Native American Coverage

How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending Sept. 21

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

Brooke Simpson brings a piece of her heritage on stage

Every night North Carolina native Brooke Simpson brings a piece of her family's history on stage when she stars in "1776" at DPAC.

NC singer Brooke Simpson honors her heritage on Broadway, at DPAC in touring production of '1776'

A North Carolina singer is honoring her Native American history every night on stage.

Kathy Hanrahan, WRAL lifestyle editor

Tar Heel Traveler: Native Wines Winery

Located in Lexington, North Carolina, it is the first Native American owned winery in the United States, and the owner's origins trace back to the Lumbee tribe.

Building a Better Colonial Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Those who come to Colonial Williamsburg on a nostalgia trip will find some of what they are looking for.

Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times

Ancient Native American canoe brought to surface from beneath Lake Waccamaw

A piece of Native American history buried beneath Lake Waccamaw for hundreds of years was brought to the surface Wednesday.

WECT

Protesters stop the sale of a human skull at a local auction house

A group of Native Americans protested to stop the sale of a human skull at a local auction house.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Charter schools reverse course, allow students to keep long hairstyles through end of school year

Classical Charter Schools of America alerted families in its four schools in eastern North Carolina that school rules on grooming won't be enforced through the remainder of the academic year.

School defends grooming standards, sees 'trumped up controversy' in Native American families' resistance to cut boys' hair

Classical Charter Schools of America, owners of four schools in south and east North Carolina, posted a statement online in defense of school grooming standards in response to families in Whiteville and Leland who pushed back after their sons were asked to cut their hair.

Families push back against school's requirement that Native American boys cut their hair

Mia Chavis, the mother of 7-year-old Edward Chavis, told WRAL News her son's long hair is part of their Lumbee Tribe and Native American heritage, and she refuses to cut it.

Family sees discrimination in school's demand that boy cut his long hair

Administrators at a charter school in Columbus County are demanding a first-grade boy's hair be cut before students return from spring break.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

How they voted: North Carolina congressional votes for the week ending Dec. 22

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

Robeson County podcasters pursue true crime for people like them

In Episode 20 of What Remains, the hosts of 'The Red Justice Project' podcast share the details of some of the most horrendous cases they've covered

Fact check: DeSantis says U.S. wasn't built on stolen land

In the only gubernatorial debate before the Nov. 8 election, Gov. Ron DeSantis said: "You have people that are teaching -- and actually his running mate has said this in the past -- that teaching the United States was built on stolen land. That is inappropriate for our schools; it's not true." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

New smart phones feature Cherokee language

By itself, being able to read smartphone home screens in Cherokee won't be enough to safeguard the Indigenous language, endangered after a long history of erasure. But it might be a step toward immersing younger tribal citizens in the language spoken by a dwindling number of their elders.

AGT's Brooke Simpson performs in Raleigh

Brooke Simpson was in the Triangle on Friday to perform at the American Inidan Heritage Celebration. She hopes that her presence in the entertainment industry can inspire other young Native American girls to pursue their dreams.

'Indigenous pop star' Brooke Simpson performs at Raleigh American Indian Heritage Celebration

America's Got Talent star and North Carolina native Brooke Simpson performed Friday at the North Carolina Museum of History's annual American Indian Heritage Celebration.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL reporter

Brooke Simpson, Haliwa-Saponi tribe featured in Nike commercial

North Carolina's own Brooke Simpson is now being featured on billboards in Times Square and in Los Angeles. She partnered with Nike to advertise the N-7 collection honoring and supporting Indigenous communities.

NC delegation trying again to pass bill for recognition of Lumbee Tribe

North Carolina members of Congress are trying again to get the federal government to recognize the Lumbee Tribe.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

November is Native American Heritage month. Here's what you should know

Nov. 1 marks the first day of Native American Heritage month, signed into declaration by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. The month honors Indigenous peoples who have suffered at the hands of the U.S. government for several years. While there are 8 state recognized tribes in North Carolina, only one tribe is recognized by the federal government.

Tribes across North Carolina come together for powow at Dix Park

The rumbles of drums and powerful voices of the Haliwa-Saponi could be heard all across Dorothea Dix Park on Saturday as the Stoney Creek Drum Line's beats led the dance competitions.

Raleigh's first intertribal powwow honors those driven off Dix Park land by settlers

The rumbles of drums and powerful voices of the Haliwa-Saponi could be heard all across Dorothea Dix Park on Saturday as the Stoney Creek Drum Line's beats led the dance competitions.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Dorothea Dix Park hosts Raleigh's first intertribal powwow

On Saturday, Oct. 30, the city of Raleigh held its first ever intertribal powwow. While powwows happen all across North Carolina each year, this is the first one to be held in Raleigh on land that was once inhabited by Native Americans.

NC's Native American tribes struggling to get shots in arms

Due to distrust in the federal government, tribes in North Carolina are struggling to get shots in everyone's arms. While Native Americans have a high rate of coronavirus infection and death, they are reluctant to get vaccinated.

'We've been forgotten': NC tribe says Native Americans have been left behind during the pandemic

Leaders of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe say they're caught between a rock and a hard place: having to fight to get the COVID-19 support their tribe needs, while at the same time convincing them it's safe to take.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolinia reporter