Too often many of us think that Lowcountry history began with the arrival of colonists…but there were several flourishing cultures here well before the English, Spanish and other Europeans arrived.  Our September program “Osceola’s Muse” gave us a glimpse but our November program will take us back further and cover the subject more broadly.  Our speaker will be Jessica Knuff.

Jessica Marie Knuff is a Daniel Island resident.  She is an activist for Native issues and of Cherokee/Pee Dee heritage.  She sits on the board of the U.S. Department of State’s Native American Foreign Affairs Council, acts as a White House Generation Indigenous liaison, and is a member of the Indigenous Women’s Alliance of South Carolina.  Jessica is particularly interested in Native history of the South and the revitalization of Indigenous languages. 

She currently works for the State Department.  Before joining the Department, Jessica worked as a professor of Political Science and International Security Studies. Prior to her career in academia, she was a researcher at the United Nations FAO and the Center for Refugee Studies in Rome, Italy.

Ms Knuff has several other events coming up in November:

Nov 2-3 – Waccamaw Pauwau – Aynor, SC

Nov 9 – Native American Heritage Celebration, Ridgeville, SC.  Morris Center, partnering with the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of SC.

Nov 23 – Sisters are Sacred – Indigenous Women’s Art Exhibit and Sale, Columbia, SC.  Hosted by The South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission, in conjunction with its Indigenous Women’s Alliance.