November is Native American Heritage Month.

It’s time to recognize and celebrate the original inhabitants of North America.

It is also called American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. There are around 7 million natives in the US, or around 2.5% of our population.

The 1st American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. A member of the Blackfeet Nation named Red Fox James rode to 24 states to get endorsements from their governments in order to have a day honoring American Indians.

Many people know about the WWII Code Talkers, Pocahontas, Geronimo, Sitting Bull and Jim Thorpe, but there are so many more who have contributed to this country. This month is a time to learn about others.

In South Carolina, especially the midlands, Native Americans have been making history for at least 12,000 years. There is plenty of evidence to their past, like the Cherokee Trail that runs through Cayce, West Columbia and Lexington.

There many descendants of the original Cherokee, Chocktaw, Catawba, Congaree, Wateree and other tribes living in our county.

The 12,000 Year History Park in Cayce offers Native American history tours several times a year.

The Native American community is quite active locally.

The Southeast Indigenous Prayer Circle has been active in educating people about Christ. Most Cherokee and many other tribes are Christians. They also find and recognize historic and sacred sites in the area and perform ceremonies for veterans and past warriors.

I was recently with some members of the SE Indigenous Prayer Circle at a historic site near Red Bank as they did a blessing for the land there and lifted up prayers for veterans and fallen soldiers.

They frequently pray for guidance from “The Great One” at sunrise facing East. They seek guidance and believe that God guides them to places to pray over.

There are at least 10 ancient village sites around Lexington County, and more are located each year.

However, it has not been easy for Native Americans to exist with the predominantly white communities. There was such a stigma in being identified as an “Indian,” that they could not get jobs, or education except in government-run schools.

So, most hid their native heritage and would identify themselves as white if they were light-skinned.

There is still some stigma, but things are improving.