Explore Our Story
Restoring our name, our story, and our place in Virginia’s history.
Who we are
The Chiskiack people, historically written as Chischiacke, Cheeseac, Chiskoyack, Cheesecake, and more recently, Kiskiack, plus over forty other variations in historical, archeological, and anthropological documents, are one of the original nations first encountered in the Tidewater area of Virginia. Our name was recorded in the earliest years of Spanish and English colonization encounters with the American Indians, yet our story has rarely been told by our own descendants. Today, we are reclaiming our voice, our history, and our place in the land that still carries our name.
About our name
Our name, pronounced CHEES-kee-ack, comes from the Powhatan language, also called Virginia Algonquin to distinguish it from Eastern Algonquin, and reflects the geography of our early homeland, the narrow opening of the York River. The spelling Chiskiack is the most popular among historic writings, while the older form Chischiacke most closely preserves the original Powhatan sound. Both forms honor our identity. Understanding the name is the first step toward understanding the people.
CHEES-kee-ack
Why our story still matters
Knowing the Chiskiack people is essential to understanding the earliest history of Virginia. When we were first encountered and for decades afterwards, the Chiskiack were recognized as an independent nation. Our culture, trades, and homelands shaped the first century of contact between Indigenous nations and the English. Our name appears in various historic records, like reports, land patents, maps, and colonial records, but the people behind the name have often been overlooked. Restoring our story restores accuracy, dignity, and truth to the history of this region.
Carried Through the Generations
For generations, our identity was preserved quietly in families, in oral memory, in the land itself. No registry kept our names for us. Our families did, handing them down from one generation to the next.
Today, we are stepping forward to share our history openly, to correct long-standing misunderstandings, and to reconnect with relatives who may not yet know their Chiskiack ancestry. This work is part of a broader movement among Virginia's tribal communities to reclaim language, culture, and historical presence.
Why We Hope You'll Listen
When you learn about the Chiskiack people, you help restore a history that was never lost, only unheard. You help ensure that our ancestors are remembered with accuracy and respect. And you help support the living descendants who continue the work of cultural revitalization, language recovery, and historical truth-telling.
We invite you to learn, listen, and reconnect. Our story is part of Virginia's story, and it is time for it to be known.
Reach Out Today
Have a question? Have an idea for Chiskiack community visibility? Fill out the quick form below and we'll reply to see how we can work together. Thanks for getting in touch!