College of Charleston Celebrates Native American Dance

^{Photos by Catie Cleveland}

A performance hundreds of years in the making; the College of Charleston held a Native American Dance Expo in Randolph Hall on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Chief Lisa Collins of the Wassamasaw tribe, whose land CofC sits on, spoke at the event. The Edisto Natchez-Kusso tribe followed the speech with a dance/singing/drum performance. 

“The expo itself is designed to remind the community of the history of local Indigenous nations who continue to be a significant presence in the Lowcountry,” says Sandra Slater, director of the Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World Program (CLAW). “I wanted to provide an opportunity to local Indigenous communities to share their beautiful cultures, including music and dance, with the College of Charleston.”

The event is part of the “Indigenous Voices” series, started in 2023 by CLAW. The purpose of the series is to connect students and faculty at the College, alongside the Charleston community, to their Indigenous neighbors by letting Indigenous voices be heard.  

College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu was also present at the event, providing remarks on the historical significance of the local Native American tribes.

“We intend to celebrate their traditions and their history here today,” he said, “and I’m pleased that they have honored us with their presence.”

CLAW plans to have several more events as a part of the “Indigenous Voices” series in the spring.