Monacan homecoming set

By Scott Marshall

Published: September 24, 2008

Members of Amherst County’s Monacan Indian Nation are in the midst of a momentous week, making their case for federal recognition in the U.S. Senate and also marking the 100th anniversary of their church at the foot of Bear Mountain.

For more information about the Monacan Nation or First Choice, visit http://www.monacannation.com or http://www.firstchoicehvaconline.com.

The tribe’s Homecoming and Bazaar, which began nearly 40 years ago, begins Oct. 4 with services at St. Paul’s Episcopal Mission Church on Kenmore Road, about six miles from Amherst.

“We celebrate who we know we are,” said Sharon Bryant, a tribal council member. “We are descendants of the first nation’s people.”

A log building that formerly was a school for Indian children in grades first through fifth also is at the site. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Communion will be offered at the 9 a.m. church service; a gospel sing will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A sale of baked goods begins at 10 a.m. and a buffet meal on grounds at the church begins at 11 a.m. A scholarship auction and a dance program begin at 1 p.m.

The tribe’s museum will be open. The Monacan cookbook also will be on sale.

Monacan members will attend a Senate hearing Thursday in Washington. But the Senate adjourns Friday, possibly before any action is taken on the recognition issue.

Federal recognition, which was approved by the House of Representatives last year, is crucial to the Monacans and five other tribes because they hope it would ultimately help them obtain opportunities designated for Native Americans such as educational, housing and health care assistance. Virginia recognized the Monacan Nation in 1989, according to a tribal history researched by Karenne Wood.

“Federal recognition is a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said the Monacans’ chief, Kenneth Branham, a lifelong Amherst County resident who himself was not allowed into public schools until 1962. Recognition would better enable tribal members to provide for their own, which has been difficult under racial disadvantages in the state, members say.

Two to three generations of Virginia Indians’ heritages were erased when they were reclassified to “colored” under the 1924 Virginia Racial Integrity Act. A portion of the act, which banned marriage between whites and non-whites, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967.

The Virginia Legislature later repealed the entire act.

But the damage was done for decades, and members of Virginia tribes could not prove their ancestry under federal rules.

Six Virginia tribes are seeking recognition. About 700 to 800 of about 1,700 Monacans live in Virginia. The other Virginia tribes are the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock and Nansemond.

The tribe became a state-registered corporation in 1988, according to Wood. This spring, the nation established Monacan Enterprises LLC, under which they started the Native-owned business, First Choice, an electric and HVAC business on Hughes Drive in Monroe. In October, the nation will reopen a convenience store at the former T.J.’s service station in Monroe, Bryant said.