Pamunkey Tribe
Contact Information
175 Lay Landing Road
King William, VA 23086
TEL: 804.843.4972
WEB: http://www.pamunkey.net
Chief: Kevin Brown
History & Information
The Pamunkey Indian Reservation, on the Pamunkey River and adjacent to King William County, contains approximately 1,200 acres, 500 acres of which are wetlands with many creeks. Twenty eight families reside on the reservation, and many tribal members live in nearby Richmond and Newport News, as well as throughout Virginia and the U.S.
The history of the Pamunkey has been recorded by archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians, and Native occupation of their tribal area dates back ten to twelve thousand years. Legal acknowledgement came with the 1646 and 1677 treaties with the King of England. The Articles of Peace between Lord Charles II and several Virginia Indian tribes were signed on behalf of the tribes by the head woman of the Pamunkey, Cockacoeske, at the camp at Middle Plantation on May 20, 1677. The two major treaties with the Pamunkey established Articles of Peace and a land base as early as 1658. That land base continues as the reservation that exists today. The Pamunkey have been recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia as an Indian tribe since colonial times, and they continue to uphold their part of these treaties as evidenced by the annual tribute given to the Governor of Virginia.
The tribe has maintained its own governing body, which consists of a chief and seven council members elected every four years. The chief and council perform all tribal governmental functions as set forth by their laws. All of these laws are administered by the tribe itself.
Today, the Pamunkey Indians are deeply involved in preserving their surviving culture and natural resources. The Pamunkey Indian Museum was built in 1979, and three documentary videos have been produced. All portray the ways of life and history of the people. Much of the surviving Pamunkey culture has evolved from a subsistence lifestyle centered around pottery making, fishing, hunting and trapping. Now as the old ways are passing, the Pamunkey Indians are still looking to their natural resources as a way to make a living.