Nansemond Indian Nation

Nansemond

Indian Nation

The Nansemond Indian Tribe was recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia on February 20, 1985 under House Joint Resolution No. 205, and received Federal recognition on January 29, 2018 under Public Law 115-121.

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Explore Our

Ancestral Lands

Traditional Nansemond settlements spanned southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Our community is still centered in this area and is dedicated to protecting sacred sites.

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Traditional Nansemond settlements spanned southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Our community is still centered in this area and is dedicated to protecting sacred sites.

Partner With Us in

River Stewardship

The Nansemond Indian Nation is working with local community, state, and federal partners to restore ecological balance in the Nansemond River and develop coastal resilience for future generations.

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The Nansemond Indian Nation is working with the local community and state and federal partners to restore ecological balance in the Nansemond River and develop coastal resilience for future generations.

The Indigenous People of the Nansemond River

Welcome to the official page of the Nansemond Indian Nation. We are dedicated to historical and cultural preservation for the benefit of our tribal citizens and the community at large. We serve the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Isle of Wight County. This site introduces our people, ongoing projects, and upcoming events. Thank you for visiting, and we hope you enjoy your time here.

Our Commitment to

Community Outreach

Our tribe believes in sharing our history, culture, and vision for the future. Many connect with us at our annual pow wow, but we also have partnerships with local government, non-profit organizations, and community groups to share throughout the year. There are many ways to get involved with Nansemond Indian Nation. Click here to learn more about collaboration.

Connect with Us

Educational

Resources

This is a collection of resources for anyone interested in the indigenous history and culture of this region. Our goal is to provide as many resources as possible to help the community access information. We hope this will also be helpful to students of all education levels. If there are resources you would like to see added here, please share them with us.

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Programs

for the Nansemond Tribal Community

Housing
Our Housing Program uses the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) annual Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and other funding sources to support housing assistance programs for eligible Nansemond Tribal citizens.
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Health
Tribal citizens living in designated service areas can receive assistance through the Indian Health Service (IHS) Purchased/Referred Care Program (PRC). Click here to access the IHS Mid-Atlantic Service Unit website for additional information.
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Environment
Our Environmental Program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) and other funding sources. We are focused on improved water quality and coastal resilience through 3 initiatives: oyster restoration, invasive plant removal, and native plant restoration.
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Education
Nansemond Indian Nation is a member of the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium (VTEC) focused on youth education. VTEC has developed Partnership Agreements with school districts across the Commonwealth to offer professional development for educators in Native culture, language, and history.
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