SALLEY — Last month’s official state recognition of the Beaver Creek Indians marked a milestone in the tribe’s long history, Chief Louie Chavis says.

“Being formally recognized as an American Indian is the best thing that has ever happened to me or my tribe. It gives us the right to hold our heads up and have our heritage recognized as worthy. January 27, 2006, was the greatest culmination of my dream. Our ancestors in the next life can take a look and know that we’ve done well by them. Our people are now recognized. They no longer have to look down at their feet. My heart melts because I know my people can look up with pride.”

For more than 200 years, American Indian tribes were not recognized by the state of South Carolina. Recently, that has changed. The S.C. State Commission of Minority Affairs now recognizes the Pee Dee Indians of South Carolina, the Beaver Creek Indians and the Santee Indian Organization.

Chavis said the process of recognition took approximately six years. In 1998, the Beaver Creek Indians were chartered as a nonprofit group, and they began constructing their official rolls by researching geneologies, birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates and other historical documents. They found that their ancestral home was in Neeses.

“We get our name from the Big and Little Beaver Creeks, which feed into the Edisto River near Neeses,” Chavis said.

The Beaver Creek Indians were able to procure the old school building in Salley, however, and are currently using that as their main office.

“The mayor and all the people of Salley have been very kind to us,” Chavis said. “We appreciate all they have done to help and support us.”

Following the initial research, the tedious task of contacting individuals and acquiring official DHEC birth certificates began.

“It was a difficult task because ’Indian’ or ’American Indian’ was not put on any birth certificate — only ’White’ or ’American.’ Also, education was withheld from us for quite awhile. That means we lost a great deal of our culture and heritage,” Chavis said. “Eventually, we were able to complete 950 files, and we were asked to close our rolls so that we could enter into this process of recognition.”

The Beaver Creek Indians still have about 1,000 files that are nearing completion, he said.

“One day, we will reopen our rolls,” Chavis said.

Federal recognition is available to any tribe who can prove history back to first European contact in the 1500s and show their tribe as “Indian” through birth, death and marriage, he said.

“This is a process that will take many years to prove and much work on vital statistics. We are not ready to make that leap for many years to come. The BIA only gives you one chance. If you fail, you cannot apply again. Our tribe, along with most South C

The Beaver Creek Indians is governed by a chief, a vice chief and a council, Chavis said, adding that these are all elected positions.

“Every two years we have an election for a term of four years. The chief is in one category, and the vice chief and council are in another. This year I am up for re-election,” Chavis said. “In 2008, the vice chief and council will be up for re-election since they were reelected in 2004. This way, our governing board is able to retain some continuity.”

As chief, Chavis attends as many Powwows as he can, along with special tribal events, and he serves on many South Carolina panels and boards. With recognition of the Beaver Creek Indians as an American Indian tribe will increase Chavis’ duties.

“I have seen history made in South Carolina,” he said, “and I have helped make history in South Carolina for all American Indian people.”

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