Southeastern Community College recognized eight Native American employees and five tribes on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Native American employees at SCC include Riq Quinteros of the Mayan Indians; Andrea Rofail of the Coharie, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan tribes; Pamela Young-Jacobs of the Waccamaw Siouan; Nancy Dudley of the Waccamaw Siouan; Shannon Hunt of the Lumbee tribe, Mary Revels of the Lumbee tribe; Cliff Young of the Waccamaw Siouan; and Mike Ammons of the Coharie tribe.

“To me, Indigenous Peoples’ Day means celebrating what our ancestors have done for us, showing our identity as Native American people, our pride and culture, and passing down those traditions to our children,” Rofail said.

Ammons said that Indigenous Peoples’ Day reminded him of his ancestors, close-knit family and Christian values in the Native American community.

“So this is a good time to reflect back on those memories that we had sharing with our family and community,” Ammons said. “That’s what being Native American and being part of the Coharie tribe means to me.”

Hunt said that she loves seeing native people in places where she least expects them to be. She was glad to see other tribes represented on campus because she enjoys learning about their customs and traditions.