King Hagler

Who is King Hagler?

King Hagler or Nopkehee was a chief or King of the Catawba Native American tribe from 1754 to 1763. He was the first Native American to be inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.

He was chief after King Yanabe Yalangway who was murdered by a group of Iroquois Natives in 1750. He is known as the "Patron Saint of Camden" On August 29, 1754 he delivered a speech in Catawba: "As to our Liveing on those Lands we Expect to live on those Lands we now possess During our Time here for when the Great man above made us he also made this Island he also made our forefathers and of this Colour and Hue he also fixed our forefathers and us here and to Inherit this Land and Ever since we Lived after our manner and fashion..."

King Haiglar hunted with his bow and arrow and rifle. It may be that he attended Indian school, because King Whitmannetaugheehee agreed that eleven Catawba boys should attend Indian School in Virginia.

On August 30, 1763 he was killed by a band of Shawnees.

The King is also known by a multitude of other names, mainly other spellings, such as Haigler, Haiglar, King Haigler, Nopkehe, Arataswa and Oroloswa.