Native peoples are those who lived in a place before others arrived. Native Americans have been living in what is now Virginia for more than 15,000 years. In the early 1600s, the Nansemond lived in villages along the Nansemond River. They built homes and temples there. They farmed corn, gathered oysters, and fished in the river. They formed a deep connection to the land. The Nansemond still feel that connection.

English settlers arrived in 1607. They set up the Jamestown colony. Battles soon broke out between the colonists and Native groups. 

Some Nansemond people chose to live among the settlers. Others joined with nearby tribes in wars against the settlers.

By 1677, English colonists controlled most of the riverfront. The Nansemond had been forced off their land. They moved to other areas nearby. The tribe would not get their homeland back for hundreds of years.

Native peoples are those who lived in a place before others came. Native Americans have lived in what is now Virginia for a long time. They have lived there for more than 15,000 years. In the early 1600s, the Nansemond lived along the Nansemond River. They built homes and temples there. They farmed corn, gathered oysters, and fished in the river. They formed a deep connection to the land.

English settlers arrived in 1607. They set up the Jamestown colony. Soon there were battles between the settlers and Native groups.

Some Nansemond people chose to live among the settlers. Others joined with nearby tribes in wars against them.

By 1677, the settlers controlled most of the riverfront. They forced the Nansemond to move to other areas. The tribe would not get their homeland back for hundreds of years.

The Nansemond worked to get back a patch of land along the river. The area is called Mattanock Town. It was the site of a Nansemond village in the 1600s. In recent years, the land was owned by the city of Suffolk, Virginia. In May, the city council there voted. They decided to finally return Mattanock Town to the tribe.

Keith F. Anderson is the tribal chief of the Nansemond Indian Nation. He says his tribe still considers the land sacred. They will care for it as their ancestors did. 

“This is a very special place,” he says. “We have a direct responsibility to protect the land and keep it in its best health.”

The Nansemond worked to get back some land along the river. The area is called Mattanock Town. It was the site of a Nansemond village in the 1600s. Recently, the city of Suffolk, Virginia, owned the land. In May, the city council there voted. They decided to finally return Mattanock Town to the tribe.

Keith F. Anderson is the tribal chief of the Nansemond Indian Nation. He says his tribe still thinks of the land as sacred. They will care for it as their ancestors did.

“This is a very special place,” he says. “We have a direct responsibility to protect the land and keep it in its best health.”

A few months after the land was returned, the Nansemond celebrated at their powwow. Twelve-year-old Nathaniel Bass has been going since he was a baby. This year, he was happy to see a record crowd of nearly 7,000 people. Nathaniel hopes even more Native kids will attend the powwow in the future.

“We keep doing it so our kids will keep doing it and keep our culture alive,” he says.

A few months after the land was returned, the Nansemond celebrated. They held their powwow. Twelve-year-old Nathaniel Bass has been going since he was a baby. This year, he was happy to see a record crowd. Nearly 7,000 people came. Nathaniel hopes even more Native kids will go to the powwow in the future.

“We keep doing it so our kids will keep doing it and keep our culture alive,” he says.