Meet our Community
Our community is comprised of American Indians residing in the Triangle area (Wake, Johnston, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties). The purpose of the TNAS is to act as the official governing urban Indian organization in the triangle community. Furthermore, the organization seeks to unite American Indians together bridging various unique culture and traditional blends while holistically attending to the needs of the Indian population residing in the community.
Here are a few quick stats about American Indians in North Carolina from the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs and the 2020 Census results
Over 130,000 Native Americans in NC
Over 14,000 Years of Indian Heritage
NC is home to vibrate urban Native communities with thousands residing in Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro.
According to the 2020 US Census, North Carolina’s American Indian population totals more than 130,032, giving the state the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi and the eighth largest in the nation.
Archaeological evidence indicates that Indians were living in the area now called North Carolina at least 12,000 years ago. Indians of what is now the Virginia and North Carolina coast were hosts to the first English-speaking explorers and settlers. Overall, Indians of North Carolina numbered in the tens of thousands, including more than 30 tribes geographically separated by three linguistic families.
These communities are supported by vital organizations such as the Triangle Native American Society, the Guilford Native American Association, the Metrolina Native American Association, and the Cumberland County Association for Indian People. These groups provide critical cultural, educational, and social services that help Native people stay connected to their identities while navigating urban life.
Interested in Joining?
While our community is made up of Native Americans from all over, we are all very supportive of each other and work hard to help individuals continue observing the various cultural and traditional practices from their home tribal communities.
If you are interested in joining our community and getting to know this great group of people, please join up or attend some of our great events throughout the year.
It is important to note that statistics may change over time, due to changes in population or other factors. We highly advise that individuals fill out their census, so that it may provide accurate and updated information for important statistics.
Useful Resource Links
Follow us on Instagram to see the heart of our community in action—events, stories, and cultural moments that keep our heritage alive.
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