This design is a tribute to the deep and enduring bond between the Waccamaw Siouan people, the Longleaf Pine ecosystem, and the land we have called home for countless generations.

At the heart of the image stands a Longleaf Pine — a symbol of resilience, renewal, and sacred tradition. The tree represents not only the environmental richness of our homeland, but the cultural roots that ground us in place and memory. Its strong trunk and sweeping branches reflect the enduring strength of our people and the vital ecosystems we are restoring through cultural burning and reforestation.

Woven into the roots are the names of the founding families of our community — the ones who laid the foundation for everything we are today. Their names flow through the earth like lifeblood, reminding us that we are forever connected to them, just as the trees are connected to the soil that nurtures them. Every tree planted is an act of remembrance, gratitude, and hope for the generations yet to come.

In the branches, life flourishes. A red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered guardian of the Longleaf forests, finds a home among the pines. A fox squirrel, agile and resilient, rests within the canopy — a quiet symbol of the ways in which the smallest acts, like planting seeds, can shape a thriving future. Above the tree, a shooting star blazes across the sky, echoing the ancient stories of our people, the People of the Falling Star. It reminds us that our origins, our destinies, and our dreams are written not just in the soil, but in the heavens.

Together, these elements tell a story of belonging, stewardship, and sacred connection. This design is more than an image — it is a promise. A promise to honor the land, our ancestors, the wildlife that depends on these forests, and the cultural wisdom that continues to guide our hands as we plant, protect, and renew the world around us.