A gentle drum beat rose below the watchful eyes of native bald eagles, buddies and ancestors. For the primary time in additional than 350 years, the Rappahannock Tribe’s drums sounded over their ancestral capital city.
The Rappahannock River Valley is the ancestral homeland of the federally acknowledged Rappahannock Tribe, the rising and falling river holding deep significance and significance to the Tribe’s historical past and tradition. The wealthy ecosystem is various in wildlife and habitats, which the Tribe has been stewarding since time immemorial.
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Cat Point Creek Unit turned open to the general public in 2023. A two-story, 7,520 square-foot Lodge
Learn extra about construction stands on the land and possession was formally transferred from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to the Tribe in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The switch was celebrated with a ceremony in October 2023.
“Cat Point Creek is the site of the Tribe’s ancestral capital town, so being able to share our history and traditional conservation practices with the public at this significant place is especially meaningful for the Tribe in our mission to preserve our culture for future generations,” mentioned Rappahannock Tribal Chief, Anne Richardson.
Upon renovations, the Lodge will function an Indigenous Environmental and Conservation Education Center to be used by Tribal residents and the general public, to protect the river tradition and share Indigenous data and stewardship of the land by way of lessons, outside actions, and displays. The packages will even assist the Tribe’s longstanding imaginative and prescient to Return to the River, an initiative to have interaction Tribal youth in management expertise and conventional cultural data of the river.
Additionally, the middle will present most of the conventional makes use of the general public expects from a
Learn extra about nationwide wildlife refuge , like climbing, fishing, birding and kayaking. A brand new collaborative imaginative and prescient will supply significant programming and complete storytelling of the land from 12,000 years in the past to the current for an improved customer expertise.
Transferring possession of the building to the Tribe is an thrilling and progressive instance of the Service’s dedication to co-stewardship with Tribal Nations.
“Relationships, knowledge-sharing and co-stewardship with Indigenous peoples are essential to the Service mission,” mentioned U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “The transfer of Cat Point Creek Lodge to the Tribe is a prime example of the collaboration between the Service and Tribes to protect cultural, trust, and treaty resources on Service lands, in support of our shared priority of conserving fish, wildlife, and their habitats.”
Over the final two years, the Department has celebrated a number of important and progressive co-stewardship preparations offering Tribes a higher position within the administration of federal lands and waters which have cultural and pure assets of significance. In April 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Service Director Martha Williams celebrated the Rappahannock Tribe’s re-acquisition of 465 acres at Fones Cliffs.
The Lodge will even function the workplaces of the Tribe’s River Programs and Environmental and Natural Resources departments, working intently with the refuge in a partnership to guard the Tribe’s ancestral lands alongside the river.
“Our work at the Bureau of Indian Affairs is to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunities, and carry out the responsibilities to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives,” mentioned BIA Director Darryl LaCounte. “This successful transfer not only upholds our trust responsibilities but demonstrates that by working together, all can benefit equally.”
As we rejoice the profitable switch of Cat Point Creek Lodge to the Tribe, the Service stays dedicated to fulfilling our belief duty to Tribal Nations and rising our partnerships to finest serve wildlife and folks.
