dancers wearing traditional dress of the Nansemond Indian Nation

Dancers at the Nansemond Indian Nation powwow in August

Shutterstock.com (background); Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune Publishing (powwow)

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A Joyful Gathering

The Nansemond Indian Nation was given back land that is very special to them.

November 4, 2024
By Talia Cowen

As You Read: Why is Mattanock Town so special to the Nansemond?

Celebrating Our Traditions
Watch a video to meet three young powwow dancers.

The sun shines on the river. The scent of fry bread floats through the air. The sound of drums echoes across a grassy field. Welcome to the Nansemond Indian Nation powwow.

Powwows are gatherings where Native American peoples celebrate their cultures. They dance, sing, and tell stories with family and friends. 

The Nansemond powwow takes place in Virginia. It has been held in the same area for more than 30 years. It’s a special place where the Nansemond’s ancestors once lived. 

This August, the powwow felt more joyful than ever. That’s because the land was recently returned to the Nansemond Indian Nation.

The sun shines on the river. The smell of fry bread floats through the air. The sound of drums echoes across a field. Welcome to the Nansemond Indian Nation powwow.

Powwows are gatherings. Native Americans celebrate their cultures at these events. They dance, sing, and tell stories with family and friends. 

The Nansemond powwow takes place in Virginia. It has happened in the same area for more than 30 years. It’s a special place. It’s where the Nansemond’s ancestors lived.

This August, the powwow felt extra joyful. That’s because the land was recently returned to the Nansemond Indian Nation.

Stolen Land

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

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.

Pause and Think

Why did some Native peoples go to war with the colonists? 

Why did some Native peoples go to war with the colonists? 

Home Again

Courtesy of Nansemond Indian Nation

Keith F. Anderson, Tribal Chief of the Nansemond Indian Nation

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.”

Time to Celebrate

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.

Courtesy of Nansemond Indian Nation

Nathaniel Bass (left) and his family

A Long Wait

grandriver/Getty Images

A member of the Navajo Nation

Native American peoples have lived in what is now the United States for centuries. But many were not allowed to become U.S. citizens. That changed 100 years ago. On June 2, 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act was passed. The law said that all Native Americans born in the U.S. were citizens.

But many Native Americans were still not allowed to vote for decades. This year, more than 5 million Native American voters could help pick our next president. 

Native American peoples have lived in what is now the United States for centuries. But many were not allowed to become U.S. citizens. That changed 100 years ago. On June 2, 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act was passed. The law said that all Native Americans born in the U.S. were citizens.

But many Native Americans were still not allowed to vote for decades. This year, more than 5 million Native American voters could help pick our next president. 

All About Native Americans

November is National Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to honor the Native peoples of our country. Learn more below.

November is National Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to honor the Native peoples of our country. Learn more below.

Katie Basile Photography

Yup’ik kids in Alaska

1. There are 574 Native nations in the U.S. Alaska is home to 229 of them. The rest are spread across 35 other states. Different groups are called different terms, such as tribes, pueblos, communities, or bands. Each has its own unique ways of life. 

1. There are 574 Native nations in the U.S. Alaska is home to 229 of them. The rest are spread across 35 other states. Different groups are called different terms, such as tribes, pueblos, communities, or bands. Each has its own unique ways of life. 

Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg 11+/Alamy Stock Photo 

2. European settlers arrived in what is now the U.S. in the early 1500s. They forced hundreds of thousands of Native Americans off their lands. Many were moved onto reservations. Those are areas set aside by the government for a group of people. Today there are more 300 reservations in the U.S. 

2. European settlers arrived in what is now the U.S. in the early 1500s. They forced hundreds of thousands of Native Americans off their lands. Many were moved onto reservations. Those are areas set aside by the government for a group of people. Today there are more 300 reservations in the U.S. 

Brett Deering/Getty Images for Scholastic

Kids in Oklahoma learn the Yuchi language.

3. Hundreds of Native languages were once spoken in the U.S. Today about 170 remain. Many of the languages are dying out because so few people speak them. People try to learn these languages to save them.

3. Hundreds of Native languages were once spoken in the U.S. Today about 170 remain. Many of the languages are dying out because so few people speak them. People try to learn these languages to save them.

  1. Based on the article, what happens at a powwow?
  2. Summarize the main idea and most important details of the section “Stolen Land.”
  3. Share three facts you can learn from the sidebar “All About Native Americans.”
  1. Based on the article, what happens at a powwow?
  2. Summarize the main idea and most important details of the section “Stolen Land.”
  3. Share three facts you can learn from the sidebar “All About Native Americans.”
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