The story of the Nottoway people — Iroquoian speakers of southeastern Virginia — told across generations of treaty, endurance, and renewal along the Nottoway River.
1600s – 1700s
Following contact with English colonists, the Nottoway entered into a series of treaties with the Colony of Virginia. A reservation was established, and tribal leaders navigated shifting colonial policy while working to preserve land, language, and community.
1800s
In 1821, matriarch Edy Turner petitioned the Virginia General Assembly on behalf of her people — a defining moment in the tribe's long effort to safeguard its land and identity. Her leadership remains a cornerstone of Nottoway memory.
1900s
Through the Racial Integrity Act era and generations of pressure to assimilate, Nottoway families quietly preserved genealogy, oral tradition, and community ties — laying the groundwork for the tribe's public reemergence.
2010
The Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia received formal recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia, affirming a continuous tribal presence and opening new avenues for cultural, educational, and environmental work.
2012
The Community House & Interpretive Center opened in Capron on May 5, 2012, giving the tribe a permanent home for gatherings, exhibits, and education. Today the Nottoway continue river stewardship, cultural programming, and the annual powwow.
2026
In 2026, the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia was recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This designation allows the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia to pursue charitable, educational, cultural, and community-focused initiatives, while expanding opportunities to secure grants, build partnerships, and receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.
This overview will continue to grow. For more, visit the video gallery or read about Edy Turner.