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Staff photo by Mark L. Thompson Phyllis Hicks works at the Monacan Museum. She is the director there as well as the administrator for the Monacan Church. Tribe members credit her for her hard work to get the tribe recognized. |
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By William S. Horton The News & Advance AMHERST — There are more than 300 members of the Monacan Indian Nation in Amherst, descendants of the Monacan Indian Tribe. During the mid-1980’s, they began a quest to restore the pride and history of their people by becoming recognized by the state of Virginia. One of the reasons the tribe received state recognition in 1989 was the dedication and devotion of Phyllis Hicks, church administrator of the Monacan Church and director of Museum for the Monacan Nation. “Without her work, we wouldn’t have gotten state recognition, or received recognition from the community,’’ said Diane Shields, coordinator of social and economic development for the Monacan Nation. “That was the first step for our progress for where we want to be today and where we want to go tomorrow.’’ Hicks has always been passionate about her work with the Monacan Tribe. She was born in Amherst County, and was educated at the Monacan School until the eighth grade. She then attended Amherst County High School after integration in 1963. Even though she dropped out, she later received her GED. “I grew up in Amherst County, and I was always doing different things,’’ she said. “We would have Bible study, choir practice, picnics, and cookouts. I’ve been around the tribe all of my life.’’ During the five years she worked on the state recognition process, Hicks also worked at the church, and helped in the development of the Monacan museum. “Phyllis is a real hard worker and family person,’’ said Monacan Chief Kenneth Branham. “She is the one force who has kept the church going the past four or five years. She has always worked for her people.’’ |
Phylis Hicks.
Who influenced you?
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With the help of her grandfather
Harry Branham, former Monacan Church Pastor John Haraughty, and
Peter Houck’s book, “Indian Island in Amherst County,”
Hicks began working in 1984 to put together the necessary information to present to the Virginia Council on Indians. “Dr. Houck wrote the book in 1984, and from that point we took it to the Virginia Council on Indians,’’ Hicks said. “It took five years for the process. We had to get the history together, and we had to have a definite location. We weren’t on a reservation, but we had a central point and that was our church. Through the help of my grandfather and Mr. Haraughty, we went to the council and asked them about state recognition. We got together the necessary history and things we needed to have, and they took it before the council and they approved it.” Hicks was responsible for gathering information such as how many people are in the tribe and how many participated in different activities. She also had to go back in history to determine where the past ties in with the families in the tribe. It took almost five years for Hicks and Haraughty to gather the information and put it together. “It was hard for me at first to talk to people to gather information about their families,’’ said Hicks. “Some people would welcome you with open arms, while others were stand-offish when we asked for information. After I met and understood some of the people, it got better as time went by.’’ Church records such as marriages and births also helped Hicks with the history part of the process. “It took us that long to get everything together that we needed to get, and to make sure that what we had was correct,’’ she said. “It had to go from the Virginia Council on Indians to the General Assembly, and we had to wait until that time of the year when they meet. We were also running the church at the same time.”While collecting the data, Hicks said she learned interesting information about her people. She said Walter Plecker, who was the Director of Vital Statistics in Richmond during the 1920’s, classified her people as a different race, and threatened them with jail if they married a white person. “I didn’t realize that we had as many people and families here before they left because of discrimination,’’ Hicks said. “We thought we were just a small group here. I also learned we were caring people as well.’’ Hicks said after she understood what was necessary to receive state recognition, putting the history together wasn’t difficult. Waiting for the General Assembly to approve the request was tough. “Once we got into, and I don’t think any of it was really tough,’’ Hicks said of putting together for information. “Once we knew what we had to do I had to go about doing it. Just to understand what we had to do was kind of tough. Trying to understand what they wanted us to do and how we were going to go about it. But once we got in there and made us a plan, it went pretty good. The toughest time was just waiting for them to take it to the General Assembly and see if they would approve it.’’ When the General Assembly awarded the tribe state recognition, Hicks said it was one of the most memorable days of her life. “That was an overwhelming, most exciting time for all of us,’’ she said. “My grandfather had passed on, but he was there with me, and it just made it a great day. It was a goal for our people to get state recognition. “I was crying because I was so excited about what had happened. It was a great time for all of us. Our chief and our people went with us to the ceremony, and we had a family day of crying.” Now that the tribe has received state recognition, the members are gathering more information in an effort to attain federal status. When that occurs, the Monacan Tribe will be entitled to federal grants and certain sovereign rights. Shields, who is also working to help the tribe gain federal recognition, said Hicks is relentless when it comes to her work. “She’s an inspiration to me, and I‘m sure to our community,’’ said Shields. “She’s the spearhead of the museum and the backbone of the church. She’s just like the Energizer Bunny — she just keeps going and going.’’Branham said tribe wouldn’t know what to do if Hicks wasn’t around. “I’ve seen her rearrange her schedule to take people to the store or doctor,’’ he said. It would probably take two or three people to take her place.’’ Hicks said it takes perseverance, tough skin, and plenty of faith to complete projects successfully and reach your goals. “You always have those who are willing to run their mouth, but not willing to do the work. ... but the good Lord chose me to do what I do. And he tells me to do the best I can do and walk another mile.” |