Indigenous History at Virginia Tech Collection

This collection features images from the original 2002 website. Some images are used in the Timeline, but some are not. For some of the items, names of individuals, dates or places of events, and the direct connection to Virginia Tech are unknown.

Any additional information about these photos or the people or events depicted should be emailed to Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, at specref@vt.edu.

Monacan Indian Nation Powwow, May 2000

Each year in May, the Monacan Indian Nation holds its annual Powwow in Elon, Va. It features Native dancers, musicians, and tradespeople and includes drum and dance contests.

These images were taken of the Powow in May 2000, by an unknown individual(s).

For information about the Monacan Indian Nation, including their annual Powwow, please visit their website at https://www.monacannation.com/.

Monacan Indian Nation Homecoming, October 2000

Each year in October, the Monacan Indian Nation holds its annual Homecoming ceremony and festival with a bazaar in Amherst, Va.

These images were taken of the Homecoming in October 2000, by an unknown individual(s).

For information about the Monacan Indian Nation, including their annual Homecoming ceremony, please visit their website at https://www.monacannation.com/.

Columbus Day Protest, ca. October 2001

Several Indigenous students and tribal elders, along with other allies on campus, held a protest on the Drillfield of the Virginia Tech campus against the celebration of Columbus Day.

They also advocated for the celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day, which would finally be officially celebrated at Virginia Tech for the first time in 2018 and recognized by the University Council in 2019.

These images were taken of the protest, by an unknown individual(s).

American Indian Forum, Blacksburg, Va, ca. 2001

For the American Indian Forum, Virginia Tech educators and administrators met with numerous Native leaders and educators from Virginia and across the country in Blacksburg, possibly in Fall 2001.

Participants included

Jeff Corntassel, Tsalagi (Cherokee Nation), Prof. Political Science and Oklahoma Cherokee;
Samuel R. Cook, Coordinator of American Indian Studies at Virginia Tech;
Myra Gordon, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Virginia Tech;
Sydelle Stewart, Chickahominy;
Powhatan Red Cloud Owen, Chickahominy/Mohawk;
Stephen Adkins, Chickahominy Chief;
Reeva Tilley, Rappahannock, Chair, Virginia Council of Indians;
Leontine Oliver, Navajo exchange student;
Debbie Stuart;
Jay Stauss, S’Klallam, Director of American Indian Studies, Univ. of Arizona;
Karenne Wood, Monacan, Author;
George Whitewolf, Monacan;
Elizabeth Fine, Chair of Humanities, Virginia Tech; and
Deborah Littlewing Moore, Pamunkey.

These images were taken of the Forum, possibly in Fall 2001 by an employee of the University Archives or associate of Virginia Tech.

Visitors may also be interested in listening to oral history interviews with George Branham Whitewolf, Monacan, and Powhatan Red Cloud-Owen, Chickahominy, both conducted by Karenne Wood, from the Virginia Indian Archive. All three individuals attended the Amerian Indian Forum and are pictured here.