The Native Americans

Meet the native peoples of John Smith's Bay

Native Americans Support the Trail

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (NHT) is supported by Native American tribes—including the Virginia Council on Indians (an advisory council with tribal representatives from several tribes), the Chickahominy and the Nanticoke tribes – because the trail is an excellent opportunity to teach people about Native American history, culture and tradition. In addition, the trail recognizes that Native people have lived in the Bay for more than 15,000 years, acknowledges their importance to the survival of Smith and the English settlers, and gives them a chance to tell folks about their history from the American Indian perspective.

Excerpt from a letter from Karenne Wood (Monacan Indian Nation), chair of the Virginia Council on Indians, to Senator Paul Sarbanes and Senator John Warner:

"Three distinctive Native American groups dominated the territory now known as Virginia during the late 16th century through the 17th century. These groups spoke three languages—Algonquian, Siouan and Iroquoian—and lived in villages along the banks of the coastal waterways, in woodlands and mountain valleys. While exploring the Chesapeake Bay...Smith and his crew interacted extensively with these tribes, some more than others. The Virginia Indians provided Smith's crew and the English settlers with valuable knowledge and trade goods, which were largely responsible for their survival during the early days of the colony. Subsequently, English survival led to the destruction of our ancestors' world.

"... The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail provides an excellent opportunity to educate the general public about American Indian history. Our support for this trail is contingent upon prioritizing the incorporation of the American Indian story and heritage, as told by American Indians from the Virginia state-recognized tribes."

Excerpt from a letter from Stephen R. Adkins, chief of the Chickahominy Indian tribe, to Senator John Warner:

"At the time of the earliest English settlement, the Chickahominy tribe existed surrounded by the Powhatan paramount chiefdom, of which we were never part. Our people interacted extensively with John Smith and early English settlers, providing them with valuable knowledge and trades goods, which were largely responsible for their survival during the early days of the colony. We signed our first treaty with the English in 1614.

"Our tribe feels that the John Smith Trail would be an excellent way to teach people about American Indian culture and history.... honest historical interpretation will provide an excellent vehicle to tell the story of English settlement not just from the European perspective, but also from the American Indian perspective."

Meet the Native Peoples of John Smith's Bay

Virginia Council on Indians
The Council on Indians was established in 1983 as an advisory council to the Governor and General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. See http://indians.vipnet.org.

The Powhatan Indians
The name "Powhatan" refers to many of the Algonquian-speaking tribes of the Virginia tidewater or coastal plain. By 1607, approximately 32 tribes had been brought under the leadership of the powerful "mamanatowick" Powhatan, who was informally known as Wahunsunacock.

This paramount chief came from the town of Powhatan, near the falls of the James River, which was originally known as the Powhatan River. At the time of English contact, the native Tidewater population numbered around 20,000. There were hundreds of settled towns and satellite villages built near the Chesapeake Bay or in the inlets and rivers, which flow into it.

Of the tribes that were tributaries to Powhatan, the following remain:

Mattaponi—The Mattaponi, along with other original Powhatan tribes, were visited by Captain John Smith. The Mattaponi Indian Reservation was created in 1658 from land long held by the Tribe by an act of the Virginia General Assembly. Today, the Mattaponi still live on their reservation, and carry on their traditional shad fishing and stewardship of the Mattaponi River with the aid of a modern shad hatchery. Fore more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.baylink.org/mattaponi/

Upper Mattaponi—The Upper Mattaponi tribe is a group of urban, non-reservated Indians, whose origins can be traced to several Powhatan tribes, including those of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey reservations. In 1608, Captain John Smith identified the village of Passaunkack at the location of the present day Upper Mattaponi. Today, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.uppermattaponi.org/

Nansemond—At the time of the founding of Jamestown in 1607, the Nansemond Indians lived in several towns along both sides of the Nansemond River, in what is today the city of Suffolk. When the English arrived in Virginia, the tribe had about 300 warriors and a total population of perhaps 1,200 people. Today, the Nansemond Indian Tribe is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.nansemond.org/

Pamunkey—The Pamunkey were considered to be one of the more powerful of the Powhatan tribes. The tribe was led by three chiefs who the English recorded as being brothers. In his diary, John Smith gives a description of these Indians:"The men bestowe their times in fishing, hunting, wars and such manlike exercises . . . The women and children do the rest of the worke. They make mats, baskets, pots, morters, pound their corne, make their bread, prepare their victuals, plant their corn, gather their corn, beare al kind of burdens and such like." Today, the Pamunkey still live on their reservation established in the 17th century, and manage a vital shad fishery on the Pamunkey River. For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.baylink.org/pamunkey/

Rappahannock—In 1607, the Rappahannock were the dominant tribe of the Rappahannock River valley, maintaining 13 towns along the north and south banks of the river that bears their name. The Rappahannock territory encompassed lands in the modern counties of Richmond, Northumberland, Lancaster, Essex, and Caroline. The king’s town was located at “Cat Point Creek” or “Dancing Point” as known to the tribe, near present day Warsaw, Virginia. It was here, in December 1607, that the Rappahannock first met Captain John Smith--who called them "Toppahanocks"--when he was brought to see their chief while being held captive by Opechancanough. Today, the Rappahannock tribe is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.rappahannocktribe.org/

Chickahominy—When the English settlers arrived in 1607, the Chickahominy were one of many tribes who received them. At that time the Chickahominy lived in towns along the Chickahominy River from near mouth of the Chickahominy to the middle of the current county of New Kent. The tribe, governed by a council of elders, was considered an ally of Powhatan and his paramount chiefdom. In December 1607, John Smith was captured at the headwaters of the Chickahominy River and eventually delivered to Powhatan. Today, the Chickahominy Indian tribe is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.chickahominytribe.org/

Eastern Chickahominy—The Chickahominy Indians Eastern Division shared their history with the Chickahominy Indian Tribe until a disagreement regarding land development and religious organization caused them to part. Today, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Eastern Division is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information about the tribe, please visit their Web site at http://www.cied.org

More Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region:

Monacan Indian Nation—Bear Mountain in Amherst County has been the home of the Monacan people and their ancestors for more than ten thousand years. The earliest written histories of Virginia record that, in 1607, the James River Monacan (along with their Mannahoac allies on the Rappahannock River) controlled the area between the fall line near Richmond and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The most western of Virginia's currently recognized tribes, the Monacan were part of a confederation of Siouan-speaking Indians. The first known encounter between Siouan-speaking tribes and the Europeans occurred in 1608, when Captain John Smith and his men engaged in hostilities with the Mannahoac and captured a wounded man named Amoroleck. When John Smith asked Amoroleck why his people had been hostile toward the English, he replied, "We heard that you were a people come from under the world, to take our world from us." His prophetic statement stands as an accurate description of the Monacan experience. Today, the Monacan Indian Nation is officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information about the Monacan Indian Nation, please visit their Web site at http://www.monacannation.com/ and their Flickr photo site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/monacannation/

Nanticoke—First contact with the Nanticoke Tribe was recorded by Captain John Smith in 1608. While exploring the Chesapeake Bay, Smith and his crew sailed onto the Kuskarawaok River. The Kuskarawaok, later known as the Nanticoke Indians, cautiously watched Smith's ship from the shore, climbing into the trees for a better look. When Smith approached the shore in a boat, the Nanticoke answered with arrows. Smith prudently put down anchor for the night in the middle of the river. Eventually, Smith convinced the Indians he came in friendship, and they returned with twenty more people from the nearby town. Food, water, and furs were exchanged for gifts the English brought. Smith described the Nanticoke as "the best merchants of all." Several Nanticoke agreed to serve as guides for Smith to continue his exploration of the Kuskarawaok, now known as the Nanticoke River. The Nanticoke tribe originally occupied the area between the Delaware and Chesapeake bays, in what is today Maryland and Delaware. Smith recorded that nearly 200 warriors lived with their families on the Nanticoke River and were allies of the Powhatan and other Algonquian-speaking tribes. Today, the Nanticoke Indian Association is officially recognized by the State of Delaware. From http://www.nanticokeindians.org/

Susquehannock—The Susquehannock were one of the most formidable tribes of the mid-Atlantic region at the time of European contact and dominated the large region between the Potomac River in northern Virginia to southern New York. When he first met the Susquehannock in 1608, Captain John Smith was especially impressed with their size, deep voices, and the variety of their weapons. Their height must have been exceptional, because the Swedes also commented on it thirty years later. The best guesses of their population are somewhere between 5,000 to 7,000 in 1600 in at least five tribal groups. By 1700 there were only 300 Susquehannock. Their rapid decline continued until the last 20 were massacred by a mob of colonists in 1763. From http://www.easternshore.com/esguide/hist_susquehannock.html

Photo credits: Deanna Beacham, Monacan Indian Nation website