The Cultural Division of the Catawba Indian Nation

Catawba Nation's Cultural Division is tasked with "protecting, preserving, promoting, and maintaining the rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Nation." Since our original incorporation in 1989 as the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project, we have accomplished that mission through a number of projects and initiatives.

Help us continue our mission by supporting the programs that preserve and celebrate Catawba culture. Please consider making a donation to ensure our traditions thrive for future generations.

What is Supported Through Your Donation:

Cultural Classes- The heart of our work is ensuring the preservation and growth of our traditions through community classes. These regular classes include pottery, basketry, leatherwork, and much more. We also offer a Cultural Arts Apprenticeship Program for Catawba artists to learn traditional arts from elders and mentors.

Public Programs- Since its inception, one of our core programs has been teaching the non-Catawba public about our culture and history. Over the years, our programs have grown beyond demonstrations to include history, traditional stories, language, trail walks, and even food!

Language Revitalization- The Catawba Language Working Group provides language resources, classes, and educational materials to support language revialization. It offers public outreach through cultural events, workshops, and digital resources to promote awareness and engagement with the Catwaba Lanuage. 

Artist Development- This program supports tribal artists by fostering professional development and creating economic opportunities through markets, exhibits, funding assistance, and the purchase of Catawba art for sale at the Catawba Trading Post. 

Archives of Catawba History- The Catawba Nation Archives is the only repository in the world dedicated to preserving Catawba historical and cultural artifacts. The archives' collection include pottery, basketry, oral histories, videos, lithic materials, manuscripts, and more. 

Library Access- The Catawba library is part of the Community Resource Center and provides digital and physical resources to the Catawba community. Our collection includes books, databases, films, audio-books, and more.