Haliwa-Saponi
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
(Enrolled members: 3,800) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States North Carolina
|
|
| Languages | |
| English, formerly Tutelo-Saponi | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Saponi, Nansemond |
(Enrolled members:
The Haliwa-Saponi is a Native American people recognized as a tribe by the state of North Carolina. They are located in the Northeastern Piedmont area. The Haliwa-Saponi hold membership on the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs.
The name Haliwa is derived from the two counties: Halifax and Warren, which are the ancestral homelands of the Haliwa people dating from the 1730s. They re-organized and adopted their current form of government in 1953 and were recognized in 1965 by the state of North Carolina. In 1979 the tribe added Saponi to their name to reflect their descent from the historical Saponi peoples, part of the large Siouan languages family, who were formerly located in the Piedmont of present-day Virginia and the Carolinas.
Since the late nineteenth century, the tribe has created schools and other institutions to preserve its culture and identity. Their common worship in Protestant churches, mostly Baptist and Methodist, has long acted to support community traditions. For years the people were also united through their subsistence activities and oral traditions. Today the young people readily use technology among their skills, while creating to new arts and crafts related to traditions.
The Haliwa-Saponi comprise slightly more than 3,800 enrolled citizens. About 80% of tribal members reside within a 6-mile radius of the small unincorporated town of Hollister, in Halifax and Warren counties. Some tribal members are also located in Nash and Franklin counties.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, approximately 2,737 Native Americans reside in Halifax and Warren counties, representing 3.5% of the total combined population. Between 1980 and 2000, the Native American population of the two counties increased by 48%, according to self-identification on the United State Census. During that time, the Black population increased by 15%, the Hispanic population increased by 50%, and the White population decreased by 5%.
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