Richmond Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, 2026 @ Powhatan Hill Park
Annual Celebration of Virginia’s Indian Tribes
1:00pm to 6:00pm
5051 Northampton Street, Richmond VA 23231
Free Admission – street parking in surrounding neighborhood (see below)
A glimpse of the 2024 Richmond IPD celebration
Richmond IPD Background, Mission & Purpose
On October 10, 2022 the City of Richmond authored a joint resolution between the Mayor and City Council forever changing the holiday on the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Richmond Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In support of its Indigenous Peoples’ Day Initiative, The Pocahontas Project (TPP) presented the inaugural Richmond IPD celebration on October 9, 2023 in the park named after Paramount Chief Powhatan, with the intention of making it an annual affair and a mission to use the event to honor Virginia’s Indian Tribes, America’s Indigenous communities, and the ancient wisdom of Native, Indigenous and First Nations peoples around the world.
The primary purpose of the annual Richmond IPD celebration is to expand educational opportunities and awareness for Richmonders and Virginians of all ages about the history, culture, and future of Virginia’s Indian Tribes. The event also intends to provide inspiration to other jurisdictions to follow Richmond’s lead and reorient the holiday on the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Each year Richmond IPD celebrates Virginia's eleven (11) recognized Indian Tribes and directs specific attention to one tribe. In 2023 the event featured the Mattaponi Indian Tribe, in 2024 the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, in 2025 the Monacan Indian Nation, and in 2026 TPP will honor the Nansemond Indian Nation.
Richmond IPD Celebration Themes
Established at the inaugural 2023 event, the four themes embraced by Richmond IPD are:
• A celebration of Virginia’s Indian Tribes and America’s Indigenous communities in the name of remembrance, recognition, reconciliation and respect
• A positive look forward in the name of education, awareness, cooperation and collaboration
• An acknowledgement of the world’s existential issues and why the ancient wisdom of the Native, Indigenous and First Nations peoples of the world is so critical to a sustainable future for all humankind
• An encouragement to Richmonders and Virginians to learn about the history and culture of Virginia’s Indian Tribes and to support their community development efforts
Witness the first-hand experience of three 4th grade students from Chimborazo Elementary School as they immersed themselves in Richmond’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration on November 16th, 2025.
The students learned from Cultural Enrichment Specialist, Tanya Stewart, as she explained the Indigenous practice of using the entire animal beyond just food, they watched a traditional sport called Shinny, they tasted fry bread from Firefly Food, LLC (Mattaponi), they danced in the intertribal dance, and they heard the importance of their efforts to learn and get to know Virginia Indians reiterated by important city leaders like Mayor Danny Avula. Wild Bridge Films followed them around with cameras as they leaned into what it means to recognize, remember, celebrate and partner with Virginia Indians who are absolutely still here.
2026 Event Description and Tentative Schedule
The 2026 Richmond IPD celebration will offer information and insight into the history and culture of Virginia’s recognized Indian Tribes, with special attention to the Nansemond Indian Nation. An extensive picture and information display will be set up in Powhatan Hill Park presenting the history and culture of Virginia’s Indian tribes. Attendees can also browse the offerings of Virginia Indian arts and crafts vendors and enjoy Fry Bread, Strawberry Tea and other treats for purchase. Attendees may bring their own food and beverage refreshments – no alcohol allowed. The overall event runs from 1:00 to 6:00pm with the following schedule of activities:
1:00 to 2:00pm > Interfaith Gathering Celebrating Virginia’s Indian Tribes and Peace
• Facilitated by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
2:00 to 3:30pm > Powhatan Shinny League – Explanation / Demonstration / Exhibition
• Shinny is a Native American sport – a precursor to field hockey and lacrosse – played
long ago by tribes across the country. The Powhatan Shinny League (PSL) is leading
Shinny’s resurgence in Virginia and will explain and demonstrate how Shinny is played,
and then offer an exhibition with some event attendees invited to participate.
3:45 to 6:00pm > Virginia Tribal Celebration
• Headlining the day’s activities will be the Virginia Tribal Celebration, a cultural experience similar to a Virginia Indian Pow-Wow. Kicking off at 4pm under the direction of Coordinator Connor Tupponce (Upper Mattaponi Tribe) the baseball infield at Powhatan Hill will be transformed into a dancing circle (actually a dancing diamond), offering all the elements of a Pow-Wow with a Master of Ceremonies, a Drum, Select Virginia Tribal Dancers and a Virginia Indian Honor Guard, with the following tentative schedule:
3:45 to 4:00pm
• Gathering of Chiefs, Tribal Dancers and Special Guests / Opening welcome by the Master of Ceremonies describing the nature of the event and appropriate protocols
4:00 to 4:30pm
• Grand entry of the Eagle Staff and flags (US and Tribal) to include Tribal Leadership, Elected Officials, Community Dignitaries, and Tribal Dancers
• Flag Song honoring the Eagle Staff and Flags
• Veterans Honoring Ceremony
• Invocation, Opening Remarks by Nansemond Chief Keith Anderson + other Chiefs in attendance; additional remarks from state/local dignitaries and supporting organizations
4:30 to 6:00pm
• Tribal dance performances: Exhibition dancing (showcasing each dance category)
• Virginia Indian / Pow-Wow cultural education session – Tanya “Little Star” Stewart (Chickahominy Indian Tribe)
• Comments from community leaders, presentation to the Nansemond Indian Nation
• Tribal dance performances: Inter-tribal dancing (all tribal dancers) and social dancing (including all in attendance)
6:00pm
• Retiring of the Eagle Staff and Flags followed by closing remarks
2026 Event Logistics / Considerations
Powhatan Hill Park is located in the Fulton neighborhood of Richmond’s East End (5051 Northampton Street, RVA, 23231) and has GRTC bus stops very close going east and west on Williamsburg Road (Rt. 60). Northampton Street is a one-way street from Williamsburg Road to Goddin Street and will be configured for bus drop-off / pick-up for groups and car drop-off / pick-up for folks with limited mobility – there is no public parking on Northampton Street next to the park. Vans and activity buses with multiple attendees are encouraged and TPP will direct and facilitate parking in the surrounding neighborhood - contact TPP for help and suggestions. The park has lots of fencing for securing a bicycle.
Car Parking > There is NO parking lot – street parking only near Powhatan Hill Park
There’s plenty of street parking in the neighborhoods around Powhatan Hill Park, at the top and the bottom of Powhatan Hill – either way expect to walk a couple of blocks. Folks parking at the bottom of the hill will get to climb what the English called “Powatah’s Tower” and see why Powhatan Hill is Richmond’s premiere sledding hill – it’s downhill on the way home! Below are GPS parking suggestions:
Powhatan Hill neighborhood parking – Top of the Hill
• All along 1100 -1500 Williamsburg Road, 23231
• 5100 Montebello Circle, 23231 / also nearby on 5100 Northampton Street & 1200 Garber Street
Powhatan Hill neighborhood parking – Bottom of the Hill
• 700 Goddin Street, 23231 / 4900 Fulton Street, 23231 / 4700 Louisiana Street, 23231
• 600 Goddin Street, 23231 (across Williamsburg Road) / 500 Ohio Street, 23231
• 5100 Hatcher Street, 23231 (near Triple Crossing Brewing) / 900 Potomac Street, 23231
Accessibility > 5051 Northampton Street, 23231 will be open for drop-offs and pick-ups of folks with limited mobility. Portions of the park are wheelchair accessible and the Powhatan Hill Community Center has accessible bathrooms.
Chairs or blankets > Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair and/or blanket for sitting in the grass to watch the activities in the park.
2026 Richmond IPD – Related Information Links
• TPP Indigenous Peoples’ Day Initiative > https://www.pocahontasproject.org/ipd-initiative
• Powhatan Shinny League > https://www.facebook.com/people/Powhatan-Pickup-Shinny/61556840466142/
• Library of VA Indigenous Perspectives > https://www.lva.virginia.gov/events/exhibitions/indigenous
• VA Secretary of the Commonwealth – State Recognized Tribes > https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/virginia-indians/state-recognized-tribes/
For more information contact Rick Tatnall @ The Pocahontas Project
804-325-3674 / rick@pocahontasproject.org