(MONCKS CORNER, SC) – On January 14, 2025, Secretary of State Mark Hammond presented Joshua Shumak with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. 
Joshua Shumak was honored for his advocacy efforts for tribal recognition, policy advancement, and community support for Indigenous communities in South Carolina. 

“Joshua Shumak exemplifies the spirit of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award through his extraordinary dedication to civic service,” said Secretary Hammond.  “Joshua’s accomplishments are impressive for a person of any age, but to do so much as a young adult bodes well for a future of service to his tribe, the Native American people, and South Carolina as a whole.”

At just 24 years old, Joshua Shumak was recently elected as Vice Chief of the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians, representing more than 2,000 tribal members.  In this role, and as the Native American Affairs Program Manager at the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs, he has made a profound impact on the lives of the 12,000 Native Americans across the state. 

In 2022, Joshua spearheaded efforts to establish historical markers at significant sites in the history of the Wassamasaw Tribe.  In 2024, he was invited to participate in the United Nations 17th Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. As the first representative from a South Carolina-recognized tribe to address this international forum, Joshua highlighted the unique challenges and aspirations of Native American communities in the state.  His participation at EMRIP underscores his dedication to amplifying Indigenous voices on a global stage.

Chief Lisa M. Collins of the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians commended Joshua’s transformative impact, noting that “[His] efforts have not only elevated the visibility of Native American communities but have also strengthened the connections between tribes, state partners, and cultural institutions.  Through [his] advocacy and dedication, [he] has created opportunities for education, engagement, and preservation that will benefit both current and future generations.”

The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award was established by NASS in 2021 to recognize civic-minded young persons who have demonstrated leadership abilities, and who are motivated to improve the quality of life in their communities. Each year, Secretaries of State may nominate young residents from their state to receive the award.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Shannon A. Wiley, General Counsel & Public Information Director
Office Phone: (803) 734-2170 ● Email: swiley@sos.sc.gov