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The Untold Story of the Nottoway Indian Tribe
The Untold Story of the Nottoway Indian Tribe
Tribal Chief Lynette Allston, co-author of the just-released book "DoTraTung," speaks to the campus community at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9.ﾃモ Free and open to the public.
By Megan Z. Shearin |ﾃモ ﾃモ October 25, 2010
Itﾃ｢€ s been seven months since the Commonwealth of Virginia officially recognized the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia by an Act of the General Assembly.
This momentous vote recognized the existence of the Indian-descended group, granted the tribe voting representation on the Virginia Council on Indians (VCI), an advisory board to the Governor and General Assembly, and inclusion in official statewide Native American events. It gave them a voice.
The Office of International and Intercultural Programs presents Nottoway Chief Lynette Allston, featured speaker at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the Boyd Dining Hall. This event is free and open to the public and is part of the Freshman Seminar program focused on the question, "What is Community?ﾃ｢€
ﾃ｢€ State recognition is important in acknowledging our historic ethnic identity and in reclaiming our cultural history as a major tribe in the state,ﾃ｢€ said Allston.ﾃモ There are now eleven tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
For the past 23 years, Allston has maintained her familyﾃ｢€ s farm in Southampton County that was passed down to her by her grandfather, from his parents and grandparents. She is the co-author of the just-released book ﾃ｢€ DoTraTung,ﾃ｢€ a compelling inside look at the history, culture and lifestyle of the Nottaway Tribe.ﾃモ DoTraTung, the Nottoway word for ﾃ｢€ New Moon,ﾃ｢€ symbolizes the fresh outlook the tribe has embarked on since gaining state recognition.In March 2010, the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia was officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to the arrival of European colonists in the early 1600s, Nottoway territory covered parts of the present day counties of Southampton, Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Surry and Isle of Wight.
ﾃ｢€ While the history of Nottoway people is well documented in Virginiaﾃ｢€ s historical annals, much of the history has been untold, overlooked or misinterpreted,ﾃ｢€ writes Allston in the forward of the book. ﾃ｢€ We seek to correct errors that have been written about Nottoway history and encourage new thoughts.ﾃ｢€
Allston, who holds a B.A. in history from Duke University, writes extensively about the Nottoway view of history after first contact was made. Prior to the arrival of European colonists in the early 1600s, Nottoway territory covered parts of the present day counties of Southampton, Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Surry and Isle of Wight. Historical documents state they were one of the strongest Indian Tribes in the region, living in dispersed communities surrounding the Nottoway River and its tributaries on the Albemarle Sound.
Chapter two describes the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia today, a pictorial glimpse of the tribeﾃ｢€ s outreach and community activities, gatherings and powwows and lifestyle. The final chapter concludes with a perspective from Dr. Arica L. Coleman, assistant professor of Black American Studies at the University of Delaware, outlining the resistance the tribe faced when seeking state recognition and their ultimate triumph.
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