Chapter 7: Protectors and Preservers of the Land

It’s a new morning! Maverick is so happy that it is a long weekend. That means he has no school today! He loves it when he wakes up to birds singing and the sun warming his face instead of a 7 am school alarm or his mom dragging him out of bed. Usually, he lazes around on days he is off, but not today. Today, he is hanging out with his Nana again!

Although it is only 10 am, which to him still seems early, his Nana is already up and lively. As Maverick approaches her with a good morning, Diane plants a big kiss on his forehead and jokingly says, “Kanahąpną pi, sleepy head.” Sitting on the couch beside her, Diane tells Maverick that the car is all packed with his sleepover bags and that pancakes are on the kitchen counter for him to eat. She exclaims, “We’ve got a big day today, so eat up! We are going to a very sacred place for our people.”

Maverick’s eyes beamed. “Ooo! Ooo! What is it, Nana?”

Letting out a chuckle, Diane sweetly notes, “You’ll see soon. You will just have to be patient, Mav.”

Sighing, Maverick knows his Nana won’t tell him any more information. Sadly, he is just going to have to be patient. Patience is not Maverick’s strength, but he’s determined to try his best.

On the drive, they listen to Diane’s favorite songs from her childhood. With the windows down, they sing and dance. Pulling into the parking lot, to the right, Mav sees the familiar weathered schoolhouse he knows so well. This building reminds him of his conversations with Nana from the weekend. He remembers how resilient his ancestors were as they fought for their education when it was denied to them by the government. This was a good reminder to him that he should work on complaining less when he has school because he should not take the opportunities he has for granted.

After parking, Diane gets out of the truck and goes down a path opposite the direction of the schoolhouse with Mav trailing closely behind her. Greeted by the sounds of nature, Maverick takes his time to reflect on everything he has seen in the place he calls home. He thinks about the deer searching for acorns and berries, the sunburnt orange and yellow leaves from the trees decorating the skies above, and the wind flowing through the grass blades. The land is so beautiful.

What Land Means to the Monacan People

Gazing around Bear Mountain, he feels pride rush into him like the wind that gushes around him and tussles his hair. Maverick recognizes that this land is important because when he observes the area around him, he feels a deep sense of connection to it. When he looks at the large area of land, he spots so many great places to hide and imagines his Nana and Higų playing hide and seek. When he looks at the animals that also live on the land, like the birds that sing him awake in the morning and the squirrels that climb the trees, he feels a sense of responsibility to protect and care for these small creatures.

Maverick eagerly asks, “Did my ancestors also feel like this land is home, Nana? Did they respect and admire the birds and the squirrels and the trees?”

With a cheery and proud tone, Diane responds, “Did you know that in the Monacans’ native language, called Siouan, Monacan translates to ‘Earth People’? In another language called Algonquian, spoken by the Powhatan Tribe nearby our ancestors, Monacan translates to ‘Diggers in the dirt.’ Isn’t that fascinating?”

Maverick cheekily adds, “Well, that explains why I like playing in the dirt so much. I’ll have to remember to tell Mom when she starts complaining about grass stains again.”

“Haha. I’d love to see her reaction to that, Mav,” exclaims Diane.

The Powhatan Tribe Today:

Today, the descendants of the Powhatan Tribe are not referred to as Powhatans. The modern confederacies that stem from the Powhatan Tribe include Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Nansemond, Pamunkey, Rappahannock, and Upper Mattaponi. These seven tribes compose the Powhatan Confederacy today.

Taking a moment, Diane sits on a bench, then looks past Maverick into the distance and smiles. Maverick notes that her smile is so wide, he can see her eyes light up. She reflects, “To our people, the Monacan people, land and everything that lives on it are important and valued, including the smallest of small creatures and the biggest of big creatures. To us, land is not just a physical location. It is so much more. This land we are standing on now is what provided for our ancestors for thousands of years, what provides for us today, and what will provide for all future generations.”

Another Native American Tribe’s Belief about Land Treatment:

The belief that land should be respected is not only a value that the Monacan people share with each other. These ideas are also shared by varying Native American tribes, from North to South and East to West. For instance, the Yurok Tribe, located on the West Coast in Northern California, similarly believes that land must be treated with respect as each generation is responsible for it, so when the time comes to pass on the land to the next generation, it is maintained and well-cared for.

Elaborating more, Diane concludes, “Because the land provides for us, we must, in turn, protect, respect, and be stewards of the land. These gifts the land gives us are not something we can just take. We must give back to the land by caring for it so that it can continue to bless us and everyone who lives on it. These values, as evidenced by the translations of the Monacan people, are deeply rooted and interconnected in our way of life, beliefs, and culture. Does this make sense?”

This concept makes so much sense to Maverick. All of his life, he has watched his family, and the Monacan people respect the Amą by growing gardens and canning foods.

However, the more he reflects on this idea, the more confused he gets. If everyone treats the planet with respect, why are there environmental issues? Is it because some people do not value the Earth? In school, Maverick remembers his science teacher talking about climate change, food waste, and how plastic affects ocean wildlife. It is puzzling to him that a person would knowingly harm the planet for convenience or personal gain. For instance, why would someone throw trash out on the street when things like trash cans exist? Even though not all people are Monacan or have deep-rooted beliefs about protecting the environment, shouldn’t everyone be responsible for helping preserve the planet? Maverick wrestles with these ideas but cannot come to a conclusion.

Seeing Mav’s hesitancy to respond, Diane prompts him by asking, “What are you thinking about?”

Maverick warily asks his Nana, “When my ancestors were alive, did people not always care for the planet as they should?”

Diane looks down at Mav with a sorrowful stare in her eyes as she explains the darker truths of this land’s history.

The Impact of Colonization on the Monacan People

Diane tells Maverick that she is proud of him for asking these difficult questions because it takes bravery to do so. She informs Maverick that history is comprised of not just happy moments but sad moments as well. Even though it is hard to talk about the discrimination and inequality we have faced as a tribe, it is important to talk about them to spread awareness.

With an earnest tone, Diane looks Mav in the eyes, declaring, “We cannot let these events and memories remain and live in the past, Maverick. We must always talk about them to inform the world so that past mistakes are not repeated in the present or the future. We must never let the world forget.”

Diane continues sharing the negative impacts colonization had on the lives of their ancestors. She elaborates that when European colonists came to the modern-day United States, they held a different view of the land’s purpose. More than 400 years ago, in 1607, European colonists settled in Virginia, seeking new opportunities and privileges that the country they originally lived in restricted.

The English colonists wished for religious and political freedoms and wealth and saw this land as a place where they could achieve these goals. With these new ideas of how they wanted to live, English colonists also brought along their ideas and practices of land treatment. From the Europeans’ point of view, the land had a different purpose than what the Monacan people believed.

The European view on land was that land was something that could be exploited for personal or economic gain. For instance, the English believed that land was owned by one person and was their property instead of a place of common use.

Furthermore, instead of just using the resources that are needed to sustain a balanced life, colonists would take more and take advantage of the land so that they could feel powerful and dominant over their people and Native American tribes. For example, European colonists desired to extract gold, silver, and precious gems from the land. Even though they did not need these precious metals and gems, they wanted them to become rich and powerful. In doing so, they were not respecting the land as they should have.

When the English first arrived in modern-day Virginia, based on English colonial records, it appears that the Monacan people wanted no relationship with the English. There are many reasons why the Monacans would choose to avoid creating alliances with the English. One was because of a prophecy within the tribe that predicted there “were a people who came from under the world, to take their world from them.” The Monacans believed these people to be the English colonists. To avoid the possible future of their homes and livelihoods being taken from them, they decided not to involve themselves in English business in hopes that the English would leave them alone. Other tribes, like the Powhatans, took a different approach to Powhatan-English relations and became allies and trade partners. However, in order to avoid engaging with the colonists, the Monacan people would move to different areas when the English settlements expanded into the ancestral land where they lived. Although no widespread wars erupted over land conflicts between the Monacan Tribe and the English colonists, English expansion resulted in the displacement of many Monacans from their homeland.

While some Monacans moved away from their ancestral homes, others bravely chose to stay in their native land, which is now called Amherst County. This is where the tribal headquarters of the Monacan Indian Nation is located. It is important to note that the headquarters is not on Bear Mountain. The schoolhouse, playground, and much more are on Bear Mountain. The headquarters are about a 10-minute drive south of it.

Additionally, the Monacan Tribe is not the only Native American tribe whose ancestral land was encroached upon by colonists. For instance, the Powhatans’ land was taken away by English colonists to grow cash crops like tobacco. Cash crops are plants that are grown to be sold rather than eaten by the community. To turn the land that was once the home of the Powhatan community into farmland, colonists cut down trees and much more. This devastated the Powhatan people, as it would devastate anyone whose home was lost because of monetary ambitions.

Diane further explains to Mav that, today, many people still believe these flawed ideas that land exploitation is an acceptable practice. As a result, our world has environmental issues because many people do not see land as something they are responsible for, but as a commodity. Commodities are things and objects that are marked by their economic value. Therefore, some people’s intentions with land are not noble and honorable. For example, those in businesses that build infrastructure may clear forests to construct things like homes and buildings. This is good for people. However, this is not good for the animals whose homes are in those forests.

Pondering, Maverick disagrees with this way of thinking because every person has a role and responsibility in caring for the environment, because it is our home. Just like how we would try our best to keep our room clean, we should keep the planet clean. Maverick, too, believes in the importance of respecting the land like his ancestors did and just like the Monacans do. He is glad, though, that he now knows more and understands the history of the land better and the different viewpoints people have about the land’s purpose.

With a new sense of pride in his land and Bear Mountain, Maverick continues on his walk with his Nana. They pass the stream and museum, heading across the parking lot to a path starting in the woods.

Nana says to Maverick, “Now that you better understand how our people value our land, do you want to see something cool?”

“Yes!” Maverick eagerly responds as he waits to see what she has to show him.

The Burial Mound

As they keep walking, Nana leads Maverick on a new path he does not recognize, then, after a few more minutes of walking, Maverick sees what looks to him like a small hill in the middle of the clearing. As he gets closer, he realizes the hill is taller than he is!

Unsure of where he is and what he’s looking at, but sensing that it is important in some way, Maverick asks, “What is this place?”

“This is a Monacan burial mound,” says Nana, “Our people created this spot a very, very long time ago through an ancient practice that honors our ancestors. Your family and fellow Monacan people and their bones rest here under this hill.”

“Woah,” Maverick replies.

Nana continues, “Burial mounds help us honor our ancestors, but they also help us track where they lived. If there is a burial mound in a new place, we know the ancestors must have lived there once.”

He wonders why he has never been shown it before and why it is on its own path, so he asks, “Why is the burial mound away from everything else? Is it a secret?”

Nana responds, “Because burial mounds are so special to us, they get their own special place on our land.” “A long time ago, people found our burial mounds and stole some of the bones from inside them. This upset our people, because we want to keep our ancestors safe and protected. But now, because of something called the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the bones are being returned to us!” As Nana speaks, Maverick hears excitement in her ki–.

The Monacan Nation has used burial mounds for thousands of years to both bury and honor their dead. Building a mound was a process that could span over many years, because burials were not a one-time event. The Monacan people would add to the mounds with each generation. This act was treated like a ceremony to show love and respect to dead relatives. As a result, burial mounds honor family lineage, but also connect the Monacan people to the land in a deep, meaningful way.

Burial mounds were built through the Monacan people’s hard work. First, a hole was dug to build up the mound from inside the ground. Then, the Monacans would fill the hole by burying their dead in layers, adding more skeletons over time. As a result, burial mounds are made up of several layers and could grow to be very large. They can be taller than 8 feet high and wider than 40 feet (that’s as long as a school bus!).

There are 13 documented burial mounds in Virginia. Seven of these were created using only dirt, grass, and soil. The other six used these parts of the land but were also made with stones.

In the past, other people outside of the Monacan have examined these mounds and even removed bones to study Native American and Monacan practices. These people included farmers trying to relevel their fields, scholars, and government officials. Even the third president of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson, took apart a burial mound to examine its layers. These acts were very hurtful to the Monacan people because burial mounds are sacred sites, which means they should not be touched or messed with.

She announces, “When we get the bones back, we will celebrate by hosting a reburial!”

Maverick loves celebrating with the Elders, so hearing this makes him happy. “Can I come?” “Pleaseeeee!” He implores, wanting a chance to honor his ancestors with his Elders.

“Of course, Mav, we can all honor them together,” she says, beaming. “Follow me, I have another place to show you.”

As they turn to leave, Maverick fixes his eyes up at the burial mound one last time. He stands still for a moment of silent reflection, staring at the mound as he feels a sense of awe and pride wash over him. When he’s ready to go, he turns around to find Nana watching with a gleam in her eye.

She grabs his hand and together they walk back on the path they entered. Nana shares, “This next place is a little further, we’ll need to drive to get there.”

Laurel Cliff Farms

“Race you to the car!” Maverick shouts as he turns and runs towards Nana’s old pick-up truck. “I win!” he says, tapping the blue, rusted door as he gasps for air.

Nana calls from behind Maverick, “You’ve gotten so fast!”

“Maybe you should run there while I drive!” she jokes.

When Nana approaches the truck, she says, “Now Mav, we’re off to Laurel Cliff Farms.”

As Nana starts the car, she keeps playing the old songs from when she grew up, but to Maverick they just sound weird.

“Can we listen to some of my favorite songs?” he asks.

Nana replies, “I’m sorry Mav, you know my car doesn’t have that fancy Bluetooth player like your mom’s, it only plays CDs.” She laughs, “I guess you’re stuck listening to my music!”

They drive for about 15 minutes, but to Maverick, it feels like forever. “Are we there yet?” He asks each time the song changes. Suddenly, they pull down a long driveway.

“We’re here!” Nana exclaims.

“Remember how a bunch of the Elders worked on an apple orchard? Well, this place is another farm that your Elders worked on.” As Maverick looks out, he immediately recognizes the farm as the site of the Monacan Nation’s Powwows.

Knowing this, he tells his Nana confidently, “I’ve been here before! This is where the Powwows are! Do people still work here? Are there apple trees? Can we pick some apples?”

With a smile on her face, Nana replies, “I’m so glad you recognize the land, Maverick.”

“This place doesn’t have apple trees, instead, it was used to farm corn, wheat, tobacco, and cattle. But, for a time, it didn’t always officially belong to us.”

Confused, Maverick asks, “Why?” “How could his people work and tend to the land, but it not belong to them?”

Nana responds, “All 1,300 acres you see in front of you were bought back by our people in 2021. These lands used to be ours before settlers came and claimed it from us, even though they came from different lands across the ocean. For a time, our people would work here for different owners, but we finally were able to reclaim that as our own.”

 Still confused, Maverick asks more questions, “So people lived here, but never owned the land?” He continues, “Do people live here again now that it’s ours Nana?”

Nana answers, “Yes, that’s right, Mav. And yes, no one lives in that big farmhouse straight ahead, but there are a few other homes further back where some of our people live.”

“But Nana,” Maverick asks, “How is it ours if barely anyone lives on it now?”

Nana replies, “Sometimes ownership is more than just living somewhere Maverick.” “Remember the places we’ve visited this weekend; each place is very meaningful to our people. We are connected to the land we’ve explored today because it is where all those who came before us lived, worked, and loved one another— that’s why ownership is so important to us.” Nana’s voice shifts, her wisdom now laced with excitement, “But guess what, Mav!” “Our people have been talking about building more homes, a farmer’s market, and a youth center on this land to make it feel like a part of our community, like how it feels at Bear Mountain.”

As Nana says this, Maverick remembers what she said about Monacan land, that it is more than just a physical location. The land represents a part of who Maverick is and of who his community as a whole is. After visiting the burial mound and Laurel Cliff farms, Maverick tucks this value into his heart. He feels his own personal and cultural connection to the land and can’t wait to tell the rest of his family and friends about it.