In August 2024, the Stafford County Historical Society (Discover Stafford) published a “position paper” disputing the legitimacy and continuity of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia.
The Patawomeck Tribe, which is based in the White Oak area of Stafford County, received state recognition from Virginia’s General Assembly in 2010 and is currently pursuing federal recognition.
Discover Stafford board president Connie Hilker also penned a letter to former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, sharing the group’s concerns over and opposition to HR 5553, the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Bill.
The Tribe responded through its lawyer, who provided letters of support from anthropologists from the College of William & Mary, who aided in its state recognition bid.
Local media reporting left it there, a confounding they-said/they-said rift with significant stakes. “The Tribe,” a new podcast from the Fredericksburg Free Press, attempts to make sense of not only the current situation — but also the historical legacy that has played a role in shaping it — and what all of it means for the future.
The first three episodes of “The Tribe” are available wherever you get your podcasts, and more are scheduled to release later this year.
You can find extras from our reporting here, including original documents and additional reading.
