Native islanders call off planned protest at Heritage tournament

A planned protest by native islanders at this year’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing has been called off.

A discussion last Tuesday, stirred by decades of emotions in the native islander community, lead the National Action Network to cancel the protest, Taiwan Scott, president of the Hilton Head Island chapter of the group, said Monday.

“We felt like there was a sincerity coming from the (Hilton Head) mayor and council members,” Scott said. “I see a more direct hands-on relationship with the town moving forward.”

Scott said the organization plans to give the town several months to implement strategies to help the community. Those strategies include a possible change in land management ordinance regulations.

The native island group has said those regulations require native islanders to build infrastructure when dividing property. That requirement hinders the islanders’ ability to pass clear title to descendants, they said.

Town Council reapproved its 2017 priorities during that same meeting. Among them was a promise to look at regulations affecting heirs’ property.

“What is exciting is the fact that everyone has decided to rejoin the table and have a dialogue,” Mayor David Bennett said Monday. “Many native islanders have seen the progress we have made in recent years. We still have more work to do.”

In recent years, the town implemented plans to pave roads and connect houses to sewer lines on the north end of the island — an area predominantly made up of native islanders.

Town Council member Marc Grant, himself a native islander, said he plans to start discussions with staff about regulations this week.

“I am not waiting for this to go before the planning commission,” Grant said. “I think it is good that it is, but I want to stay on top of this myself as well.”

Dividing property is one of many concerns the community has, Grant said. He said there is also a need to look at zoning requirements for small businesses in the area.

“Taxes are paid on this property, but some feel like their options are limited,” Grant said.

Native islanders previously said the protest was meant to bring attention to inequities in the community. They said it was not the organization’s intent to disrupt the golf tournament.

This story was originally published March 27, 2017 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Native islanders call off planned protest at Heritage tournament."