Project Grant A23AP00064

THE NANSEMOND INDIAN NATION (NANSEMOND OR THE TRIBE) IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIANTRIBE LOCATED PRIMARILY IN THE CITY OF SUFFOLK IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA. THE TRIBE OWNS SEVERALDISTINCT PARCELS OF LAND, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TOURISM FOCUSED PROJECT, MATTANOCK TOWN ISTHE MOST RELEVANT PROPERTY. PRESENT DAY MATTANOCK TOWN CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 70 ACRES OFANCESTRAL LAND ALONG THE NANSEMOND RIVER, A 20 MILE LONG TRIBUTARY OF THE JAMES RIVER. WERECEIVED THIS PROPERTY FROM THE CITY OF SUFFOLK IN 2013 AND NAMED IT AFTER ONE OF OUR HISTORICVILLAGES. MATTANOCK TOWN HAS SWIFTLY BECOME THE CENTER OF OUR NANSEMOND INDIAN NATIONACTIVITIES, HOUSING OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING AND OUR SOON TO BE EXPANDED TRIBAL LODGE,WHICH SERVES AS OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AND GATHERING PLACE. THE RESTORATION OF THIS PARCEL OFLAND TO OUR TRIBAL CONTROL HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO REPAIRING THE FRAYED CONNECTION BETWEEN THENANSEMOND PEOPLE AND THE RIVER THAT HAS SUSTAINED US FOR EONS. WE BELIEVE THE TOURISMPOTENTIAL OF THIS BEAUTIFUL, BIODIVERSE RIVERFRONT SITE ALSO OFFERS US THE MEANS TO SUSTAIN OUR TRIBEECONOMICALLY WHILE FULFILLING OUR DUTY AS STEWARDS OF THIS RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDING LANDS. OURTRIBAL CITIZENS, ELECTED LEADERSHIP, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS HAVE DISCUSSED POSSIBLERECREATION AND ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES AT MATTANOCK TOWN INCLUDING GUIDED KAYAK TOURS OF THESURROUNDING WATERWAYS, OVERNIGHT LODGING DESIGNED IN TRADITIONAL NANSEMOND STYLE WHILEINCORPORATING MODERN AMENITIES, AND DINING EXPERIENCES THAT EXPLORE NATIVE FOODWAYS IN OURLODGE. THE PROPOSED MATTANOCK TOWN ECOTOURISM CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BUSINESS PLANTRIBAL TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM (TTGP) STUDY WILL ENABLE THE TRIBE TO IDENTIFY A LIST OF POSSIBLEECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES, TO SELECT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ARE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ANDCONSISTENT WITH OUR TRIBAL VALUES AND GOALS, AND TO DEVELOP A FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PLAN TOLAUNCH THESE ACTIVITIES AT MATTANOCK TOWN.