Governor Northam signs land trust agreement with the Mattaponi Tribe

RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) -- Governor Ralph Northam announced the signing of a land trust agreement with the Mattaponi Indian Tribe on Monday, Aug. 26.

The agreement will formally transfer over 100 acres of land to the Mattaponi Indian Reservation, located in King William County, almost doubling the size of the current reservation.

Northam visited the reservation yesterday, Aug. 25 to commemorate the occasion and joined tribal members at their annual Homecoming and Revival.

A land base was granted to the Mattaponi in 1658 by King Charles of England, and today the Mattaponi Reservation is held in perpetual trust by the Commonwealth of Virginia for exclusive use by the Tribe, according to a press release.

Over the past decade, the Mattaponi have purchased and re-acquired over 100 acres of private land that had once been part of the reservation.

With the signing of this agreement, these land parcels will now be held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe. By formally returning the parcels to the reservation, the Mattaponi will have a permanent right of possession and complete control over the land.

“Expanding the Mattaponi Indian Reservation through this land trust agreement will help preserve the sustainability of the Tribe and its unique history and culture,” said Northam. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with the Mattaponi as we grow the friendship that connects the Tribe and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

The newly annexed parcels will play a key role in the Mattaponi’s cultural preservation, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, and trapping, as well as increasing the amount of available land for new housing construction on the reservation.

The Mattaponi Indian Reservation is currently approximately 150 acres in size and houses around 75 residents and hosts a church, a museum, the Minnie-Ha Ha Educational Center, the Hatchery and Marine Science Facility and a community building.

For additional information and resources about Virginia’s Indian tribes, please visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.