Coharie Intra-tribal Council, Inc.


The Coharie Intra-tribal Council, Inc., is a state-recognized tribe in North Carolina. The headquarters are in Clinton, North Carolina.
Formerly known as the Coharie Indian People, Inc., and the Coharie Tribe of North Carolina, the group's 2,700 members primarily live in Sampson and Harnett counties. Their chief is Ammie Gordon "Gordie".
The group identifies as descendants of "certain tribes of Indians originally inhabiting the coastal regions of North Carolina." In 1910, residents of Herrings Township along the Coharie creeks identified as being of Croatan descent. Genealogist Paul Heinegg claims the group is of invented origins.

Nonprofit organization

In 1978, Coharie Intra Tribal Inc. formed as 501 nonprofit organization based in Clinton, North Carolina, and Freddie Carter serves as the organization's principal officer. Its mission is to "provide housing, economic development, health, social services assistance and maintenance of the tribal roll for the members of the Coharie Tribe." They have four employees.
The organization operates a HUD/NAHASDA housing project with $557,380 in revenue and $550,186 in expenses for 20 unites. Another program removed debris from the Coharie River after a hurricane, and another provided COVID-19 relief to members.
Leadership positions, as of January 2026, included:
  • Chairperson: Phillip Strickland
  • Tribal Administrator: Greg Jacobs
  • Vice Chairperson: Sharon Williams
  • Secretary: Magic Gomez
  • Council Member: Daniel Robbins
  • Council Member: Gnaynelle Ammons Faircloth
  • Council Member: Dawn Chumley
  • Council Member: Shelby Autry

    State recognition

In 1911, North Carolina first recognized the Croatan Indians of Samson County.
The state of North Carolina formalized its recognition process for Native American tribes and created the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs in 1971. North Carolina formally recognized the Coharie Tribe of North Carolina as a state-recognized tribe on July 20, 1971.
The state recognized the site of their historic tribal school with a historical marker in 2024. Built in 1901, the children of the tribe attended the school for decades due to segregation. The tribal headquarters is now located at the site.

Petition for federal recognition

Romie G. Simmons sent a letter of intent to petition for federal recognition on behalf of the Coharie Intra-tribal Council, Inc., on March 13, 1981. The organization never followed through with a petition for federal recognition as a Native American tribe.

Activities

The Coharie Indian Cultural Pow Wow takes place in every September every year.
E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, a member of the Coharie Intra-tribal Council and Navajo descendant, served as a Government Affairs Group Associate with the National Congress of American Indians and became a counsel to the assistant secretary in the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2007.