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Virginia Beach Unveils A Land Acknowledgement Rooted In History And Healing
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The room felt different the moment the honor song began—like the walls themselves were learning to listen. We gathered with tribal leaders, artists, council members, and neighbors to unveil Virginia Beach’s land acknowledgement plaque at City Hall, and to say out loud what the land has carried for millennia: Indigenous people are the first stewards here, and they are still here. From the Chesapeake Indians to the Nansemond Indian Nation and across Virginia’s tribal communities, we trace a living lineage that continues to shape the city’s culture, ecology, and civic life.
You’ll hear the official land acknowledgement read by the committee chair, reflections from the mayor and council on how the statement took shape, and moving testimony from Indigenous representatives about resilience and repair after centuries of erasure. We sit with artisans from the Nottoway community whose woodwork and designs appear in museums and resilience centers, exploring how craft serves as education, memory, and collaboration. Their stories turn abstract history into something you can hold—a vessel carved from traded wood, a plaque that invites conversation, a song that fills public space with presence.
Along the way, we talk about why public recognition matters, what it means to let Indigenous leadership guide civic language, and how to turn acknowledgment into action: curriculum changes, cultural partnerships, support for Native artists, and land stewardship informed by traditional ecological knowledge. The unveiling is not a finish line; it’s an open door. Step through with us as we build a more accurate, generous story of Virginia Beach—one that honors the past, serves the present, and makes room for those who will come after.
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Welcome And Gratitude
SPEAKER_00I want to express my sincere gratitude for everyone who helped bring this, bring us to this moment, and to especially our tribal partners who shared their time, their knowledge, and their guidance so generously. Today is about more than a plaque. It's about acknowledgement, respect, and the relationships that continue to shape this community and our understanding of its history. We are honored to be joined today by tribal leaders and indigenous representatives from across Virginia, as well as members of city council, city leadership, and we thank you all for joining us and being present for this important moment. Now it's my honor to introduce Mayor Bobby Dyer to say a few remarks.
SPEAKER_03Thank you.
Mayor’s Remarks And Recognition
SPEAKER_03Hey, good morning and everybody. Can you ask the other council members to come on up here too, please? What a great day. What a glorious day in Virginia Beach, but in Virginia Beach, every day is a glorious day. But today is an important day. A very important day. The land acknowledgement plaque, where unveiling reflects the thoughtful process directed by City Council and shaped through collaboration and listening with our partners. I want to thank the Arts and Humanities Commission, the Land Acknowledgement Committee, Virginia's Indigenous Tribes and Cultural Affairs Department for their work on this effort. Their contributions help ensure this acknowledgement is meaningful and respectful. By placing this pack of the plaque in City Hall, we are creating a visible reminder for all to see of the indigenous peoples who have a long-term commitment to the land and whose values and contributions continue to shape our community. And let me just say, Virginia Beach gets a lot of kudos for being a great place to live, work, and play. Be assured, it's not the mayor, it's the people. It's the people that live here. It's the people that work here, have their businesses, but also the people that give their time, talent, and treasure and that sense of community to help each other that make Virginia Beach such a great city. So to say that, I say welcome, but I'd also like to acknowledge the city council members that are here. Michael Berlucci, Stacey Cummings, Joshua Schulman, Worth Remick, and Jennifer Rouse, Dave Hutchinson. But most of all, I welcome you here because you are part of what makes Virginia Beach V Be Strong and V Be Great. For that I thank you.
SPEAKER_01Good morning, all.
Why The Plaque Matters
SPEAKER_01My name is Michael Cloud Butler, and I am an Anishinade Ojibwe from the Great Lakes region, uh, Wisconsin specifically. I've been a uh a citizen of the city of Virginia B since the summer of 1966. So I've seen a lot of changes and welcome all of them. While land acknowledgments are often read by a non-indigenous representative of an institution, it is my unique honor as the land acknowledgement committee chair to read this statement today in recognition of the collaborative process that shaped it and the community it represents. So, City
Land Acknowledgement Statement Read
SPEAKER_01of Virginia Beach land acknowledgement statement. We, the City of Virginia Beach, acknowledge that the present-day land on which the city exists is situated on lands that have been inhabited by indigenous people since time immemorial. The Chesapeake Indians inhabited two thriving communities, known as Aspasis and Chesapeake, meaning Country on the Great River in Algonquin, the native language spoken by many tribes of the coastal plain. Their bloodlines continue today in the Nanzen Indian Nation and by extension all Virginia tribes. We acknowledge their rich traditions and systematic erasure of their culture spanning 400 years since the colonization of America. These tribes continue to inhabit and steward these lands through the reclamation and preservation of their traditions, culture, and economic and ecological impact efforts. They are an integral part of our community's past, present, and future. By recognizing and acknowledging the past and the present, it is our intention to inspire meaningful engagement in a reconnection with and revival of the rich culture of the indigenous peoples of our city and state, and to create a legacy of healing, cultural preservation for future generations. We call on ourselves and our community to seek opportunities and embrace actions that demonstrate a love and respect for this land and cultivate a spirit of reconciliation with the indigenous peoples who continue to live and work within our shared community. That is the statement.
SPEAKER_03Okay, one, two, three.
Mayoral Proclamation Issued
SPEAKER_04I am a full-blooded Lumbee Indian from Robinson County, North Carolina. We are the newest tribe to be federally recognized. It's my uh so this day has a very special uh meaning for me, along with my fellow indigenous folks. It's my honor to read the mayor's proclamation set forth today. Whereas indigenous people have played a consequential role in the history of the region and continue to contribute meaningfully to the cultural, social, and civic life of the Virginia Beach community today, and whereas the Virginia Beach City Council adopted a resolution, and by that, the city manager was directed to create a process with the goal of formally crafting a land acknowledgement for the city of Virginia Beach. And whereas through this process, the Cultural Affairs Department and the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission worked in partnership with Virginia's Indigenous Tribes and the Land Acknowledgement Committee to develop a land acknowledgement statement and was presented to the City Council in November 2024. And whereas the City of Virginia Beach recognizes that a land acknowledgement plaque is situated on lands that have long been stewarded by Indigenous peoples, whose histories, cultures, and contributions predate the establishment of the city, and whereas the land acknowledgement plaque installed in the city hall serves as a visible and lasting reflection of this work, honoring the indigenous peoples whose presence and contributions have shaped Virginia Beach and reaffirming the city's commitment to recognition, respect, and understanding. Now, therefore, I, Bobby M. Dyer, Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, do hereby proclaim February 5th, 2026 as a commemoration of the unveiling of the Land Acknowledgement Plaque in Virginia Beach, and I call upon our citizens to recognize and commemorate the unveiling of the Land Acknowledgement plaque and encourage residents, visitors, and city staff to reflect upon the history it represents and the importance of honoring the indigenous peoples connected to this land. In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and caused the official seal of the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia to be affixed this fifth day of February 2026. Bobby M. Dyer, Mayor. I would also like to present you with this.
SPEAKER_05Thank you, sir.
SPEAKER_04Thank you.
SPEAKER_05Again, good morning.
Nanzeman Nation Reflections
SPEAKER_05On behalf of the NASA Virginia Nation, I would like to formally acknowledge the City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, and the Land Acknowledgement Committee for inviting us to be a part of this historic and meaningful event. Sincere thanks and appreciation also extended to attending city officials, honored guests, tribal citizens, and community supporters, many who have traveled near and far throughout the Commonwealth to be here. Despite the challenges our indigenous communities face in protecting and preserving our history, traditions, and culture, we also recognize that there is real hope for the future and that we should cherish organizations like the City of Virginia Beach that have been unwavering in their support of human diversity, cultural awareness, and community development. Given our unique tribal history and cultural footprint across Virginia, as well as North Carolina, the National Indian Nation is proud and excited about the opportunity to continue developing our kinship relationships and experiences with the city of Virginia Beach and its sister cities. We, the National Indian Nation, fully embrace the importance of spiritual, physical, and emotional welfare for all human beings. And some of the original inhabitants and stewards of these lands, our indigenous tribes and nations, recognize the need to share our knowledge and attributes to build a better city, country, and world. Thank you and bless us all. Give this uh day the proper recognition it
Honor Song And Closing Thanks
SPEAKER_05deserves. I now call up uh Connor Toppins from the Upper Matapanai tribe to render a honor song.
SPEAKER_00Chief Anderson, Connor, thank you so much. And thank you to our tribal partners for sharing your voices and traditions with us today. We are grateful for the collaboration and the spirit of partnership that made today possible, and for the opportunity to gather together in recognition of this important step. We now invite you to enjoy some lots of refreshments, view the plaque, and spend time in conversation. And thank you for being here.
Artisan Collaboration And Craft Traditions
SPEAKER_10So how did you come in contact with the people to create the uh the vessel?
SPEAKER_07Um Keith is chief of the NAS with the Nataway Indian Tribe of Virginia. Okay. And so we worked close together. Me and Keith pretty much uh we grew up together.
SPEAKER_10Okay. Are you indigenous as well?
SPEAKER_07Yes.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_07We're members of the Nataway Indian Tribe of Virginia. Okay. And so um the wood vessel, Keith, was like, they're having this event, and so a lot of times uh when we do get together uh from powwows and stuff like that, with Native Americans, we do a lot of trading, and they would give me wood, and sometimes uh I would create things and design stuff, and so a couple of pieces I have designed for them. They pretty much uh, how would they say, they like to acknowledge other tribes and be up, have other tribes to be involved with them. And so Keith reached out to me and said, Hey, uh, I'd like for you to design this for the um Virgin Beach for the land acknowledgement. Uh I also did a plaque for the Elizabeth River City, I mean Elizabeth River uh um project. Okay. They asked me to design a land acknowledgement for their new Ryan uh resilient building in Norfolk. And so I did one there. Uh a friend of mine, me and Rachel, we do a lot of designing artwork. Uh we sell to Jamestown, Colonial Windsburg, uh the Virginia Finance Museum. Uh also just picked up Manassas Museum. So a lot of I hate to say it, but every time we get into events like this, we pretty much uh people like to say, hey, would you uh do this or do that? So a lot of times when they can't get a hold of me, they'll find somebody who we was already contacted with, and they would get a contact with us. And me and Rachel, we would talk too long and find out what they're looking for, and just to educate. Uh education with knowledge that we have, uh, just to bring uh awareness that we're still here. Um a lot of times people don't understand that we're triracial people, so we go through the different uh nature, we go through the different uh, you know, ethnicities of who we are. Right. And you see it throughout this. And so with us in mind, that what Keep had done was reaching out, acknowledging our artwork, and what we can do to uh enhance the knowledge of Native American culture.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, how long have you been doing this?
SPEAKER_07Uh I know I have been doing it uh for about 20 years. Okay. And how long have you been?
SPEAKER_02I'm much younger.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um so I guess I I got my start maybe around six years ago. Um, some elders of mine took me under their wing and started teaching me some of the crafts and going around to the different powers, set up at the booths all along the east coast.
SPEAKER_10So are you from the same tribe?
SPEAKER_02Yes. Southampton County. Awesome.
SPEAKER_10That's awesome. Jack Dark from the uh Nasmin River, indigenous tribe, and he's a tribal member.
“We’re Still Here” Voices
SPEAKER_06So tell us what do you think this event means to this area? It gave us an opportunity to put our footprint in the sand. Because for many generations, when we stepped on the sand, it was washed away, but now we're here. We're still here. Even though our history at one point was uh trying to be eliminated, we're still here. And by the city acknowledging us and giving us the land recognition plaque, that means a lot to the indigenous nation as a whole.
SPEAKER_10I'm here with my my council member Michael Berlucci.
Council Perspective On History
SPEAKER_10So, Michael, tell us how do you feel about this event and what it means to the city and the indigenous people around here.
SPEAKER_08It's very special. Okay. Um, for thousands of years, many thousands of years, indigenous people have called this land their home and contributed to the quality of life throughout eternity. And yet, we're learning every day about history and how we interpret history, how we teach history, how we share history, and I think in many ways, as it relates to indigenous communities, correcting the record about the contributions that so many people have made from all of us. And so the unveiling of this acknowledgement is really a tribute to all of the folks who came before us, um, the indigenous communities who live here now and our neighbors, and the many people who will come after and continue to make contributions toward the quality of life in Virginia Beach and throughout our region. Yes. And this collaboration with our Arts and Humanities Commission um is really special because it was led by Indigenous leadership with Indigenous leadership and is a more accurate reflection of the true history.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
Leaders On Process And Partnership
SPEAKER_10I'm here with Chief Mee and Michael Cloud Butler. Uh both men were instrumental in uh having this ceremony brought to the forefront and the plaque itself. The whole process has taken several years. I know that from my conversations with Michael. So finally here, what does this mean to you, Lee?
SPEAKER_09What's your feelings is uh it was a good ceremony? Yes and it's good to work with the city of Virginia Beach on stuff like this. Uh I've probably been working with the city of Virginia Beach about 25 years. Work with Mark Reed a lot, Francis Lands. And uh this chairman is really good. Yes.
SPEAKER_10Okay. Uh which tribe are you? With the Nanzman Nation. Okay. So that is um the most populous tribe here today, right?
SPEAKER_09Yes, yeah. This is our our land, our territory.
SPEAKER_10Right.
SPEAKER_09So uh we're the main focus, I guess you could say, here.
SPEAKER_10And Michael, Michael, I know you're from the uh Jibwe tribe. I am. So tell us, kind of walk us through the process because you were there at the forefront, the committee meetings, I've seen you. Um tell us what it means for you to experience this day and what was the journey like?
How The Work Came Together
SPEAKER_01Well, uh my interaction with the uh Virginia natives began back in the early 90s. And so uh I knew that there would be uh there would be a lot of work to do in order to uh find out from them their feelings on the land acknowledgement, period. Right. On just having that. Uh as it turns out, their feelings were good. Their feelings were very, very forward, very positive. Uh so we we proceeded on uh asking as many people as as as would participate. Uh at the beginning, the first couple of meetings, we had uh, oh, I don't know, probably a dozen people that you know that came around to either listen or maybe have some small input into it. Uh we had a lot of opinions on what you know land acknowledgements really were.
Filling A Missing Piece Of City Memory
SPEAKER_01Um I myself consider land acknowledgement uh something that was vitally needed. There was a piece of the city that was missing. I've been here for 40 plus years, since 1966. And I've always heard that there were Indians here, there were Indians there, there was a village here, there was a chief there. But nothing ever really coalesced about all that. It was all just loose information that kept kind of bumbling around. But this right here brings everything into focus. This right here tells the people of the city of Virginia Beach that you enjoy your city, but other people enjoy the same thing. They had their own city, a style of city that was very ancient and very ancestral. So that's that's kind of my view on the whole thing that it was it filled a spot within the city that was needed.
