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Congressman Don Davis Introduces Bill Calling For Federal Recognition of The Haliwa Saponi Tribe of North Carolina

August 18, 2023

GREENVILLE, N.C.  – Today, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) introduced legislation to extend the full federal government-to-government relationship to the Haliwa Saponi Tribe of North Carolina.

The Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina Act seeks to provide the Haliwa Saponi Tribe with the federal acknowledgment that has long been overdue. Congressman Davis stressed that this federal recognition would honor the tribe's rich history.

"Recognizing the Haliwa Saponi Tribe's sovereign status is a celebration of their unique cultural heritage and an acknowledgment of their invaluable contributions to our state and nation," said Congressman Don Davis.

“We are so thankful for the support of Congressmen Don Davis and G. K. Butterfield before him and all of the others who have helped our Tribe reach this historic day, for which we have anxiously waited,” said Chief Dr. Brucie Ogletree Richardson. 

“This is a historic moment for our Tribe, and we are so grateful to Congressman Davis and so grateful for the support of Halifax and Warren Counties,” said Chairman Gideon Lee. “Our forefathers have waited for this moment for a long, long time.”

The Tribe has over 4,000 members and resides in eastern North Carolina, where its strong relationship with its non-Indian neighbors stretches back countless generations. Halifax and Warren Counties strongly support full federal recognition for the Tribe. 

Congressman Davis’ legislation ensures that the historic North Carolina American Indian Tribe will finally be treated equally under federal law with other federally recognized American Indian tribes in other parts of the country.

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dondavis.house.gov

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