Honoring Indigenous
People and Land
The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina acknowledges the past and present members of the Indigenous communities that once occupied this land and were harmed and expelled by settlers: The Catawba (Issa, Essa, Iswa) and Cherokee (Tsalagi) nations. We stand in solidarity with all marginalized communities and condemn the acts of racism and ignorance toward any of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are dedicated to the work of dismantling racism and building Beloved Community.
Any history of The Episcopal Church in Western North Carolina must begin with an acknowledgement that prior to the arrival of Christian settlers, the Catawba and Cherokee Nations called the southern Appalachian region home for centuries. The Catawba lived in the Piedmont and Foothills region of North Carolina and the Cherokee were just west throughout the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Learn more about the history of indigenous peoples on this land on our "Origins" page.
Cherokee History in the North Carolina Mountains and Beyond - via Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
North Carolina's First Colonists: 12,000 Years Before Roanoke - via NC Office of State Archeology
The Catawba are well known in the Carolinas for their pottery. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Our Indigenous Mission is still in transition. Please stay tuned for updates as we continue to work with local communities in WNC.