Albemarle Tradewinds October 2016 Final

The Chowanoke Indians
By Duvonya Chavis
The Chowanoke War took place from 1675 to 1677.
This war ended a treaty that the Chowanoke Indians
previously had with the English, one that had been in
effect for nearly a decade. During the first year of the
war, the Chowanokes had initial success. However,
in 1676 it was fate that enabled the English settlers to
regroup and gain strength as unexpected aide came
to their side. They were supplied with firearms and
ammunition and with this, were able to overcome and
defeat the Chowanokes. After this defeat, the Chowanoke
Indians were relegated to a designated area in
Gates County along Bennett’s Creek. This became
known as the Chowanoke Reservation and was the first
reservation to be formed in North Carolina. It was also
possibly the first reservation that had been established
in America after the United States was formed. This
reservation started out initially with 12 square miles but
eventually dwindled to 400 acres. This downward spiral
was unrelenting due to continued settler encroachment
or mishap until finally the Chowanoke lost all of their
land and no longer had their reservation. In spite of
earlier pleas by the Chowanoke Chiefmen to the North
Carolina council to have their land surveyed in order to
prevent continued encroachment, it was not until about
120 years later that a survey and deed was recorded
which outlined the boundaries of the Chowanoke
reservation. By then, it was too late for the Chowanoke
Indians as most of the land had either been encroached
upon and taken or had been negotiated to be sold.
Duvonya, a Chowanoke Indian descendant, is President
of Roanoke-Chowan Native American
Association, a non-profit organization
whose mission is to help
American Indians in Northeastern
NC and Southeastern VA. She
currently sits on the council of the
Chowanoke Tribe. In partnership
with another Chowanoke descendant,
she is currently developing
Chowanoke Reservation for tribal
descendants to gather and hold
cultural events.
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