The Sappony are a state-recognized tribe in North Carolina. They claim descent from the historic Saponi people, an Eastern Siouan language-speaking tribe who occupied the Piedmont of North Carolina and Virginia. They share kin relationships with free people of color, such as the Melungeons.
They were historically called "old issue negroes" in 1887, when granted a separate school, after which their name changed from "Mongolians", to "Cubans", to the Indians of Person County. They are based in Roxboro, the seat of Person County, North Carolina.
The Sappony are not federally recognized as a Native American tribe, having twice petitioned: in 1984 as Cherokee and in 2001 as Saponi.
In 1996, the Sappony formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization named the High Plains Indians.
In 2024, Dante Desiderio served as the High Plains Indians' Executive Director and Charlene Martin served as the treasurer.
In 2024, the administration of the Sappony were as follows.