Pee Dee People - Contemporary Tribe

Contemporary Tribe

Such assimilation led to a number of issues in the 20th century. During the South's period of racial segregation and classifying all people into a binary society, appearing and identifying as "white" brought people more privileges and freedom. Since many Pee Dee were of mixed ancestry, some began to identify as white to make their daily lives easier, and gradually assimilated to the white community. The state classified those of darker complexions as black and made their children attend segregated "black" schools. Some attended one of the few Indian schools around the Neeses and Charleston areas during that time.

Some Pee Dee institutions created during the years of segregation have continued to be maintained to this day. One example is the Rocky Swamp Methodist Church, with a majority Pee Dee congregation. Its members observe a combination of Methodist and Native American Church religions. Many Pee Dee people are buried in its historic cemetery.

No branch of the Pee Dee tribe is officially recognized by the United States Federal government. The people identifying as Pee Dee live primarily in Dillon and Marlboro counties.Other descendants of the historic tribe have affiliated with several different tribes: members live mostly in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Since 2005, some remnant or merged Indian communities have gained recognition by South Carolina as state recognized tribes or groups. They include:

• Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina (recognized in 2005), 532 members, living primarily in Dillon and Marlboro counties;
• Beaver Creek Indians (recognized in 2006), primarily in Orangeburg County between the forks of the Edisto River;
• Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina (recognized in 2006), and
• Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek (recognized in 2007). Issues of identity and politics have prevented these bands from uniting as one Pee Dee tribe. Each is also seeking federal recognition.

In 2000, Michael Spivey published an ethnography of the Pee Dee in the northern part of South Carolina. In 2012, Claude Chavis published a history of the Pee Dee, "Hiding In Plain Sight: The Pee Dee Indians After Contact," PDIN Press. The tribal government of the Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina used this research as the basis of required documentation to support their bid for federal recognition.

The only tribe in South Carolina that has gained federal recognition is the related Catawba tribe. It was historically part of the Siouan-language family, as were many of the smaller tribes in the Piedmont.