Culture & Community
Before European contact, the Chickahominy Tribe was ruled by a council of elders called the mungai or “great men.”
Today, a Tribal Council of twelve men and women, including a chief and two assistant chiefs, are elected by vote of our tribe.
Since gaining official recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1983, the Chickahominy tribe spent many years working for federal recognition. That hard work paid off on January 29, 2018 when the tribe gained recognition from the federal government as a sovereign nation. Over 1,000 people are enrolled in the Chickahominy Tribe, the majority of whom still live within 5 miles of the tribal center–which is located near the site of a pre-contact village.
Stephen R. Adkins was elected Chief in 2001. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Virginia Indian Tribes to gain federal recognition and to assure that America’s leadership includes a Native American voice.
First Assistant Chief Wayne Adkins has also been very active in Chickahominy community leadership and the drive for federal recognition.
Tribal Government and Leadership
Stephen R. Adkins
Chief/Tribal Administrator
Wayne Adkins
First Assistant Chief/Chief Finance Officer