The Waccamaw-Siouan tribe is based in Bladen and Columbus counties. There are about 1,500 tribal members living in the communities of St. James, Buckhead, and Council. The tribal homeland is on the edge of Green Swamp about 37 miles from Wilmington, North Carolina.
The first written mention of the Waccamaw Siouan appeared in historical records of 1712 when white settlers tried to persuade the tribe along with the Cape Fears to join James Moore’s expedition against the Tuscarora.
Since the earliest recorded exploration of Lake Waccamaw by the naturalist, William Bartram (assisted in his efforts by Waccamaw Indians) in 1735, many legends have been told about the origin of Lake Waccamaw. According to the Waccamaw Siouan Indians, thousands of years ago, an immense meteor struck, burning itself deep within the earth. The waters of the surrounding swamps and rivers flowed into the crater and cooled it, creating Lake Waccamaw, a gem blue, verdant green lake. The tribe calls itself the “People of the Falling Star.”
The state of North Carolina recognized the Waccamaw Siouan tribe in 1971. To connect with the current events of the tribe please visit its Facebook page.