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?
Latest episodes
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20 min
The Two Bills, Part II: Mr. Speaker
Send us Fan MailWhat really happened at the state Capitol in February of 2010?To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and additional reading, click here.
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27 min
Bonus episode: Chief concerns
Send us Fan MailAfter hearing about the re-formed Patawomeck Tribe while volunteering at the library, ex-cop John Lightner applied, enrolled and ultimately rose through the ranks t…
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25 min
The two Bills, Part I: Night Owl
Send us Fan MailIn 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 s…
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23 min
Medicine Wheel
Send us Fan MailA 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…
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28 min
Vital Statistics
Send us Fan MailAttempting to set the record straight on the records, and questioning everything in the process. To see extras from our reporting, including original documents and…
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25 min
A Speck of evidence
Send us Fan MailA trip to the tribal center yields some insights, family connections — and more questions about the past. To see extras from our reporting, including original docum…
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17 min
Stafford Indians
Send us Fan MailA 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…