The Chickahominy Indian Tribe- Eastern Division (CIT-ED) Builds a Tribal Food Forest

The Alliance launched The Community Green Access (CGA) grant in 2024 to offer financial and technical support to five local groups seeking to connect their community members to nature. In addition to supporting their projects, we offered resources, networking, peer learning, and technical skills training. Organizations leveraged these tools to make the biggest impact in their local project, ultimately leading to sustained environmental stewardship in places of greatest need across the watershed. With over 52 years of experience cultivating community partnerships, the Alliance was excited to apply our knowledge and administer results-oriented grants to support local groups and build organizational capacity where it is needed most.

The Chickahominy Indian Tribe- Eastern Division (CIT-ED) is a non-reservated Eastern Woodlands Tribe of about 250 citizens that continues to have its roots in what is now known as the state of Virginia before colonists migrated from England. Tribe leaders indicated a clear priority to better engage in and pass down community connection with the earth and ancestors through traditional methods of planting for food, cordage, basket weaving, medicine, and ceremonial use.

With awarded CGA funds, CIT-ED implemented a Tribal food forest. The food forest has local and culturally significant plant species to the Tribe, and utilizes permaculture and traditional methods for planting, maintenance, and harvesting. It decreases food insecurity and increases food sovereignty in the Tribal community. It also incorporates traditional ecological knowledge, community outreach, and education. The food forest gives access to safe, outdoor space for the local Tribal community, with opportunities for the public community to participate during work and educational days. It also addresses climate change concerns by improving soil and water retention, sequestering carbon, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions caused by food transportation.

Community members volunteer to dig holes for trees and plant berries.

Community members come together to learn about the forest.

Tribal citizens have fun in the food forest.

Community members explore the Tribal nature trail.

The day after we built this swale, it rained and Tribal citizens were able to see how it slows the flow of water to reduce erosion and give the plants time to “drink.”

Red aronia berries and raspberries grow in the newly-established food forest.

Tribal citizens showcase food sovereignty projects and hand out native wildflower seeds at the CIT-ED booth at the Machicomoco State Park Earth Day event.

Indigenous chef Joanie Beverley serves a traditional meal with foraged and local ingredients.

Learn more about the Tribal food forest below.

Through this project, CIT-ED engaged 74 community members and hosted two 2-day workshops and planting outreach events. They kept the communities updated with monthly emails and social media posts to Tribal citizens. Staff and tribal citizens have commented on how they have enjoyed watching the trees grow.

The citizens who foraged this fall were all excited to gather together to harvest and process the plants. They agreed it was a powerful moment to use our own plants from our own land in our own traditional ways.

“As a tribal citizen it was wonderful to connect with nature to learn traditional methods to offset and minimize our impact on Mother Earth.” – Tim Emery, Tribal Elder

At the close of the Community Green Access Grant, CIT-ED’s food forest continues to thrive with support from the community and new funding sources!