RICHMOND, VA — On a chilly February morning, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland set foot in Virginia. She brought with her a message of reverence for Black history and a promise to strengthen Tribal communities through investments as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This visit was a noteworthy stop on the Biden-Harris administration’s fourth Investing in America tour.
Secretary Haaland was joined by U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan. Their first visit was to Hampton University, an indispensable piece in the intricate puzzle of Black culture and history. The University, a former recipient of a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities program, has been a beacon for preserving historic sites of cultural importance.
The team’s awe-struck appreciation of the “Enduring Legacy,” an exhibit at the University’s Art Museum, underlined the institution’s importance. The museum, the oldest African American museum in the United States, houses artifacts and art from Native peoples, bridging the past to the present and highlighting the shared experiences of Indigenous and Black communities.
Hampton University carries a complex history. It was once a federal Indian boarding school, ensnaring Indigenous youth from as far away as Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida, between 1878 and 1923. This contentious chapter of the school’s saga saw approximately 1,388 Indigenous students from 65 Indian Tribes uprooted from their homes to attend school there.
Secretary Haaland has taken steps to shed light on the heartrending history of federal Indian boarding school policies and their intergenerational impact. In June 2021, she announced the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, aiming to investigate historical records relating to these schools and to develop the first official list of sites. Hampton’s own profile can be found on page 150 of this pioneering report.
The leaders also paid their respects at Fort Monroe National Monument, known as “Freedom’s Fortress.” The site bears witness to a diverse history, from being the first arrival point of enslaved Africans in English North America to a refuge for freedom seekers during the American Civil War.
In Richmond, the group toured the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. Walker was a trailblazer for civil rights, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for African Americans and women in the Jim Crow era. She was the first Black woman to serve as a bank president, newspaper editor, and fraternal leader, leaving an indelible imprint on the pages of history.
Secretary Haaland also hosted a listening session with leaders from various Indian Tribes to discuss their pressing issues. She emphasized President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the resulting historic investments in Indigenous communities in Virginia and across the country.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing over $13 billion directly into Tribal communities across the nation. The Interior Department received $466 million to fund infrastructure projects and climate resiliency initiatives. This financial boost allows for the repair of roads, bridges and rails, expansion to access clean drinking water, and the advancement of environmental justice.
Particularly, the Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribes have benefited from these funds. They’ve received grants to acquire and conserve parts of their ancestral homelands, enabling them to protect culturally significant wildlife and plants through habitat restoration.
Secretary Haaland’s visit served to acknowledge a rich, often painful history while laying the groundwork for a better future. It was a clear manifestation of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to invest in the advancement of historically marginalized communities.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.