Records of the Catawba Indian Nation Government

The Catawba Indian Nation is the only federally recognized native tribe in the state of South Carolina. First receiving federal recognition in 1941, the tribe's federal status was rescinded under the Catawba Indian Tribe Division of Assets Act (1959) as part of the US government's termination policy (1953-1968). In 1973, the Catawba Nation Tribal government was reformed and petitioned to regain federal recognition. Over the next 20 years the Catawba engaged in a legal battle with the governments of both the United States and the State of South Carolina to regain federal recognition and settle outstanding land claims resulting from the illegal Treaty of Nation Ford (1840). After a long fight which included several cases heard before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Catawba regained recognition through an act of Congress via the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina land Claims Settlement Act of 1993, regaining its status as a sovereign, self-governing nation.