The Life by the River Project is a grouping of museum programs that focus on North Carolina's American Indian Tribal communities' relationship to their indigenous waters. Each North Carolina American Indian tribe is situated near or on a river that holds cultural, spiritual, historical, and contemporary meaning and importance to their people. "Indigenous waters" not only includes rivers, but Carolina Bays, swamps, and ocean shores that also hold the same meanings. This project shares first person stories and experiences of Native peoples through their relationship with their waters. The Life by the River Project is organized by three features: film documentary, exhibition, and youth programing. 

To learn more about the Life by the River Project please contact the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at nancy.fields@uncp.edu or 910-521-6282.