Dancers from the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe make their “grand entry” into the VGCC Civic Center, as they begin their performance during VGCC’s Native American Appreciation event. (VGCC photo)
Vance-Granville Community College held a “Native American Appreciation Day” in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus on Nov. 26, during the national celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
Students from VGCC’s Cosmetology programs on Main Campus, South Campus and Franklin County Campus helped to organize the event. The head of VGCC’s Cosmetology program, Tomeka Moss, is herself a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe. Students served American Indian food samples and presented displays of traditional clothing and jewelry from various tribes, focusing particularly on North Carolina’s Haliwa-Saponi and Meherrin cultures. The college’s Learning Resources Center was also on hand with a display of books on Native American subjects.
The highlight of the event was a performance by dancers and drummers from the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. Sharon H. Berrun, the tribe’s youth services director, educated attendees about the tribe’s history and described the meaning and significance of the traditional dances being presented. “We dance to maintain our heritage and culture, to continue the traditions of our ancestors, and to honor the Creator,” Berrun said. She explained that the name “Haliwa” is derived from the first letters of the two counties, Halifax and Warren, where most of the tribe members live. Tribal elders chose to add the word to their traditional name, Saponi. Berrun said that the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, officially recognized by the state of North Carolina since 1965, currently boasts more than 4,000 enrolled members, making the group the state’s third-largest tribe. She added that there are an estimated 120,000 American Indians in North Carolina.