Transcript
Speaker: Hi, welcome to the CCDA podcast. My name is Reverend Rachel Pierce and my connection to CCDA is a unique one. I love that I got to lead worship about 10 years ago at a conference And that's when I was introduced to the work of CCDA.
Speaker: And today I get to lead and live and love in the city of Richmond in central Virginia and serve as faith liaison at a local cancer center.
Speaker: And so I get to love on my community through the ideas of CCDA on a daily basis. And I'm going to be your host for this episode. Today, I'm joined by some of my beloved friends and special guests, Suzanne Brown and Chief Adkins of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.
Speaker: and Chief Adams of the Upper Mattapunai Indian Tribe. I'm going to ask our special guests to introduce themselves. Suzanne, would you get started for us? Sure.
Speaker: My name is Suzanne Brown. I am the Director of the Child Care and Development Subsidy Program for the Chickahominy Tribe, and I'm also a citizen of the tribe. Chief Atkins?
Speaker: Hello, my name is Stephen Adkins. I'm chief of the Chickahominy Indian tribe. We're a tribe of about 1,050 citizens, and we live very close to Chickahominy Ridge on ancestral lands.
Speaker: Regrettably, we don't live on those ancestral lands because they were taken from us by the then General Assembly back in the mid-17th century, but we live as close as we can to that ancestral land.
Speaker: And Chief Adams? Yes, my name is Frank Adams. I am chief of the Upper Matapunai tribe located in King William County, Virginia, about 30 miles east of the city of Richmond.
Speaker: And we we have about 700 tribal citizens in our tribe. a lot of them lived moved out of Virginia because of the ah racial conditions in the state of Virginia i can back in years ago.
Speaker: so Our folks are scattered ah across the eastern sea boil. Thank you all so much for sharing. One of the things that I think is really unique about this conversation is the way that the Spirit has connected all of us together through our experiences with cancer, but also our experiences of being local leaders in our community. And so I'm just really grateful that the work of the Spirit has been at work among us for several years. And now we get to share your stories and our stories and make sure that
Speaker: Everyone knows the importance of the work that you all done over the years. I want to ask a question, Suzanne, if you could tell us a little bit more about the collaboration amongst your tribes.
Speaker: Sure. We are really close-knit 11 tribes that are here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, seven that are federally recognized and four that are state recognized. And ah we try to help each other out as much as possible. We work together on different cultural issues.
Speaker: most recently coming together to protect the birthplace of Powhatan from development. So when we see an issue and we know that it's going to affect one of us, we come together, you know, it's strength in numbers. And so we come together because we know we're stronger together.
Speaker: And so we try to help one another out. And particularly in my profession, we have this child care and development subsidy grant.
Speaker: And so our grant included the service area. This most recent time when I wrote the grant, we included in our service area where the other tribes live as well because they're so close to us. And so they're able to benefit from this grant too because it's available to any federally recognized tribal citizen.
Speaker: And so just ways that, you know, we see that we can help one another, we try to include them where we can. Also, as you touched on about the cancer cases, bringing us together, we started the Chickahominy, the truth project, which we might talk about later on, but we started a partnership with Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, and it was a two-year project where we worked on seeing if there were environmental factors that were contributing to the increased amount of cancer cases in Charles City County. We worked on that, and now that grant has expanded so that we can include all 11 tribes in the Commonwealth.
Speaker: And that, to me, makes me feel real good because it was a great project, but to be able to offer it to all 11 tribes so that they're now getting those resources, they're also getting the education, they're also getting the benefits of the programs from Massey, comprehensive cancer center. So to me, anything that we can do on one level, if it benefits one tribe, then, you know, we share it with all of the tribes so that we can build one another up.
Speaker: Thank you, Suzanne. Chief Atkins and Chief Adams, Suzanne mentioned the importance of the tribes and the relationship to the land of Richmond. Can you tell us a little bit more about your tribes and the importance of those relationships to the land?
Speaker: Well, I'll start. I think ah Chief Adams and my story probably closely parallel, but if you look at the service area that was delineated in our federal recognition law, of the public law 115-121, it shows that that both of our tribes actually reached to the eastern side of of Richmond, and the Chickahominy even extended into Chesterfield County.
Speaker: And when we look at the interaction we have as as as tribes with the with the city of Richmond and and a lot of the things that go on there, we we are closely intertwined with activities that that occur in Richmond.
Speaker: The mayor has reached out and and as recently as last week wanted to have a a meeting with the tribes just to see what that relationship looks like and how we can further that relationship.
Speaker: It it's falls on deaf ears to me when someone says, we want to do a land acknowledgement, and typically that's the acknowledger wants to kind of assuage their guilt for living on land that was appropriated, in my view, illegally from the tribes.
Speaker: It's interesting in the early 17th century, the rule of law became very important. But that was after the property that was taken from us was beginning to be sold fee simple to people who purchased it.
Speaker: So there was a lot of irony in that. So when people talk about land acknowledgement, I want it to be substantive so that I can see something in there that's tangible, that speaks to the sincerity of that land acknowledgement. And I think in some instances we're moving in that direction But initially, the the outreach from from Richmond, from the city, really seemed shallow. It didn't seem to have much substance, but we have worked aggressively to add some substance to that, and I believe we are making inroads.
Speaker: So with that, I'll yield Chief Adams. Thank you, Chief Steve. So oftentimes, we echo each other's comments. But I'm going deviate a little bit today because when I looked at this question, I thought back a little further than Chief Steve was talking.
Speaker: But back before English contact, the land of Richmond was so very valuable to the Powhatan tribes. The James River was the great river. That was a river that ships could sail up. But at Richmond was the fall line.
Speaker: So, The English couldn't come any further in their grand ships and sailing vessels. But what the fall line did so much for us is that the river is deep until you get to Richmond, and then it becomes the fall line, which is a wonderful place to fish and feed your family.
Speaker: So I'm sure all tribes gathered at the fall line in what is now Richmond, Virginia, for generations just to load up on fish and use that to get us through starving times and and bad weather and whatnot.
Speaker: Also, Richmond was where our Chief Powhatan was born and lived. So I know that all the tribes in his chiefdom probably went and traded, bartered, and just visited that farm that Suzanne was talking about, which was Tree Hill Farm, but just outside of downtown Richmond.
Speaker: I think it was a there' was probably a beaten path from King William County to the city of Richmond back in those days. The landscape is magnificent in the area when you think and and you you follow those trails. Just really grateful for the opportunity to to learn more and to dig deeper and to learn from you all, really. Most importantly, the historical knowledge so that we can work together to preserve this space.
Speaker: I know we're in the thick of that right now as we speak. And so I just want to offer a lot of light and love and wisdom for each of you and and even myself and my family as we as we walk this out together as Richmonders and people of Central Virginia. Thank you for sharing.
Speaker: ah My next question, it kind of takes us a ah turn. And Chief Atkins, I've heard you speak a little bit about this at a lecture. And I want to ask, how do the indigenous cultures and the Christian faith relate to one another in your experience?
Speaker: Yeah, I'd be glad to answer that question. When I look at the Christian faith and and how we embraced it, the tribes in Virginia, it was kind of a natural progression. that Our faith recognized two gods, as it were, Ahom and Achius.
Speaker: One represented evil, which is the devil or Satan, and one represented the Creator. So to go from that to Christianity wasn't wasn't a long stretch, but I'm amazed at how the invaders construed some of the things we did to be pagan. We recognized the different seasons and and the significance of the moon as it relates to tides and the position of the stars. We used those for for navigation.
Speaker: and Folks saw us doing sometimes sun dance or rain dance or green corn dance, which recognized the ripening um of the corn and how would sustain us, as Chief Adams alluded, and in tough times.
Speaker: So we will actually pray in and and worship in our Creator and those things we did from a pragmatic perspective when we acknowledged those crops that that the Creator had allowed to grow to feed us.
Speaker: And when I look at how that has continued across the centuries, I'll single out at least 10 of those tribes where we have worshiped together over the years. Every year, the Chickahominy and Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Matapati, Matapati, Pamunkey, would go to each other's lands, go to church, and would have homecoming every year. And most of the churches that I just mentioned are Baptist.
Speaker: and So that was just what we did. we We would visit each other's churches every year, and we made a commitment last year to do that again this year. And Chief Adams and myself are fulfilling that commitment.
Speaker: You know, it's it's much easier to travel today. it's we We reduce travel time from several hours to, you know, like maybe 30, 40 minutes. And in probably the longest interval would be an hour, where you know going with a horse-drawn carriage took significantly longer.
Speaker: But we do embrace the the Christian faith, and we believe it's it's been foundational to some of the progress that we've made over the years.
Speaker: It's uncommon to to come to a gathering of these tribes without us starting the session with prayer and then having a closing prayer when it's all over.
Speaker: And if we, if we, if we pause for lunch, we're going to say grace over the lunch. So we do, embrace the Christian faith. And that's something that has helped us in and our journey toward federal recognition.
Speaker: We commit our our wishes, our desires to God. and And we ask when we would leave in our respective vehicles or if we took a bus, and we would have prayer.
Speaker: and we'd ask God to guide our our thoughts and actions as we testified before the Senate or the House, or when on the administrative side, we'd travel to the Office of Federal Acknowledgement of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and all of those journeys were laced with prayer because, as I said, we committed our desires to God, and we said, if you look favorably upon this, please please let us know. Or if if it's something we shouldn't be pursuing, let us know. we never got a negative signal.
Speaker: So I'm just wanting you to know that those actions that we take have been infused with the faith that we have in our Creator. And a follow to that is it it does continue to bind us together. I met with Chief Adams on Sunday, Chief Brown and of the Pamunkey, and folks from Mattapanai at a homecoming service. And we could feel the kindred spirit. and We could feel the the Holy Spirit.
Speaker: And it would it was just a gathering where we could where we readily acknowledge their faith. And we don't shy away from it. It doesn't matter if it's unpopular. ah We claim our faith and we claim our respective heritage and the kindred spirit that exists among those tribes.
Speaker: I'm so thankful for that for that spirit. I mean, that's how you and I got to know each other I believe it was a Sunday or a Wednesday evening at ah at a Baptist associational meeting. We'd both been called in to help. You were bringing the prayer and i was bringing some music. And then after the service, we realized, oh my goodness, what a kindred spirit we have with each other. And and then you know a couple months later, we're sitting next to each other on a bus, getting to advocate for cancer research. And so we can just see the ways that the spirit has brought all of us together. And I'm eternally grateful.
Speaker: And a footnote to that, we we see the Holy the Spirit in our lives as as we face those serious illnesses like cancer or diabetes or heart problems. And God has been gracious to us. And the faith that our folks have is we're going to be okay regardless. if if If we don't make it on this side, we know we have eternity waiting for Amen. Rachel, may I also add to that when we think about our indigenous culture, if you go back 400 years ago, when the Native Americans helped the settlers survive, we were already being the hands and feet of Jesus then because we were helping one another. And that's what we're called to do. and one thing I can say about
Speaker: our people is when one of us is down, everybody comes together to help. If there's someone who has taken ill and you've got people organizing that they get meals or somebody to get them back and forth to their cancer treatments and there might be fundraisers because they can't work and they need, you know, to financially keep going.
Speaker: And there'll be multiple fundraisers and they're attended by people from all over. If, if they're known by one tribe, then they're going to come from all over to help one another. So, you know, that too shows, like I said, being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Speaker: Now, 400 years ago, it didn't turn out good for us for us to have done that, but we would have done it anyway because we know that's what God calls us to do. Thank you for sharing that, Suzanne.
Speaker: think that's such an important reminder for all of us, especially today in the the tenacious culture of ah holding each other and caring for one another. You've modeled that in such a beautiful way and continue to model that.
Speaker: Thank you. Chief Adams, I wanted to ask you a little bit more about the history of Richmond and the indigenous people, the way that the tribal communities engage with the church today. you know Chief Atkins and Suzanne talked about the homecomings, but I wonder if there's other ways that you see the Upper Matapunai tribe engaging or if there's you some stories that you want to share about that.
Speaker: We always worship the higher power. But once we got introduced to the Bible and figured out how to understand it and read it, I think it moved Native people or to want more.
Speaker: So if you visit or ask around, but you got really got to visit any tribal community in Virginia, there will be a tribal center there that we conduct business and do things for our people.
Speaker: But right next door, there's going to be a church, every one of them. And you know to us, the church was so valuable for several reasons.
Speaker: One, we wanted a place to come together and worship. But two, folks were so suspicious of the Indians that if they met anywhere other than a church, people would be wondering, what are they doing? What what are they planning now? what This and that.
Speaker: It was a sanctuary for us to even do business of the church as well as worship in the church. And I remember As a child, I asked somebody about the Bible, and I think I was in a Sunday school class, so I think i guess they told the whole class, is that the Bible is 2,000 years old, and but it tells you how to live the right way. and isnt that And one little kid in that class raised his hand, he said, well, if the Bible is 2,000 years old, why we still having so much trouble? take
Speaker: And it stuck with me since I was eight or nine years old. It's like, If the Bible's been around that long, why is society and whatnot like it is now?
Speaker: That's the positive part, piggybacking what Chief Atkins said now, is that it brings us together now. Back then, churches were segregated. Now we have a blended church.
Speaker: you know It's not just an Indian church any anymore, but it's a church of God. It's always been a church of God, but we just weren't allowed to go to any other churches. And I'd like to add a little bit to what what Chief Adam said, because he had a very good point.
Speaker: That was a place of refuge for us, a place of sanctuary. And typically, we conducted our tribal meetings in the church, too. So we would have a church business meeting on a Saturday. And as soon as that meeting adjourned, we would start the tribal meeting.
Speaker: And the Chickahominy tribe founded Samaria Baptist Church in 1901. And the tribe reorganized in 1901 to its present form of governance. We went from a council called Amangai to an elected chief in 1901.
Speaker: And our friends who had established their own churches reached out to us specifically the Kamonkin said, you need to get your people from all of these neighboring churches. There could be a predominantly black church or predominantly white church, but you need to corral your folks and go back and and establish your own church.
Speaker: And our churches were the center of our of our religious life, our Christian life, and our social life. It was just where everybody came. And we've lost a lot of that that glue that was was holding us together because kids, and I understand that, have started worshiping in other churches. but But you lose that cohesiveness that you have when when you worship together.
Speaker: And even segregation... It wasn't bad for us to the to the extent that that the Indian schools were developed. we We had to build our own schools and pay for our own teachers, but we were able to protect our culture and that environment.
Speaker: So churches, I'll restate, served as as as a worship center, but also a cultural center and a recreation center, social center for for the community.
Speaker: Thank you. want us to talk a little bit about, you know, our relationship with the community and the local community. And I'm going to ask a two-part question so we can we can figure out how we want to answer this next question together. The first part is, how can churches and community development practitioners move beyond one-time service projects towards relationships built on trust and mutuality?
Speaker: Suzanne, you mentioned a little bit about this and our work together with the Cancer Center. Do you want to talk a little bit more about about what that has meant or and maybe something that you didn't have the chance to to mention earlier?
Speaker: Absolutely. One thing that I can say is the partnership with Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center has been um awesome. At the time of the Truth Project, they were under the leadership of Dr. Robert Wynn.
Speaker: And he came out to our very first meeting with the lead project investigator, Dr. Catherine Toses.
Speaker: And to me, that's what volumes because here's this busy, huge cancer director coming out a 45-minute drive out to meet us where we were at in our own space and caring enough about the research to take a lot of time to be able to do that.
Speaker: We're a rural community. It wasn't just right around the corner. And what I can say is they didn't check a box with us. You know, oh, yeah, we gave the Native Americans some information and just drop it and leave. It's been a lasting relationship with them.
Speaker: And that very first time he came out, he told us, he said, you know, this is bigger than the truth project, right? We're not going to just stop with this. You're stuck with us in now. We're family.
Speaker: And they really have stuck beside us. Even with his exit in June to a new cancer center, Dr. Baskin has stepped in and continued the relationship. So it has been great because they came out to us. And one of the terms that Dr. Tosus used was for us, with us, and by us.
Speaker: She didn't come out saying, well, we feel like this is what you need, so we're going to give you this. When she came out, she wanted to listen to what our needs were.
Speaker: She wanted to know what were the things that concerned us the most, how to protect our culture during the research, and how to build the trust and relationship with us. Those were things that she wanted from the very beginning and the whole project centered around that. When we think about working with one another, respect is a big component and being present, not just saying, hey,
Speaker: you know, we're going to be here for you. And then you never see them, you know, for another two years or so. But they have steadily stuck by us through all of our projects. We're currently in the process of raising $20 million to build a new child development center here across from the travel center.
Speaker: And we had a gala. Massey showed up. They bought a table. They donated money. They bought silent auction items. Like they've been with us through the whole process, everything that we do.
Speaker: birthday parties, church services, you know, they've actually come out and been a part of that. And that spoke volumes to the Chickahominy Nation because that's saying, hey, we see you. We want to be a part of you. We want to help you. And when we look at engaging in Native communities, that's a big key. We talked about the respect and being present. And so they've showed a lot of that.
Speaker: And that has been so helpful. And again, you know, just ties back to the Christian principle, do unto others as you would have them do unto you So like we talk about what kinds of things can we use as a guide, that Bible that we were introduced to using that Bible as a guide will help you be successful.
Speaker: One thing that stands out to me on building those relationships, and I'll kind of relate where Samaria Baptist Church is, we will allow elected officials to come and speak to the church. We will not allow campaign speeches.
Speaker: if you're Republican, Democrat, independent, if you say, i'd like to visit your church, we should come on in. And if they want to make a statement, they can do it. But if they start veering off to to campaigning, we'll nip it in the bud.
Speaker: but But folks do come there with, with preconceived ideas on on who we are. And they think if you if you speak to Chickahominy, you've also spoken to Matapani.
Speaker: They view us as as as monolithic and we're we distinct tribes. I think the Aquamanipanai, the relationship I have with Chief Adams and citizens of the tribe, it's almost like family.
Speaker: I mean, we're that close. But I don't speak for Chief Adams, nor does he for me. Now, we may consult and have some questions that we think will arise, and he'll give me license to say, yeah, this is where Chief Adams is, and I'll do the same thing for him.
Speaker: But the churches have served as a medium to get the word out to communities when things are coming up that might be beneficial to it through the whole community. We'll make that announcement in church, and and that helps get get the word out.
Speaker: And then as far as groups, they'll come in sometimes walking on eggshells. They're afraid to say this or that to us. and And we'll tell folks, you know, if if where you are is is the wrong place, we will educate you.
Speaker: But you come as you are You're authentic. it You present yourself and and we'll educate you if some of the thoughts that you have are are way out of line with who we are. um Many people, when we're asked to to come speak at an event, they want to see a 17th century native.
Speaker: And they were wanting to know if I can wear my regalia. said, well, if you choose to dress in period clothing, then I will too. but But I want to take you beyond the 17th century.
Speaker: And if you look at us today, and on this I can speak for the upper mouth and I, we're a microcosm ah of the larger generation. community. We have doctors, lawyers, dish diggers, plumbers.
Speaker: you know We have the whole spectrum. But what binds us together is our desire to see our tribes not only survive, but thrive. For many years, were in a survival mode. You can't be very creative. You can't enact strategic goals if you're just trying to survive.
Speaker: But those those adversities that would normally split people up just... served to bind these tribes closer and closer together. and And every time we had a to appear before Congress, the tribes were there.
Speaker: All the tribes were represented who were on that bill for federal recognition. But what gives me A lot of joy is a relationship that we have, and and I want to ask you to hear what Chief Adams has to say.
Speaker: That relationship was forged, you know, hundreds of years earlier and how it survived through to- today, in my view, is a miracle ordained by God.
Speaker: And I've asked, Lord, why did you let these people come over and take our land and kill so many of our people and trample all over us? And he hasn't revealed it yet, but I think I can see some answers on my own. We're growing stronger every day, and we're not bashful when we reach out and ask for what's rightfully ours. But Chief Adams, I'd love to hear your comments along the way.
Speaker: Well, and I'll tell you, it's really hard to follow Suzanne and yourself, Chief Steve. um' I'm just going to say, you need to get to know us, know our way of living, our way of thinking, and our way of interacting. you know we We don't live in the past. we We're living in the future. We're planning our tribe's future.
Speaker: So we're not that group of people that you got to, like Suzanne said, you got to check the box on and move on from there. And i think I think the tribe's support each other, certainly, but we support our communities. we We have lived here so long in this community and United States is 250 years old now. So we have established ties within the community with non-Native people.
Speaker: You know, like we opened a doctor's office after we got federally recognized right at the beginning of COVID because our people were dying. But so was the neighbors.
Speaker: getting ill. So we didn't just open it for Alphamadipanite people. We opened it for the citizens of our neighborhood, of King William County, even though there was so much racism and bias for the last 200 years from the large landowners in King William County. We opened the doors and welcomed them to come in and partake of our medical expertise and whatnot. So Along that line, Chief Adams was what he was expressing. We do that at Chickahominy.
Speaker: We had a grant that allowed us to start an elders' luncheon. And for a while, we only extended it to Native people. And we stepped back and looked, that's not right. We have elders in the community.
Speaker: So we've opened that luncheon. to the extent when you walk in you see the community, you see a representative of every, of every race, class, culture at that gathering and things Suzanne will attest.
Speaker: It's, it's become much more meaningful and, and those gatherings are going to have a spiritual component. Because again, before you're allowed to break bread, you give you give thanks to God.
Speaker: but But taking it to that level, and if we had time, Suzanne could really educate you on some of the things we're doing. But that Child Care Development Center It's going to be open to anyone.
Speaker: It doesn't matter how rich or poor. It doesn't matter your color, you your background. To be sure, to the extent we can do this within the federal government guidelines,
Speaker: We're going to show our Christian side to the extent that people recognize who we are and where we're from. But our idea is to serve anyone who needs good, responsible ah child care environment.
Speaker: and And we're looking at the whole child. If you present on on the high end of, if you're MENSA eligible, we want to meet your needs. If you are struggling, we're going to meet your needs.
Speaker: So we want to make sure that everyone on that continuum that their needs are addressed. It could be someone with some developmental issues physically or emotionally, but but we want to we want to treat the whole child. and And again, Suzanne has inspired us and many people in other tribes to understand that critical developmental age, zero to five.
Speaker: So we're embracing it and we're going to put feet and legs on it, but we're going to do it in the Christian atmosphere that is going to show, even though we meant we may not have these placards on the wall and we may not do a lot of things, but people can know who we are by the way we conduct ourselves.
Speaker: Thank you, Chief Atkins. I think the the sacredness of being welcomed into the homes of several members of your tribe. I came in at the tail end of the Truth Project, but I had the privilege of spending a day with one of our researchers and finishing up some of the research from the Truth Project.
Speaker: And i was welcomed in every home by every family with a warm welcome and, you know, can I get you a glass of water or a glass of tea?
Speaker: And learning about each other's stories and through the conversations, I experienced that warm welcome of love and acceptance. And I'm just really grateful to have experienced it for myself. I just want to say thank you. Well, I'm glad you were part of it. I'm glad that and I've gotten to know you.
Speaker: Me too. Thank you, Brent. Thank you. i think, you know, you all have led us to the next question, which is a really beautiful one. You know, what can the CCDA practitioners learn from your approaches to community and stewardship and healing and collective responsibility? Tell us more about this this Child Care Development Center and how even we as ah the CCDA collective of people across the nation can support this work. I heard you say $20 million. dollars
Speaker: That's a lot. So how can we learn from what you all are doing, but also support this work? Suzanne, we'll let you start on that one. Yeah, it's crazy when I think $20 million, dollars I'm like, whoa, but we're going to do it. You know, I realize it's a it's a big jump, but we're going to do it. It's so needed here in the community. We're a child care desert.
Speaker: We have about 6,700 residents here in Charles City County with only one licensed person. child care facility that can serve about 60 children, I believe, she can take.
Speaker: And it's a desperate need. Most families, if they want to a decent job, they have to travel at least 30 minutes outside of the county. So we need something here that is logistically in a good place for them, somewhere that they see people that look like them.
Speaker: the culture, being taught. One of the things we want to be able to do there is infuse our Chickahominy culture into the Child Development Center.
Speaker: When I was in school in the early 80s, I was bullied for being Native American. And I feel like this child care center will make a difference in that because they'll understand the culture and it won't be something that they just, you know, know, oh yeah, there're they're Native American. and I had to endure some things that you know makes me sad to think about. But when I see us trying to eradicate that by bringing this culture into our child development center, gives me hopes for the other Native children that are attending now and still have to endure some things.
Speaker: As we look to raise the money, We're also looking at, as the chief had mentioned, about developing the child holistically, making sure we're not just looking at cognitive ability, but like physical development, mental health and other things, being able to include that as part of it. Also, before I came to the tribe, I worked for Head Start for 18 years. And one of the things that we struggled with was finding space to be able to have our summer screenings, our parent meetings, our
Speaker: speech therapy, things like that. So we hope to be able to offer that. That was built into the design, some rooms that we could be able to offer for community space. For instance, one room, if there was a child who needed speech therapy, then the therapist could come there, pull the child. They have the speech therapy And then the child goes back into their class and the parents never have to take off work, pick up the child, take them to therapy, go back to work, or perhaps have to take a whole day off from work for that.
Speaker: Being in a rural community, that could very easily happen. We've got a lot of good things that we want to happen with this center, and it's just a matter of getting the funds to be able to do it. So that's one of the good things. Another thing that I wanted to touch on when when the chief was talking about the elders day and opening it ah up to the community, even still with doing things like that, there are people in the county that are jealous of the federal recognition. And I had a conversation. We had two of our legislators came out a few Saturdays ago and had a town hall meeting at our administration building.
Speaker: And I stood up and asked the question about how were they looking at investing in child care. I told them about our project and shared with them the price tag and what we were trying to do.
Speaker: and after it was over with, I was approached by a citizen who was a non-Native. And she was very irate with me about she didn't think it was fair that we had the Indian Health Services building.
Speaker: No one could come to that building except natives. Like, she really got real irate with me. And it bothered me because I considered this lady a close friend because she's another community activist, a church-going lady.
Speaker: And so I talked to her and I told her, I said, yeah, I see what you're saying. I said, but I can't sign on with it. I said, because in the early 80s, I watched my mom write a check every month to go towards paying for a lobbyist loan.
Speaker: to lobby for us to get federal recognition. I said we had to pay ah hundreds of thousand dollars a year. We had fundraisers. We had those pledge checks, as I said, my mom was writing.
Speaker: We spent a lot of money, a lot of hard work, and that was in the early 80s. I graduated high school in 89, and I remember that going on my whole high school time.
Speaker: And we didn't get federal recognition until 2018. When you think about how much money that was, they didn't give us anything. We worked for that. We earned that blood, sweat, tears, and finances. They didn't give us anything.
Speaker: And all because we wanted to be recognized as Native American. I asked her, I said, when was the last time that you had to carry a card to say that you're your nationality?
Speaker: I said, you don't have to do that. I said, we struggled for this. So it's still a fight for us, you know, and we still have to remain Christ-like about sharing that story with them.
Speaker: But, you know, it it it does get frustrating. And what Look at that Child Development Center. We know that that this is going to alleviate some of that because we're raising the next generation and we're teaching these children about our culture and how to live amongst others and respect that culture as well.
Speaker: And to kind of dovetail what Suzanne was talking about, we do get resistance in the community, and and we use it, as she did, as an opportunity to educate people.
Speaker: A lot of don't know the hardships that we went through just living as Indians. Our parents had to go out of state to marry and then come back under a cloud of secrecy because it was against the law to live as a married couple identified as an Indian.
Speaker: i mean punishable by by imprisonment or or a fine that none of our folks could she'd come up with. And another aspect of this child care development program that we have going on is it's open to anybody. It doesn't matter what your color is.
Speaker: And we feel like that it's it's it's a place where commuters coming from points west to go to work and points east and from points east going to work at points west or maybe taking a left and going to Hopewell.
Speaker: they can They can drop their children off assured that we will take care of them. And when they come to pick them up, they're going to be okay. We have safeguards in place that some folks would think we're really going way overboard, but we are going overboard to make sure that we in ensure the safety of of those children.
Speaker: When I go back to where we started out with CCDA, and I know Chief Adams, I want to hear your comments, but we met at breakfast and we were to the person I can't say amazed, but to look at the synergy that was there, the the the thoughts and aspirations that the people had at that breakfast so closely mirrored our own and their desire to understand more about us.
Speaker: We have an uncanny ability, Native people, to tell whether people are authentic or not. I mean, we can read right through it. And I was just amazed at the authenticity, and you were there, Rachel,
Speaker: at that At that meeting, when people ask questions, they were sincere. And Chief Adams, I said, and I said, there are no dumb questions. If you don't know, ask the question and and we will try to make you fully understand where we are.
Speaker: And that's what we want from the general public. If they don't know, ask the questions and we will sincerely respond. But Chief Adams, I'd like your your take on on that first meeting we had with the folks on CCDA. I think you and I have talked about it.
Speaker: Oh, yeah. we have We have talked about it several times. And it was, ah think I was the first one there. And I'm sitting there not knowing what to expect. And after people started coming, it was like i was sitting at a table with friends.
Speaker: it would it It just happened you know in a second. Everybody came in, there everybody, hi, um introduce yourself. Then we're all talking like we've known each other 20 years.
Speaker: I loved it. That's the I like to live my life. I could tell I was in the room with people who respected other people's lives and or could communicate with them. Yeah.
Speaker: I'm really impressed with that. and And Suzanne hit on a lot of stuff in her statements about being accepted in the community. we've We've done a lot of stuff as Upper Madoconite Tribe to help the county government.
Speaker: Right now, I let them use our tribal land where we hold our powwow once a year. and I let them use our property free of charge to host their farmer's market so local producers can sal sell their produce.
Speaker: This is a two-edged sword because they come on Friday afternoon and set up while we've got business going on. But I want people to get used to the Upper Madeline and I tribe being being a teammate.
Speaker: um We want to be a team. And I've got several churches, one church in particular, the Passion Church in King William, that I let them use their, their pretty large church and the facility is small.
Speaker: So I let them use our property in the spring for the summer for Bible school. And it just approached me yesterday, day before yesterday, about maybe coming and doing, uh,
Speaker: a trunk or treat event for Halloween on our property. But this summer, June, and they had 96 kids for Bible school. It was pretty amazing.
Speaker: It was an amazing sight to see. I'd like to squeeze in just a couple of other things to our travel center in Chief Adams says the same thing, their fellowship hall. We built that with no federal funds, with no public funds.
Speaker: We did it the old-fashioned way, car washes and bake sales and pledges. So everybody had skin in the game. and And people in the com community have been jealous of that travel center for years and thought that was a government handout.
Speaker: But we built it that way so there would be no strings attached. And the final comment, my kids would come home from school. in tears because the way they'd been treated at school because they were native and people would go, you know, that kind of stuff. And it was terrible.
Speaker: And I was on the school board and I stayed on the school board for 20 some years so I could kind of be an intermediary for these kids for the abuses that that they were enduring.
Speaker: And i I got death threats. One of my daughters would sit out waiting patiently for me to come home from school ward meetings because she was afraid I wasn't going to come home. But i could I kept some of those letters, but you would be surprised at how vile they were attacking me because of my Indianness.
Speaker: But as I said, those things that would cause people to scatter and run didn't work with us. It made us stronger, and I'll go back to our faith in Jesus Christ.
Speaker: That faith said, you if you don't give up on me, i won't give up on you. and And I think to the person, Suzanne, Chief Adams, and myself agree on that.
Speaker: Thank you. And and now i'll I'll make one more last statement. I figured out in my life that, particularly before federal recognition, being Native American was not cheap.
Speaker: It was expensive. Because the tribe didn't have anything because we weren't friendly recognized. So everybody used their personal cars, vehicles, paid their own way, stayed in the hotel with their own money and whatnot.
Speaker: So I tell everybody, ah we got here because we worked really hard and it wasn't about getting here. That's right. I'm so grateful for all of your perspectives and stories and just your willingness and candidness to share your experiences so that we can continue to learn from one another, continue to lift each other up and continue to pray for one another and for the continued work in our community specific to Richmond.
Speaker: I would love to hear from each of you and maybe Suzanne, you can get us started, but as CCDA prepares to gather in Richmond, in the capital in October, what invitation or challenge would you offer to the conference attendees so that they can get to know the upper Mattapanai and the Chickahominy and the other tribes and peoples that you all have mentioned? Well, first I would say precede the trip with lots of prayer, you know, focusing on God first, preparing their hearts to be here for the conference.
Speaker: But once you get here worshiping God collectively, and just loving each other and those that you come in contact with.
Speaker: Learning more about us, if you have your heart in the right place, if you're connected with the Creator, that's going to help you to focus on us, to focus on our culture, because that's what we're about. We've always been about that.
Speaker: As Chief Adams mentioned in the beginning, We've always worshipped a higher power. We've always known that the creator was there. So I think doing that before they get here will make sure that everything's a success once they get here.
Speaker: And I would encourage them to to reach out to the tribes, reach out to Indian View Baptist Church, Samaria Baptist Church, in others and others, and we will provide a forum for the folks to come and share who they are and and to worship with us.
Speaker: ah To the extent we we would be even say, look, you can come and and make your presentation here today, whatever it looks like, because I know we can get our pastors to agree to yield a pulpit if if that's necessary. Yep.
Speaker: Absolutely. and And I would also say Richmond basically it was the beginning of what is now the United States. That's right. Learn your Richmond history.
Speaker: Learn the history of the natives, the slaves that came, and so many slaves came that they had the most population in the city of Richmond, and people were afraid of that as a Civil War approach.
Speaker: But you got this history. That's not history that is taught. But that is history that people need to know to have a true feeling of love of mankind, I think.
Speaker: That's right. And we do but embrace the thought that a miracle was made in Virginia. So there you go. But but even to the extent of reaching out to the tribes, we have a travel center. We can provide space. So there are different venues that we can make available because I want the message of CCDA to go way beyond where it is today.
Speaker: Thank you all so much. What a gift to get to spend an hour together today. I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful. If you don't mind, let's close with prayer.
Speaker: would love that. Father, we come to you thanking you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. Father, thank you for the people in this conversation today and that we thank you for who you are for loving us in spite of who we are.
Speaker: And Father, we ask for your grace. We ask for your guidance. We ask for for your blessings on on the things that will be an outgrowth of this meeting today.
Speaker: And we pray that through CCDA, your message of salvation and grace and your guarantee earn of eternal life will take root and spread and cause others to come to know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Speaker: Again, I thank you for all of us who were able to get together today and have this discussion. In your Son's name, the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the CCDA podcast, and thank you Rachel Pierce, Suzanne Brown, Chief Adams, and Chief Adkins for joining us today.
Speaker: If you want to learn more about CCDA and the CCDA conference, check out the show notes of this episode. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is produced by me, Sarah Callan, in association with k Christina Fore.
Speaker: We will be back soon with another episode featuring CCD practitioners who are committed to seeing people and communities experience God's shalom. We'll see you then.
