Historical markers for The Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe were unveiled on Saturday, October 26 at two sites in Colleton and Dorchester County. The monuments were sponsored by The Four Holes Indian Organization, Inc. and approved by The South Carolina Department of Archives and history.
Tribal chief John Glenn Creel opened the ceremonies for The Creeltown Indian Community monument installed in Colleton County on Highway 61 near Little Rock Holiness Church.
The monument reads, “Creeltown is a community of Native Americans that dates to c.1850. It was named for the family of William “Bart” Creel who lived in the area at the time. In the early 20th century some families resettled to the Four Holes Community while others moved here from the former Osbourne community. Creeltown had more than 100 residents by 1980, nearly all of them Native.”
On the opposite side of the monument, the history continues, “Tradition holds those who settled at Creeltown, Four Holes, and Osbourne were descended from The Kusso and Natchez Tribes. The Kusso’s lived in the community by the 1500s. Members of the Natchez lived near Four Holes Swamp by 1738 after being driven from the Lower Mississippi River Valley by the French. In 2010, their descendants were recognized by the State of S.C. as the Edisto
Natchez-Kusso Tribe.”
“This monument helps to bring our history to the forefront in the public eye,” Chief Creel said. “We are making great strides toward addressing a phrase I coined myself, “systemic eracism” which is actually paper genocide. Our story map on Facebook also helps to round out our history which is not found in the history books.”
A second monument was unveiled for “Four Holes Indian Community” at The Free Clinic in Ridgeville, 1125 Ridge Road.
This monument read “Around 1910 native American families living in the Creeltown community (approx.6 mi. W) began resettling in this area along Four Holes Swamp. Additional families later moved from the former Osbourne community in southern Dorchester County. By the 1920’s there was a church and school that served local Native residents. More than 270 people lived in Four Holes in 1969. Nearly all of them were Native. Tradition holds those who settled in Creeltown, Four Holes, and Osbourne were descended from the Kusso and Natchez tribes. The Kussos live in the low country from the 1500’s. Members of the Natchez lived in Four Holes by 1738 after being driven from the lower Mississippi River Valley by the French. In 2010 their descendants were recognized by The State of S.C. as The Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe.”
Phyllis Hughes, Board Chair for the Dorchester Heritage Center, said “This is such an important day, acknowledging this history that needs to be told. You were our first citizens in Dorchester County. This is history that should be preserved, recorded, and passed onto future generations.”
Chief Creel said the monuments received Federal, State, and local support as well as private donors. “We especially want to thank Marcel Lapierre, a social studies teacher at W.G Sanders Middle School whose students raised funds for the project.”
“Further tribal history can be found on our Facebook page under our story map. We also have plans for history classes at our new tribal headquarters building,” Creel said.
Dignitaries attending the event also included Al Jenkins, Field Director for Senator Tim Scott, Dorchester County Council Woman, Harriet Holman, District 1, and John Reynolds, a civil rights activist with The Freedom School, and tribal council members.
The Freedom School, located at this site, was the last Native American School in South Carolina when the schools were integrated. A historical monument for the school is in progress.