WINGAPO (pronounced win-gà-po)

– Welcome, my beloved friend

European colonists arriving in Virginia may have been greeted with, "Wingapo." Indians have lived in what is now called Virginia for thousands of years. While we are still learning about the people who inhabited this land, it is clear that Virginia history did not begin in 1607. If you ask any Virginia Indian, "When did you come to this land?", he or she will tell you, "We have always been here."

Explore these pages to learn more about the people now called Virginia Indians.

VIRGINIA INDIANS:
RECLAIMING OUR HERITAGE

Virginia Indian tribes and cultures have survived despite years of intolerance and prejudice first from English colonists and then from segregationists. CLICK HERE to watch an 11-minute video and learn about the tribes and lives of Virginia Indians today and how their cultures and traditions are now celebrated. This synopsis is part of a larger 60-minute documentary, which is in production. For more information about the documentary, contact Jon Bachman at songswithheart@aol.com.

ICE AGE DISCOVERIES

Recent archaeological digs in Virginia have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago, well before the Clovis culture and thousands of years before previously thought.  CLICK HERE For information about pre-Clovis culture and to watch streaming video of Ice Age Discoveries.