As you read before, once Native Americans reached North America, they eventually moved to all corners of the Continent! This included the area that is present day Virginia. The Native American tribes that lived in present day Virginia spoke three particular languages; Algonquian, Siouan, and Iroquoian. On this page, you will learn about what specific tribes existed in each language group and the part of present day Virginia in which they lived.
THE Algonquian LANGUAGE GROUP
Native Americans that spoke the Algonquian language, lived primarily in the Tidewater region of Virginia. You can see on the map below, that Native Americans that spoke the Algonquian language lived in the area that is shaded pink.
The Powhatan tribe was the largest tribe of Native Americans that lived in the Tidewater region of Virginia and spoke the Algonquian language. Learn more details about the Powhatan Native Americans by clicking this link
The siouan language group
Native Americans that spoke the Siouan language, lived primarily in the Piedmont region of Virginia. You can see on the map below, That the Native Americans that spoke the Siouan language lived in the area shaded bluish-green.
The Monacan tribe was the largest tribe of Native Americans that lived in the Piedmont Region of Virginia and spoke the Siouan Language. Since we live in the Piedmont region of Virginia, you may have heard the word "Monacan" used to name certain things in our area! Learn more details about the Monacan Native Americans by clicking this link
The Iroquoian language Group
Native Americans that spoke the Iroquoian language lived in the Appalachian Plateau Region in Southwest Virginia. They also lived in some other Southern areas of the state of Virginia, near what is today the state of North Carolina. You can see on the map below, that the Native Americans that spoke the Iroquoian Language lived in the areas shaded orange.
The Cherokee was the largest tribe of Native Americans that lived in the Appalachian Plateau Region of Virginia and spoke the Iroquoian Language. Learn more details about the Cherokee Native Americans by clicking this link
Activity:
After reading and taking notes, apply your knowledge of the language groups and tribes of Virginia's Native Americans to answer the questions on your worksheet.