The Catawba (Katapa, Kataba) people are a federally recognized tribe of Siouan-speaking Native Americans who live primarily in South Carolina, near the Catawba River and Rock Hill.
Also known as Iswä (Iswa), Issa, Yssa, Essa, or Esaw, with Ye Iswąˀ meaning "people of the river," their territory once extended into North Carolina, and they still have a legal claim to some portions of land in that state.
The Catawba were once one of the most powerful tribes in the Carolinas, with other, smaller tribes merging into the Catawba when their numbers declined after European colonization. Thus, it is likely that the Catawba are the descendants of as many as fifty different tribes who lived in the Piedmont regions of North and South Carolina. As they all spoke the Siouan language and shared traditions, there was a natural bond between these tribes.
When the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto encountered the Catawba in the 1540s, they were described as tall and graceful people who dressed in skins and furs. Their bodies were painted, and both men and women had facial tattoos. It was also noted that they had long fingernails. Shells were used as clothing decorations and ceremonial items, and their arrowheads and spear points were made of quartz crystal.
By the time the English arrived, the Catawba had developed an affinity for silver breastplates, silver arm bands, and brass bells. The Spanish may have introduced these items.
Like several other Eastern tribes, the Catawba weren't nomadic. They settled in one area as long as the land was good, then moved to another location when it was no longer good. They lived in permanent structures rather than tipis. Although deep snow was rare, high winds, thunderstorms, hail, sleet, and cool winter temperatures were common, and their homes were built to withstand the weather. Commonly, their villages were surrounded by 6-8 feet-high palisades to protect against wild animals and unwelcomed visitors.
Early relationships between the Catawba and Europeans were generally peaceful and profitable, and this continued for many years. European traders were provided shelter on the outside of Catawba villages, and many of them were adopted into the tribe.
As more and more European colonists moved into the region, the Catawba were introduced to diseases that their systems couldn't handle, leading to epidemics that decimated the Catawba, and American Indians in general. Confrontations with settlers over land led to more deaths.
Nevertheless, the Catawba sided with American colonists during the Revolutionary War. Serving under Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, more than five hundred Catawba lost their lives during the war, and the British destroyed the Catawba's major village.
By the time of the American Civil War, the Catawba were reduced to an obscure enclave. Nevertheless, the Catawba supported the Confederacy.
As the Catawba lost their land to politics and greed, many of them moved away from their homeland, some joining the Cherokee, the Choctaw, and other tribes, but others remained to fight for their rights and their lands under treaties that had been signed with the United States government.
Under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, American Indian tribes were encouraged to renew their governments to exercise more self-determination. By that time, the Catawba were not a recognized Native American tribe as they had lost their land and didn't have a reservation. In 1839, Catawba Chief Samuel Taylor Blue began the process of securing federal recognition, which was granted in 1941. In 1944, South Carolina granted the Catawba citizenship, but not the right to vote.
In the 1950s, the U.S. government began a policy of Indian termination, based on the idea that some tribes were sufficiently integrated so as to not be in need of any special relationship with the government. Under this policy, federal recognition of the Catawba tribe was terminated in 1959. This time, they brought the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the termination in 1993, recognizing the Catawba Indian Nation and settling their land claims for $50 million. Chief Gilbert Blue was the head of the tribe at that time, serving until 2007.
At the time of the 2010 census, 3,370 people self-identified as having Catawba ancestry.
The Catawba Reservation is two unconnected sections in York County, South Carolina, and it also has a congressionally established service area in North Carolina, as well as a site on Kings Mountain which they intend to develop into a gaming casino.
The focal point of this portion of our web guide is on the Catawba people. Websites representing Catawba tribes, reservation land, tribal businesses, industries, or services are appropriate for this category, as are informational sites about the Catawba.
Recommended Resources
Established in 1996 and rebranded in 2020, Catawba Corporation offers services in multiple sectors, holding companies participating in SBA's Business Development Program with HUBZone Certifications, and offering exclusive set-asides and sole-source contracts to its partners. Its values, pertaining to health and safety, culture, ethics, quality, and relationships, are stated, and an overview of its management support office is included, along with contacts.
https://catawbacorps.com/
Housed in the former Catawba School House since the early 1990s, the Cultural Center is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Its services include the Catawba Library, a professional collection of Digital Archives, Catawba language classes, and regular cultural classes offering training in traditional pottering, basketry, foraging, history, and other topics. Public programs and a Trading Post are also included.
https://www.catawbaculture.org/
Made up of five commissioners, an executive director, and a director of compliance, the executive team is responsible for overseeing compliance with Catawba Nation and Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) laws and regulations that fall upon the Catawba Gaming Commission. The commissioners and management team are introduced, along with answers to questions about gaming, gaming licensure, and the Gaming Commission. Contacts and an online contact form are provided.
https://gamingcommission.catawba.com/
The Catawba Indians have lived on their ancestral lands along the banks of the Catawba River for at least 6,000 years and are currently the only federally recognized Indian Nation in South Carolina. Its history, culture, and heritage are highlighted on the official website of the Nation. Its government, boards, committees, and election information are provided, along with an overview of citizen resources and services, Catawba enterprises, and volunteer and employment opportunities.
https://catawba.com/
The comprehensive early childhood program is available for children and their families from the Catawba Indian Nation and outlying community. Its program is funded to serve children from birth to five years of age, and their families, and at least ten percent of its enrollment opportunities are for children with disabilities. Situated on the Catawba Indian Reservation, the program is a Tribal Program that incorporates Catawba culture through language preservation and other means.
https://iswaheadstart.com/
If approved, the Catawba Two Kings project will bring positive economic development and jobs to the members of the Catawba Nation and Kings Mountain residents in North Carolina. The address and a map are published on the site, highlighting the proposed casino, which will have slots, electronic table games, dining facilities, and events. A community impact statement is published on the site, along with press releases, sponsorship opportunities, career information, and contacts.
https://www.twokingscasino.com/
