Saponi is the name of one of the eastern Siouan tribes, related to the Tutelo, Occaneechi, Monacan, Manahoac and other eastern Siouan peoples, whose ancestral homeland is in North Carolina and Virginia. There are Saponi bands that currently have state recognition in North Carolina, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and the Haliwa-Saponi IndianTribe. It has become a common identity of individuals and a few commnities originating in North Carolina and Virginia with Indian descent. Mahenips Band of the Saponi Nation is found in the remote Ozark hills of Missouri with its headquarters in West Plains Missouri. In addition there is the Saponi Descendents Association based in Texas, Saponi Nation of Ohio, and there are other survivors in the United States and Canada who are of Saponi ancestry, including the old Carmel Community, Magoffin County, KY Salyerville Indians and many who claim Saponi ancestry via Melungeon lines, although this claim is controversial. (See the Melungeon article for details.)
