Allendale, SC () –  The Yamasee Indian Tribe of Seminoles is hosting their annual Green Corn Unity Festival in Allendale on the Campus of USC Salkehatchie. Green Corn symbolizes renewal for the Yamasee Tribe. The event featured traditional Yamasee clothing and performances from tribe members. 

Se’khuhadjo Gentle, Chief Yamasee Indian Tribe told , “We have a period of seven days where we originally celebrate in private ceremonial things that we don’t do in the public and then open it the public at the end during the weekend to share our culture our heritage  and show camaraderie with the community.”

The Yamasee War of 1715 was a historical battle in which colonizers started enslaving Yamasee Indians based on their skin color. The Yamasee were renamed by colonizers as Seminoles or runaways due to their success in the war. Today, Gentle says it’s important for the next generation of Yamasee to know where they came from.

“Well it’s important for our children to know who they are and where they came from. We honor our ancestors and elders because they gave their lives for us to be here. So it’s a form of disrespect not to continue on customs and traditions of our people so that our babies can know who they are.” said Chief Gentle.

The event was also a day of remembrance for Markayla Roberts, a 14 year old resident of Allendale who’s life was taken by a stray bullet. A proclamation was issued marking today as Markayla Roberts Day. Chief Gentle said, “This year Green Corn was dedicated to Markayla Roberts so that we can remember her and that the fight can continue on to find out what happened to her so that her family can get some type of solitude and feel a sense of justice as well.”

Carl Love, Allendale County Councilman told , “Before this myself and other councilmen went to Columbia to fight for Markayla and now chief has come on board with me so the fight continues.”  Love hopes that this year’s Green Corn Festival will be a launch pad for unity in Allendale County. “We’ve had a few shootings in Allendale county and they’re cold cases so starting today we hope we can move forward.”

The Green Corn Festival concludes tomorrow at USC Salkehatchie in Allendale.