PAMUNKEY INDIANS IN VIRGINIA

THESE NATIVES ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINA. THEY SPOKE ALGONQUIAN THEIR TRIBE HAD OVER 30 SUBTRIBES, AND AROUND 15,000 FOLKS. THEY LIVED ON COASTAL TIDEWATERS OF VIRGINIA AND JAMES RIVER NEAR CHESAPEAKE BAY. THEY STILL HAVE A RESERVATION ASSIGNED IN 1670'S. THEY HAVE ADAPTED SUCCESSFULLY TO THEIR FUTURE. THEIR TRADITIONAL LIFE WAS SUBSISTENCE FARMING, FISHING, TRAPPING AND HUNTING AND GATHERING. FARMING DEVELOPED IN 900 A.D. THEY MOVED THEIR FIELDS AND HOMES ABOUT EVERY 10 YEARS SO THAT TO ALLOW THE LAND TO RECOVER FROM CULTIVATION. THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD A BALANCED RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LAND AND ANIMALS. THEY DID USE CONTROLLED BURNING TO CLEAR LAND FOR CULTIVATION. AS LONG AS THE NATIVES FARMED THEIR LAND THEY OWNED IT. THE NATIVES USED THE ENGLISH LAND THAT LAY FALLOW AND PROBLEMS AROSE.


THE PAMUNKEY HOMES AND LONG HOUSES WERE MADE FROM BENT SAPLINGS THAT WERE LASHED TOGETHER AT THE TOP. WOVEN MATS COVERED THEIR HOUSES. HIGHER STATUS FAMILIES OWNED BARK COVERED HOUSES. IN SUMMER THEY ROLLED UP THE WOVEN MATS.


EACH TRIBES HAD A CHIEF TO ADMINISTER THEIR LANDS. IF SOMEONE BROKE A LAW THEY WERE FINED OR BANISHED. THEY HAVE SLICK SLANDER LAWS. THE CHIEF HAS TO PAY AN ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO THE GOVERNOR. HE GAVE THEM GAME OR DEER, POTTERY, OR A PEACE PIPE. THEIR LANGUAGE IS NEARLY EXTINCT. POCAHONTAS WAS A PAMUNKEY INDIAN. THE CHIEF OF PAMUNKEY CAPTURED JOHN SMITH. THEY DEVELOPED AN ALLIANCE WITH THE ENGLISH.

TODAY THE PAMUNKEY HAVE 200 TRIBAL MEMBERS MANY WHO LIVE ON THEIR 1200 ACRE RESERVATION. IN 1918 THE TRIBE BUILT A SHAD HATCHERY TO ENSURE CONTINUATION OF AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE. THEY ALSO MAKE POTTERY USING CLAY FROM THE RIVER AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE PREHISTORY TIMES.. THEY MIX IT WITH OTHER SHELLS, SAND AND POTTERY SHERDS. THEY NOW HAVE A POTTERY SCHOOL. THEY HAVE BUILT A MUSEUM FOR TEACHING THEIR CULTURE.

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