Local Indigenous tribes and neighboring residents gathered to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday afternoon at the Powhatan Hill Community Center.

The event was relaxed as various tribe members in traditional tribal garments dancing to the sound of tribal beats and lining up for foods such as frybread and wild rice. Earlier that day, young members of the Powhatan Shinny League dressed in red and blue mesh shirts played shinny — also known as, “Battle at Richmond,” a lacrosse and field hockey-styled game played by Native American and Canadian First Nations tribes.

“We’ve spent a long time trying to get recognized as Native people,” said Frank Adams, chief of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe in King William County, which is a part of the Powhatan Confederacy, a group of tribes that the Chief Powhatan ruled over in the 17th century. “ I think it’s extremely important that Virginia, the city of Richmond and the United States recognize the contributions that the tribe has made to the establishment of what is now the United States of America.”

The Upper Mattaponi Tribe, one of nine state-recognized tribes in Virginia, gained state recognition in 1983. In 2016, the state legislature passed HB814, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe. This legislation enabled the Secretary of the commonwealth to establish a Virginia Indian advisory board, which provides guidance to legislators and the Governor on tribal recognition matters.

According to Adams, his tribe is the closest to the city. 

“[Public school systems] really don’t teach good Native American history in the schools, so a lot of people just don’t know that we’re still here,” Adams said. “We have established for our community a doctor’s office, home health care facility to take care of our people.”

While the federal government recognizes Indigenous People’s Day as an alternative holiday to Columbus Day, it is not yet a federal holiday. However, local governments have signed legislation to recognize tribes statewide for their contributions to early colonial settlement.

“Recognition isn’t just about recognition,” said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a strong supporter of Virginia’s tribes, during his remarks. “It also comes with resources and opportunities, and our federally recognized tribes are taking advantage of those in ways that not only help the tribes but help everyone.”

 Ashton Montez, 32, of the Chickahominy Tribe in Charles City, takes a break after performing at the Pocahontas Project’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. The event, held Monday, Oct. 14, at Powhatan Hill Park in Richmond, showcased Virginia’s tribal cultures. Montez, who works as the Tribal nurse, performed on the park’s baseball field, which served as a stage for the event.
 

Local resident Mary Donahue, said she volunteered to help with setting up the event because of her desire to learn more about the local tribes.

“[Indigenous tribes] are resilient and never stop fighting,” she said. “From what I see these are people who continue to create strong communities and have endless fights like pipelines and other things that have damaged their lands and are continuing to damage their land.”

The Upper Mattaponi Tribe has around 690 members, but despite the small population of the remaining tribal members, Adams said, “690 strong.”

“A lot of tribal citizens fled up North, fled out to Oklahoma and places like that and they’re slowly coming back,” he said. “I can only count 690 if they have reached out, got a tribal membership card and a tribal number. That’s where we are, 690 strong.”