A plaque honors the Nanesmond Nation is placed on campus in the Peace Garden.
Photo: VWU | Courtesy
Centuries ago, VWU was Nansemond territory, where families fished and gathered on the same land that is now Virginia Wesleyan’s campus. Later, it became farmland, and in the years after emancipation, a refuge for newly freed Black Americans carving out their own beginnings.
On Oct. 23, the Peace Garden outside Clarke Hall became the setting for a meaningful act of return. Faculty, students and guests gathered as members of the Nansemond Indian Nation arrived to reclaim ancestral artifacts that had been in the possession of the university for nearly 60 years.
For Chief Keith Anderson, he said the ceremony carried both pride and gravity.
“It’s very emotional. When you walk in and see it, you actually feel that your ancestors are here, giving their approval that they still have descendants and stewards to protect what they made,” Anderson said.
The newly unveiled land acknowledgment plaque extended this spirit of restoration, formally recognizing the Nansemond people as the original inhabitants of the place where VWU stands.
Anderson described the artifacts, such as tools, fragments and art as “a footprint” and proof of continuity.
“It shows that we as Indigenous people are still here, still evolving. These pieces reflect skills and artistry that have been developed and shared for thousands of years. Seeing them returned is a huge feeling of pride,” Anderson said.
“Especially with the national climate, it’s imperative. So much of our history was told orally and lost through the lack of written documentation. Many Elders have passed, but what has been preserved is our skills, our culture, and those are irreplaceable. We have an obligation to protect them and pass them forward,” Anderson said.
Chief Anderson (RIGHT) of the Nanesmond Nation stands among the nation’s artifacts.
Photo: Emilie Dajc | Marlin Chronicle
Assistant Chief Nikki Bass of the Nansemond Indian Nation spoke about what this return represents.
“We’re envisioning a future where we can share these pieces, but also share the stories, the context and the cultures they emerged from,” Bass said.
The ceremony focused on the connection to the life story of the people who made these items. Bass said that the tribe is developing its first Cultural Center which will house these artifacts.
“We’ve already developed a floor plan with space to share and display things like this. It’s an ongoing journey of doing the work of history and preserving the stories of people,” Bass said.
Jackie Murray of the Lynnhaven Parish chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Old Nation Episcopal Church had heard that the university might have pieces of Native history.
“Our church historian mentioned there might have been an Indian village pole here. That led us to [Associate Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center] Kelly Jackson at the university, and eventually we discovered this collection,” Murray said.
Inside the collection were trays of local artifacts, some from Aragona Village and others from the old Butts and White farms, families long associated with the church.
“When I saw the collection, I realized how many of these pieces were from right here. That made it all the more powerful. They weren’t just artifacts. They were part of the land we walk on,” Murray said.
“A friend of mine, Joanne Faulkner, is a descendant of two survivors of Indian schools,” Murray said. “She was the one who said, ‘We need to get these to the Nansemond Nation.’”
One suggestion led to conversations between the university, historians and tribal leaders which made it all come together. The William Granville Sale Jr. Peacemaking Award made the dedication of the land acknowledgment plaque possible.
“It’s rewarding because you feel a sort of vindication that what you believed was right all along,” Murray said.
The program concluded not with applause, but with a moment of silence. The crowd migrated to the Robert Nusbaum Center for light bites and culture, where more artifacts were temporarily displayed before being returned to the Nansemond people.
By: Ashley Cayon
acayon@vwu.edu
