Indian tribe wants to recreate village on donated land next to Rappahannock River

STAFFORD — The story of Jamestown is tied to Stafford County.

Now the Patawomeck Indian Tribe (pronounced Potomac) wants to tell that story, and it’s in talks with Stafford leaders to get a donation of public land to recreate the tribe’s village at Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park on the Rappahannock River.

The tribe is credited for bailing out Jamestown settlers, some of the first in North America, bringing food from their village on what today is Marlborough Point to prevent colonists from starving to death.

“If it weren’t for Stafford County, Jamestown would have been another lost colony,” said Patawomeck Tribe spokesman Price Jett.

Jett and his tribe want to recreate a village that once stood on Marlborough Point in 1491 on a portion of the 60-acre McDuff Green Park, at a site overlooking the river. The tribe envisions walking trails around the site, and canoes for the use on the river. Tribal artifacts on display inside the McDuff house that sits on the property, which would become a museum for the tribe.

“You’ll go back in time 400 years,” said Jett.

The site of the original village is now underwater, under the Aquia Creek.

The tribe seeks a the plot of land at McDuff Green either donated or leased to the tribe at a discount. Jett says the Patowomeck Tribe is the only one in Virginia recognized by the state government without a permanent home.

“We’re desperate for a home. We’re tired of moving from place to place,” he adds.

Each year, the tribe sets up its temporary village for an Earth Day celebration at Fort AP Hill, where about 2,000 students come to see the village. At other events throughout the year, the tribe estimates it reaches about more 8,000 students and teaches them about the tribe.

Jett says the tribe could reach even more people with a permanent home. This could, said Jett, help further efforts to get federal recognition for the tribe, something he say’s Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va. 1st District) is trying to help secure.

“There’s lots of people traveling down to Jamestown to look at them. With this, we will get them and capture those tourism dollars, and get them into our restaurants,” said George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen.

Other Supervisors asked about the site being used for potential gambling.

“I’m only asking this because I don’t want you to build a casino in Stafford County,” said Garrisonville District Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer.

Jett assured Supervisors that, even if they are granted federal protections and the ability to build a casino, the tribe has no interest in such a project.

Supervisors asked Jett and his tribe to return in to speak again to the county’s Community and Economic Development Committee, to present plans and drawings for the future village.

There are 2,300 members of the Patowomeck Tribe. It took 30 years to get state recognition of the tribe, and tribal leaders say they hope to get federal recognition within the next five years.

Patawomeck Park on Widewater Road in Widewater is named after the Indian tribe.