Sunlight shimmers on the river. The scent of fry bread floats through the air. The sounds of drums and singing echo across a grassy field. Welcome to the Nansemond Indian Nation’s annual powwow.

Powwows are gatherings where Native American peoples come together to celebrate their cultures. At a powwow, people dance, sing, eat, and tell stories with family and friends.

The Nansemond have hosted a powwow on the same site in Virginia for more than 30 years. It’s a sacred place where their ancestors once lived.

This August, the powwow and the site felt more joyful than ever. That’s because earlier this year, the land was returned to the Nansemond Indian Nation.

The sun shines on the river. The smell of fry bread floats through the air. The sounds of drums and singing echo across a field. Welcome to the Nansemond Indian Nation’s yearly powwow.

Powwows are gatherings. They are where Native American peoples meet to celebrate their cultures. At a powwow, people dance, sing, eat, and tell stories with family and friends. 

The Nansemond have held a powwow on the same site in Virginia for more than 30 years. It’s a sacred place. Their ancestor once lived there.  

This August, the powwow and the site felt more joyful than ever. That’s because earlier this year, the land was returned to the Nansemond Indian Nation.

Indigenous, or Native, peoples have lived in what is now Virginia for more than 15,000 years. In the early 1600s, the Nansemond people lived in several villages along the Nansemond River. They formed a deep connection to the land that continues today. They built homes and burial sites. They farmed corn, gathered oysters, and fished in the river. 

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

Over the next few decades, some Nansemond people lived 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 to move to other areas. It would be hundreds of years before they would get their homeland back.

Native peoples have lived in the area now called Virginia for more than 15,000 years. In the early 1600s, the Nansemond people lived in villages along the Nansemond River. They formed a deep connection to the land. They built homes and burial sites there. They farmed corn, gathered oysters, and fished in the river. 

English settlers arrived in 1607. They set up the Jamestown colony. Violent conflicts soon began between the settlers and Native groups. 

Over the years, some Nansemond people lived 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 Nansemond would not get their homeland back for hundreds of years.

For the past few decades, the Nansemond Indian Nation worked to regain a patch of land along the river. The 71-acre area is called Mattanock Town. It was the site of a Nansemond village in the 1600s. In recent years, the land was officially owned by the city of Suffolk, Virginia. In May, the city council voted to finally return Mattanock Town to the tribe.

Keith F. Anderson is the tribal chief of the Nansemond Indian Nation. He says their goal is to care for the land as their ancestors did. 

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

For several years, the Nansemond Indian Nation worked to regain an area of land by the river. The 71-acre area is called Mattanock Town. It was the site of a Nansemond village in the 1600s. Recently, the land was officially owned by the city of Suffolk, Virginia. In May, the city council held a vote. They decided to finally return Mattanock Town to the tribe.

Keith F. Anderson is the tribal chief of the Nansemond Indian Nation. He says they plan to care for the land as their ancestors did. 

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