indian Nation of South Carolina thanks all veterans for their service, courage, and sacrifice. We honor our Indigenous veterans and every person who has worn the uniform. Your dedication, and the strength of the families beside you, deserve lasting gratitude. May we honor your service through compassion, remembrance, and meaningful support today and every day. We stand together in respect.

11/08/2026

11/07/2026

Manifest Destiny displaced Indigenous Peoples and stripped communities of land, resources, and wealth. Manifest Sovereignty advances a different future: Indigenous ownership, investment, and authority over economic decisions. Chrystel Cornelius highlights how Native community development financial institutions finance homes, support entrepreneurs, and strengthen tribal economies while keeping capital circulating within communities. Economic sovereignty requires meaningful access to financing and partnerships that respect tribal priorities. For our Nations, prosperity must sustain our people, protect our homelands, and create opportunities for future generations. This Native American Heritage Month, let us support Indigenous leadership and lasting economic self-determination.

Manifest Destiny stripped Native communities of land and wealth. Oweesta’s Chrystel Cornelius makes the case for Manifest Sovereignty — and investing in Native CDFIs to put capital, ownership and economic power back in Native hands.

11/01/2026

November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month, dedicated to honoring the histories, diverse cultures, and enduring contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples.

For the Tribe – Wassamasaw Indian Nation of South Carolina, this observance affirms our ongoing presence, ancestral connection to tribal land, and responsibility to future generations. Our heritage endures through our people, cultural knowledge, leadership, and the continued exercise of Indigenous sovereignty.

10/31/2026

Tribal courts are not merely administrative bodies; they are the bedrock of tribal governance. They uphold community order, enforce tribal laws, and serve as the daily venue where inherent rights are exercised and protected. Native scholar Vine Deloria Jr. famously stated: “If you want to be sovereign, act sovereign.”

Exercising independent judicial authority through fully functioning tribal courts is a direct expression of sovereignty.

Overview: As tribal courts take on more complex cases, investing in judges trained in tribal law and traditions is essential to delivering justice and protecting sovereignty. Tribal judicial systems across Indian Country are expanding. Legislative changes, broader criminal jurisdiction and growing c...

10/21/2026

10/18/2026

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On October 18, 1983, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation was officially recognized by the federal government when President Ronald Reagan signed the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Claims Settlement Act.

The Act settled claims related to reservation land that had been unlawfully sold by the State of Connecticut in 1855 and restored the Tribe’s sovereign authority over our reservation.

Federal recognition marked a significant moment in our Nation’s history and paved the way for important developments in the years that followed, including the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

On this anniversary, we remember the Pequot leaders and allies whose persistence and determination helped restore federal recognition and secure a future for generations to come.

10/15/2026

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Wear purple. Stand . 💜

This , join advocates and communities across the country in wearing purple to show your support for survivors of domestic violence.

Visibility matters—but our commitment can’t stop there. Listen to survivors, support local advocates, and be part of creating safety in your community.