Federally recognized tribe urges government‑to‑government consultation over Make Me Woods

A representative of the Eastern Chickahominy Tribal Nation told the New Kent County Board of Supervisors during public comment on Sept. 8 that the tribe has serious concerns about the county’s communication over the Make Me Woods property and asked the county to initiate government‑to‑government consultation.

Jessica Phillips, speaking on behalf of the tribe, said tribal leaders began contacting the county more than a year ago about Make Me Woods and have received only limited responses. She said the tribe submitted proposals, left voicemails and emailed repeatedly and learned about county decisions only through news articles and social media. “This is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Phillips told the board.

Phillips noted the tribe is federally recognized and said consultation should not be limited to a few minutes during the public comment period. She said early, direct engagement is necessary and that if the county intends to make Make Me Woods a park the Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act would be triggered, requiring formal consultation with the tribe.

Phillips acknowledged one board member had recently agreed to meet with tribal leadership and encouraged the rest of the board to arrange face‑to‑face meetings “to build trust” and to include the tribe early in planning for Make Me Woods and other county projects. She said failure to consult early can cause delays, trigger legal obligations later in the process and foreclose collaborative opportunities that could benefit both governments.

Ending: Board members later said at least one supervisor will meet with tribal leadership. County staff and the board did not take an immediate action during the meeting but acknowledged Phillips’ request and the statutory requirement to consult if federal historic‑preservation processes are triggered.