Fund Raising for Occaneechi Tribal Center

The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, NC’s smallest and most recently recognized tribe, is beginning a major fundraising campaign to purchase 34 acres of property in the heart of the “Little Texas” settlement, to be used for the purpose of building a new Tribal Center complex, and to help preserve the rural nature of the area. The Little Texas area of Alamance County has been home to the Occaneehi Band of the Saponi community since the 1780’s.

This complex would have several componants. The first would be the building itself, which would contain administrative office space, a classroom, meeting area, and museum focusing on Tribal history and culture. Outside would be a permanant Pow-Wow grounds, openair meeting/demonstration area, Nature Trails, Native Garden, Reconstructed 1701 Village, and reconstructed 1850’s era log homestead. This facility would serve many functions, both educational and economic, since it would employ 8-10 community members when finished, and provide some modest amount of tourism revenue. It would be the only facility of it’s kind in eastern North Carolina.

The Occaneechi have been raising money in a variety of ways; pig-pickings, fish fries, and raffles, to name a few, in an effort to raise the bulk of the money without going to a commerical lender for a loan.

If you would like to help, or just want to know more, please contact the tribal office at 919-304-3723, or check the Tribe’s website at http://www.occaneechi-saponi.org The tribe is a 501c3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.