Nansemond Tribe

Augustus A. Bass, Nansamond

The Nansemond Tribe, descendants of the Powhatan tribes, primarily reside near Portsmouth and Suffolk, Virginia. Although their numbers have declined over the past century, around 200 individuals are recognized as descendants. In 1923, they formed the Nansemond Indian Association to unite with other indigenous groups. Key family names include Bass and Weaver. Their culture retains elements of bear-hunting and wolf-trapping traditions, as well as agricultural practices and the use of dugout canoes, reflecting their historical connection to the land.