Chief of Central Virginia tribal nation to speak at VCU for first time ever
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The chief of an Indigenous tribal nation located in Central Virginia will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in mid-November. This will be the first time the leader of a federally recognized Indigenous nation has ever spoken at the university.
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Chief Stephen Adkins of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe will speak at VCU's James Branch Cabell Library as part of the university's "On Native Ground: Virginia Native Nations, Sovereignty and Persistence" event.
The Chickahominy Indian Tribe is an Indigenous tribal nation located in Charles City County. It was federally recognized alongside five other Virginia tribes in 2018, according to a Nov. 6 press release from VCU.
Adkins, a VCU alum, will speak on the historical and political landscape that led to that recognition and how tribal nations like his own navigated that process "while maintaining their cultural integrity, developing economic independence and asserting political sovereignty in the 21st century," VCU said.
Chief Stephen Adkins of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe. (Photo: Virginia Commonwealth University)
He will also delve into several other related topics, including state and federal advocacy, the future of Virginia's Indigenous tribal nations, the growth of intertribal relationships and the expansion of both educational and cultural programs.
"The event will provide an opportunity to learn directly from a tribal leader about the resilience, vision and ongoing struggles of Virginia’s Indigenous nations," VCU said.
Following Adkins' presentation, a dialogue will be held with the audience and two other citizens of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe: its Assistant Chief, Wayne Adkins, and tribal councilman Troy Adkins. A third citizen and VCU alum, Jessica Stewart, will moderate the discussion.
This event marks the first time that a chief of one of Virginia's federally recognized Indigenous tribes has ever spoken at VCU.
This event, which will be held in the library's Room 303, is free to attend. You can register to do so online.
