by Walt “Red Hawk” Brown

COURTLAND
Recently, the 24th Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Intertribal Corn Harvest Powwow and School Day took place at Cattashowrock Town in Courtland.

On Nov. 2, some 600 second through sixth graders and teachers attended the school day activities, all of which were SOL appropiate. Students visited Cattashowrock Town, a Palisade Iroquioan replica 17-century village, to include the tribe’s Iroquion language booth, wherein they learned some of the language.

The Archeological Society of Virginia was present, displaying artifacts dating back some 10,000 years.

The powwow continued on Nov. 3-4. Some 1,500 people attended the three-day event.

On Saturday night the tribe held a mortgage burning bonfire. A $550,000 piece of property mortgage — paid in full in less than three years — was burned.

We extend a special thanks to all the schools that brought students to the tribal school day. Kudos to all teachers in that the students conducted themselves in an exemption manner.

Personal thanks to all tribal members and Tribal Heritage Foundation Board of Directors for their support in making our native venue a stunning success.

WALT ‘RED HAWK’ BROWN is the chief of the  Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe.