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The Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County presented the 310th annual Spotswood Treaty Tribute consisting of three piece arrows wrapped in a beaver pelt and a wampum belt to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin this spring.

A tribe news release noted that the presentation took place on the capitol grounds in Richmond at the Native American Memorial, the Mantel, on April 21. The presentation is made annually to the governor, in accordance with the Spotswood Treaty of Feb. 27, 1713, on Saint George Day. 

“This year’s treaty tribute, as for the past 12 years, was a stunning success,” tribe officials stated, expressing thanks to the following tribal members: Donnie Freeman, Todd DePreist, Bernard Wright, Tommy Hines, Ellis Wright, Red Eagle Brown, Windsong Brown, Caroh Holley, Beverly El, Teressa Baxter, Shelia Hinton and Sue Thompson.

“We also did a first-time Honor Dance for the governor and first lady prior to presenting the treaty tribute,” tribe officials said. “Water Blossom, Windsong and Red Eagle did an outstanding job to the hand drumming and singing of Chief (Walt) ‘Red Hawk’ (Brown).”