Chapter 1: The Hard Work, Resilience, and Joy of the Monacan People
Whose voices do we hear when we listen to history? Is it George Washington? Is it Geronimo? Is it Princess Diana? What about Pocahontas? When it comes to American history, we hear voices from the winners: the colonists. First, Columbus, then John Smith, and even the Disney movie Pocahontas, are told from a colonial perspective. This mina:gi is different. Untold Stories: Maverick’s Monacan Homeland is told from the Monacan Nation’s perspective—they were here before Columbus and even before the Vikings. The Monacans, a resilient tribe, have outlasted the American stories written by the Western viewpoint.
You may be thinking, “Why are you telling me about the Monacan Indian Nation Tribe?”
The Monacan Nation tribe is an important part of the past, and their ancestral amą may be closer than you think! Learning about their past and present customs and stories is important because their story should not be forgotten, as the history of the Monacan Nation is rooted deep in our soil. Understanding history at a young age, like you are right now, will help keep their continued legacy and current day impacts alive and allow you to pave the way for the future of our society!
For 10,000 years and counting, the Monacan Nation tribe lived in the mountainous areas and flatlands of Virginia and West Virginia. The Monacan people are an indigenous tribe that was a part of the Siouan language group and were a particular type of Native called “Woodland Indians.” Many tribes speak variations of the Siouan language, but the Monacan people have traditionally spoken the Tutelo dialect.
You may be wondering what the proper term is for referring to the Monacan people. You might have heard phrases such as “Indigenous Peoples,” “Native Americans,” “American Indians,” and “Indians” to describe them. The best term for you to call them is the “Monacan” people or “people of the Monacan Nation.” Although they are indigenous peoples, this term is broad and refers to all native populations in the country. The Monacan Nation tribe, along with all other tribes, is unique and survives by its practices and livelihoods. That is why we call them the Monacan people to talk about them specifically!
The Monacan Nation tribe was a part of a confederacy joined by other Native tribes, such as the Mannahoacs, Tutelos, and Occaneechis. These Native tribes were also speakers of the Siouan language and lived in nearby regions of modern-day Piedmont, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Together, for thousands of years before the English colonizers arrived, they lived a peaceful, stable life.
The Monacan people’s land was filled with life. Fruits, nuts, trees, and wildlife provided some food sources, while deer, rabbits, and other animals roamed and were hunted as well. The Monacan tribe used the many plants growing in the land in other ways. Monacans had an extensive knowledge of medicine and were an advanced civilization that used herbs and roots in their practices. The people who provided medicine were respected and highly honored among the tribes.
Like us, the Monacan people have always engaged in many activities. For instance, they play various sports and activities in their pastime, including “stickball.” Monacans love to sing, dance, and participate in ceremonies. All of the people in the towns gather around twice a year for their large ceremonial festivities. They spend hours and hours reciting their faithful rituals and poems throughout the night.
Chapter 6, “Stronger in Faith, Stronger Together,” shows how faith hasn’t changed for the Monacan people. The Monacan Nation worships a eį:ka and respects all forms of life. They respect the land they live on and the creatures and wildlife found on it, as it is an important part of their culture. A large majority of the Monacan land was seized in the past. For context, the U.S. government had taken land from the Monacans to develop its own country. The government wanted to use the Monacan land for the United States to expand on.
Now, the tribe is working on buying back what was taken from them. Their respect for land comes from the belief that it represents the present and the past. Part of the Monacan people’s faith comes with the belief that all of their ancestors who used to roam the land are still a part of them through the land. This faith has been passed on from generation to generation through storytelling.
Who doesn’t love stories? Monacan Elders love to tell stories. Tribal tales and religious narratives have been passed down over the centuries. Later, more examples of stories shared, and their meanings will be given. Stay tuned!
Elders are greatly respected, and society places high regard on the caretakers as well as the leaders of the homes. Nobody is solely in charge, yet no one has a job too small! Everyone does something! For example, women helped by cooking food and working with textiles and clothes. Men worked on crafting tools and weapons. They would all unite as a community to create homes in the towns and grow their crops. There was and still is a sense of respect and friendship among the tribes, and nobody competes against one another. They all live in harmony! Have you ever thought about where clothes are from, how they are made, and the difference between clothing today and clothing from centuries ago? Historically, Monacan people wore deerskin clothing; when they wanted to get fancy, they would wear jewelry made of other deer parts. Before the presence of immigrated Europeans, the Monacans lived a peaceful, stable life.
Life sounded so joyful back then, doesn’t it? So, why did things change?
The Monacan people’s stability and peace were disturbed when the Europeans came. Disease spread like wildfire, and unfortunately, many of the Monacan people did not survive. Also, the European colonizers, sadly, took control of much of the land that the Natives lived on, forcing them out physically and legally through unfair government laws. Once removed, the Monacan people relocated out West.
To this day, the Monacan people still honor their past and continue to spread their legacy. The present-day Monacan land consists of many notable sites, such as the historical Bear Mountain, the Monacan Ancestral Museum, and a log oyilana:hathí called the Bear Mountain Indian Mission School! The current Monacans have a tribal government just like they did centuries ago! The Monacan Indian Nation is one of seven federally recognized tribes in the state of Virginia. Virginia officially recognized the Monacan Indian Nation in 1989. The U.S. government granted the Monacan tribe federal recognition in 2018. Because the government has historically discriminated against tribes, these recognitions by the state and federal government help the Monacan Nation receive access to greater services and benefits.
You may think, “How do we know so much about the Monacan people’s pasts?”
We learned about Monacan history through archaeological evidence, such as the recovery of fossils, tools, and oral recounting passed down through generations. Follow along as you hear multiple stories from the Tribal Elders of the Monacan Nation! You will learn about the tribe’s history and the people who continue to keep the memory of the Monacan culture alive!
The Monacan values are important to learn and remember. These values guide the way the Monacan people lived their lives and how they continue to live now. Chapter 2, “A New Identity,” shares the values of hard work, family, and identity. Chapter 3, “Growing Up, the Monacan Way,” showcases the themes of resilience and inclusivity. Chapter 4, “Nature, Hard Work, and Community, Pride in Monacan Values,” shows family roles and shared responsibilities. It symbolizes the themes of working hard and staying true to roots. Chapter 5, “Stories of Strength, Roots of Resilience,” represents the values and themes of overcoming hardship, self-sufficiency, and resilience as a Monacan community. Chapter 6, “Stronger in Faith, Stronger Together,” showcases the ideas of faith and cultural identity for the Monacan people. Chapter 7, “Protectors and Preservers of the Land,” depicts the symbolism of land and the connection the Monacan people have to it. Finally, Chapter 8, “The Path Forward,” portrays the preservation of Monacan and other tribal history and its persistence in the modern day.
Follow along as you will hear stories about a young boy named Maverick and his learning of these Monacan values!