Fredericksburg Free Press

The Tribe

History EN ↓ 6 episodes

Forty miles south of Washington D.C., the county high school's mascot is an Indian. But for more than 2,600 Patawomeck tribal citizens, Indigenous identity isn't a get-up — it's a proud legacy traced back generations to some of the earliest contact with English settlers in what's now Virginia. What does it mean when that legacy comes under attack — when others in the community dispute those family ties that run as deep as the roots of a White Oak tree? Have times changed? Or does history rhyme?

Author

Fredericksburg Free Press

Episodes

Bonus episode: Chief concerns 10.11.2025 26:32

Send a text After hearing about the re-formed Patawomeck Tribe while volunteering at the library, ex-cop John Lightner applied, enrolled and ultimately rose through the ranks to become tribal chief. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.

The two Bills, Part I: Night Owl 20.09.2025 25:26

Send a text In Part I of a two-part episode, the Patawomeck Tribal Historian Emeritus explains how he traced several White Oak families back to none other than Pocahontas. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.

Medicine Wheel 23.06.2025 23:23

Send a text A hearing about a lease renewal thrusts the MacGregors' accusations against the tribe back into the public eye. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.

Stafford Indians 25.04.2025 16:32

Send a text A special guest blesses the ballfield and a "couple" of local historians call foul on the established historical narrative about the Patawomeck Tribe. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.

A Speck of evidence 25.04.2025 24:39

Send a text A trip to the tribal center yields some insights, family connections — and more questions about the past. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.

Vital Statistics 25.04.2025 27:58

Send a text Attempting to set the record straight on the records, and questioning everything in the process. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.