State Representative Rodney D. Pierce will host the November installment of his ongoing Bringing the Capital to the Constituents series in recognition of National Native American Heritage Month.
The event, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 6 at the Warren Armory Civic Center in Warrenton, will feature North Carolina Department of Administration Secretary Gabe Esparza and Greg Richardson, executive director of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs and a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe.
This special installment will also feature other members of the Haliwa-Saponi, which is one of the state’s eight recognized American Indian tribes. The tribe’s name is derived from Halifax and Warren counties — two of the three counties Pierce represents in the General Assembly.
The event underscores Pierce’s relationship with the Haliwa-Saponi. In April, he presented Chief Brucie Ogletree Richardson with a formal resolution recognizing the tribe’s cultural and historical contributions and accomplishments at its 60th Annual Pow Wow.
Pierce also helped in prompting the tribe to lobby the Halifax and Warren County boards of commissioners to designate the Friday before the third Saturday in April as Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe Day. In May, Pierce delivered the keynote address at the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School graduation ceremony.
“We’re honored to bring this program to our community during Native American Heritage
Month to uplift the voices and legacy of the Haliwa-Saponi and Native people,” said Pierce. “It’s especially meaningful to have Secretary Esparza and Director Richardson here as state leaders who represent both administrative leadership and advocacy for our Indigenous communities.”
Program participants
The event will highlight the voices of tribal citizens who currently serve in public office, including:
Rolanda Hedgepeth, Warren County clerk of superior court
Al Cooper, Warren County commissioner
Jimmie Silver, Halifax County commissioner
Chenoa Richardson Davis, vice chair, Halifax County Board of Commissioners
Terri Silver, member, Halifax County Schools Board of Education
Brucie Ogletree Richardson, chief, Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
