Cheroenhaka present Spotswood tribute
Published 10:35 am Wednesday, May 16, 2018
- From left, Tommy “Star Watcher” Hines, William “Spread Eagle” Lamb, Vice Chief “Soaring Eagle” Ellis, Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown, Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, Tribal Princess Caroh “Water Blossom” Holley, Vashti “Sparrow Hawk” Clarke, Beverly “Barefoot” El and Mary “Morning Rain” Wilkerson. -- Submitted | Jack Mayer
by Karen Barrett
RICHMOND
Recently, Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, along with other represented tribal chief men, council members and clan mothers, presented the St. George’s Day 305th Annual Spotswood Treaty Tribute of three Peace Arrows and a Peake (Wampum Belt) to Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. He accepted the treaty tribute on behalf of Gov. Ralph Northam.
The St. George’s Day 305th Annual Spotswood Treaty Tribute consists of of three Peace Arrows and a Peake (Wampum) Belt.
The three peace arrows represented the three treaties of 1646, 1677 and 1713, signed by the chiefs/king of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Nation; to include, the mark of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) chief who signed the Woodland Plantation Treaty of 1677 — mark of the three rivers (Nottoway, Blackwater and Chowan.)
The annual Treaty of Peace Tribute was presented to the governor in accordance with (IAW) the Feb. 27, 1713 Treaty of Peace on the one part by Alexander Spotswood, her Majesties’ lieutenant governor and commander in chief of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and on the other part by the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Nation’s Chief/King Ouracoorass Teerheer aka William Edmund.
Article I of said treaty states that said Nation of Indians shall from henceforth continue Tributary’s to her Majesty of Great Britain and/or her successors under the subjection of the Government of Virginia.
KAREN D. “RUNNING MOON” BARRETT handles public relations for the Chereoenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribute. Contact her at barrettkd20@gmail.com.
