The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia is a state-recognized tribeinVirginia and a nonprofit organization of individuals who identify as descendants of the Patawomeck people.
Named after | Patawomeck people, American Indians |
---|---|
Formation | 2014[2] |
Type | state-recognized tribe (2010),[3] nonprofit organization (2014)[2] |
EIN 47-1481316 (Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia);[2] EIN 27-1379012 (Patawomeck Heritage Foundation)[4] | |
Purpose | A23: Cultural, Ethnic Awareness[1] |
Headquarters | Stafford County, Virginia[5] |
Location | |
Membership | 2,300[5] |
Official language | English |
President | Charles Bullock (2022)[1] |
Website | patawomeckindiantribeofvirginia |
The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia is not federally recognized as a Native American tribe.[6] The organization has never petitioned for federal recognition.
The Patawomeck people, more commonly known as the Potomac people, are a historic Eastern Algonquian–speaking tribe who lived on the Virginia.[7]
Through House Joint Resolution No. 150, the Commonwealth of Virginia's legislators formally designated the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia as a state-recognized tribe in 2010.[3] The resolution states: "That the General Assembly of Virginia, by this resolution, does not address the question of whether the tribe has been continuously in existence since 1776; and, be it RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Commonwealth, by this resolution does not confirm, confer or address in any manner any issues of sovereignty."[3] Entertainer Wayne Newton, who identifies as Patawomeck, advocated for recognition.[8]
In 2014, the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Fredericksburg, Virginia.[1]
Charles "Bootsy" Bullock serves as their president in 2022.[9][2]
Robert Green of Fredericksburg, Virginia, identifies as "Chief Emeritus" of the Patawomeck Indians of Virginia and served as primary chief from 1996 to 2013.[10] He also served as president of the Patawomeck Heritage Foundation from 2010 to 2015.[10]
The related Patawomeck Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Colonial Beach, Virginia and incorporated in 2010.[4] Its officers are:
They have an estimated membership of 2,300.[5]
The organization opened the Patawomeck Museum and Cultural Center in Fredericksburg in 2023.[11] Stafford County leased an 1890s brick farmhouse on 17-acres of land to the organization for $1 a year as part of a ten-year lease.[9] Local businesses and foundations have provided grants to fund the restoration of the farmhouse.[9]