Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians exhibit on display at Charles Towne Landing through spring
by Jenny Peterson | News Editor
A hand-sewn beaded regalia dress, woven baskets, quilts, musical instruments, pottery and artifacts from the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians are now on display at an exhibit at Charles Towne Landing, spotlighting the cultural traditions and history of the indigenous tribe of the Lowcountry.
The exhibit was unveiled this fall and welcomes anyone visiting the center and free of charge to walk through. The title of the exhibit is “One Community, One Family.”
Informative plaques discuss the history of the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians, a recognized native America tribe in South Carolina located in Berkeley County along Highway 17-A near Carnes Crossroads and up Hwy 176 towards Wassamassaw Swamp.
Community members trace their bloodlines to multiple native American lineages including Etiwan, Edisto, Catawba, Cherokee, and other settlement tribes. The current iteration of the settlement community formed in the mid-1700s and were first called Summerville Indians due to the nearby Pineland Village.
The items on display discuss the culture of the tribe, their history and location of their ancestors based on artifacts—including Spanish Mount, a shell mound made of oyster and clam shells purported to be 4,000 years old in Edisto Beach created by Native Americans. At one point, the mound stood 20 feet high and around a half-an-acre in diameter.
There are other artifacts that speak to the importance of spirituality through musical instruments, including drums and wooden flutes.
Quilts, per the displays, were used for practical purposes and replaced animal hides for warmth. Woven baskets are handmade mainly using the sapwood of white oak logs and oak tree splints.
“Both (the) baskets and woven fans made by our ancestors are a source of pride and an expression of identity and culture that has been passed down within our community,” the plaque states.
“This collaboration with Charles Towne Landing is an important opportunity for us to share our history and culture with a broader audience,” posted Lisa Collins, Chief of the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians, on the group’s Facebook page. “It’s a chance for people to learn about our roots, our continued existence, and the significance of the land we call home.”
The tribe has posted photos from social gatherings at Charles Towne Landing in the past, including collaborating with members of tribal nations across the country at the site. Chief Collins met with Charles Towne staff as early as 2022 about creating this exhibit.
