Since 1646, the Mattaponi tribe has kept treaties with the governor of Virginia, whether he was appointed by the King of England or elected by citizens of the Commonwealth.

The existing treaty calls for an annual tribute from the tribe to the governor – once in the form of beaver pelts, and now a gift of deer presented at a Thanksgiving-day ceremony.

But despite its 350-year relationship with Virginia, the Mattaponi have not been formally recognized by the U.S. government. Tribal leaders want to change that. Earlier this month, the tribe filed another petition for federal recognition. And Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs supporting the Mattaponi’s recognition.