G. Anne Richardson

G. Anne Nelson was born in 1956 to Chief and Mrs. Captain Nelson of Indian Neck, Virginia.

Anne was elected Assistant Chief to her father in 1980. She served in that position for eighteen years.

In 1989, Anne helped to organize the United Indians of Virginia, which was established as an inter-tribal organization represented by all tribal Chiefs.

In 1991, Richardson became executive director of Mattaponi- Pamunkey-Monacan, Inc., that provides training and employment services for Virginia Indians.

In 1998, Anne was elected the first woman Chief to lead a tribe in Virginia since the 1700s, by the Rappahannock Tribe. She is a fourth generation chief in her family.

Under her tenure as Chief, in 1998, the Tribe purchased 119.5 acres to establish a land trust, retreat center, and housing development. The Tribe also built their first model home and sold it to a tribal member in 2001. The Rappahannocks are currently engaged in a number of projects ranging from cultural and educational to social and economic development programs. All geared to strengthen and sustain their community.

In 2005, Chief Anne was ordained by Pastor Sally Beckman at Living Waters Fellowship. She, also, became chair of the Native American Employment and Training Council. And, she was elected as Chairman of the Council and works with the Secretary which furthers the goals of 'Indian Country through Labor Programs'.

In 2006, she was invited by England, along with other Virginia natives, to attend the various ceremonies that kicked off English 2007 events commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the first permanent English settlement in America in Jamestown, Virginia.

Also in 2006, Anne Richardson launched Restoring Nations International, a ministry whose mission is "to proclaim the good news of healing nations by honor."

News Articles

* [http://www.seafwa2006.org/plenary/richardson.asp Speaker Biography: Chief G. Anne Richardson]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2006_29_wed.shtml BBC Radio interview: Chief G. Anne Richardson]
* [http://virginiaindians.pwnet.org/today/chiefs_rappahannock.php Virginia's First People - Profile]
* [http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/k12/vw2006/richardson.htm Library of Virginia - Virginia Women in History]
* [http://www.mytwobeadsworth.com/Forgiveness1005.html Proclamation of Forgiveness at the White House]

External links

* [http://www.rappahannocktribe.org/index.html Rappahannock Tribe Home Page]
* [http://www.restoringnations.org/index.html Restoring Nations International]