Nansemond Indian Nation

What Nansemond Indian Nation does

Nansemond Indian Nation is a federally recognized sovereign tribal nation headquartered at 1001 Pembroke Lane in Suffolk, Virginia, serving enrolled tribal citizens across eight jurisdictions in southeastern Virginia (Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Isle of Wight County). The nation operates a small administrative core of approximately 8 employees led by Chief Keith Anderson and delivers four primary program areas: Housing (via HUD Indian Housing Block Grant), Health (via IHS Purchased/Referred Care Program), Environment (via EPA Indian Environmental GAP focused on oyster restoration, invasive plant removal, and native plant restoration in the Nansemond River watershed), and Education (via membership in the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium). The tribe received Virginia state recognition in 1985 and federal recognition under Public Law 115-121 on January 29, 2018, having formally organized with elected officers in 1984.

The nation's product and service portfolio centers on recurring cultural events (the Annual Pow Wow held every August since 1988, the Firebird Festival launched in 2019, and the Chesapeake American Indian Festival) and citizen-facing administrative services including tribal ID card renewal ($25-$100 for 1-4 year terms), online medical reimbursement, enrollment inquiries, and a Tribal Citizen Portal. Revenue derives primarily from federal grant pass-throughs (HUD, IHS, EPA), supplemented by $250 vendor booth fees for the Annual Pow Wow, voluntary donations through an online portal, and government-to-government consultation services on projects affecting tribal interests. The nation holds no patents, employs no proprietary technology platform, and operates with a minimal digital footprint focused on community information and citizen self-service.

The business model is that of a sovereign non-profit tribal government rather than a commercial enterprise: assets are managed for tribal citizen benefit, there is no equity ownership, no venture funding, and no commercial product revenue. Core strategic priorities include cultural preservation, environmental stewardship of ancestral lands, and youth education, supported by a partnership ecosystem spanning federal agencies (HUD, IHS, EPA), legal counsel (Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC), and local event sponsors (Pender & Coward, Mike Duman Auto Superstore).

Name

Nansemond Indian Nation

Legal name

Nansemond Indian Nation

Website

https://nansemond.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Nansemond Indian Nation is a federally recognized sovereign tribal government in Suffolk, Virginia, serving tribal citizens across eight southeastern Virginia jurisdictions with housing, health, environmental, and education programs funded by federal grants, alongside annual cultural events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Government Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD), Tribal Teacher Education & Indigenous Language Colleges (Educator Prep/Language Revitalization) (EDAHANAG)

Keywords

• Tribal government services
• Cultural preservation programs
• Community cultural events
• Indigenous housing assistance
• Tribal healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Suffolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Tribal Programs and Services: Housing assistance, health services through Indian Health Service, educational programs, and environmental initiatives funded by federal grants including HUD Indian Housing Block Grant, EPA GAP, and IHS Purchased/Referred Care Program
2. Vendor Participation Fees: Annual pow wow vendor booth fees for arts & crafts, food, and community group vendors
3. Donations and Contributions: Public donations accepted through secure online portal for tribe support
4. Government Consultation Services: Government-to-government consultation on projects with potential adverse impacts to tribal citizens, economy, culture, and environment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Nansemond Indian Nation is a federally recognized sovereign tribal government providing citizen services (housing assistance, healthcare access, education, environmental programs), cultural preservation events (Annual Pow Wow, Firebird Festival, Chesapeake American Indian Festival), and government-to-government consultation. Online services include tribal ID card renewal, medical reimbursement requests, donation processing, and vendor applications for cultural events.

Product overview

The Nansemond Indian Nation operates a tribal government website offering community programs and citizen services. The organization provides cultural events including the Annual Pow Wow (since 1988), Firebird Festival, and Chesapeake American Indian Festival. Tribal services include Housing assistance, Health/Medical Reimbursement, Environmental programs, and Education initiatives. Citizen-facing online services include Card Renewal, Enrollment Inquiry, Medical Reimbursement requests, and a Tribal Citizen Portal. The organization also accepts vendor applications for events and donations through its donation portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Pow Wow Annual two-day cultural celebration held in mid-August featuring traditional Native American music, dance, food, and crafts. Open to tribal citizens and the general public.
• Firebird Festival Family-focused interactive cultural experience with hands-on activities for children and adults to learn about Nansemond history and living culture.
• Chesapeake American Indian Festival

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pender & Coward Attorneys and Counsellors at LawminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Event sponsor for 30th Annual Nansemond Indian Pow Wow. The firm is among the oldest in southeastern Virginia dating back to 1889. Their Restore the Shore initiative cleaned up and replanted native shoreline plants. Sponsorship enabled commemorative bags for pow wow attendees highlighting historical importance.
• Mike Duman Auto SuperstoreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Local auto dealership and Suffolk City Council member sponsor for Annual Pow Wow. Sponsorship enabled feature of two junior head dancers in recognition of youth role in Nansemond Indian future. Located at 2300 Godwin Boulevard, Suffolk, VA.
• Virginia Tribal Education Consortium (VTEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNansemond Indian Nation is a member of VTEC focused on youth education. VTEC has developed Partnership Agreements with school districts across the Commonwealth to offer professional development for educators in Native culture, language, and history.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersProvides annual Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funding to support housing assistance programs for eligible Nansemond Tribal citizens.
• Indian Health Service (IHS)coreOthersProvides Purchased/Referred Care Program (PRC) for tribal citizens in designated service areas through the IHS Mid-Atlantic Service Unit.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreOthersFunds the Environmental Program through Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP). Focus areas include oyster restoration, invasive plant removal, and native plant restoration for water quality and coastal resilience.
• Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTribe's legal counsel for government-to-government consultation matters. Located at 1811 East Grace Street, Richmond, VA. Contact: Dr. Ellen Chapman.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eastern Chickahominy Indian Tribe: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized in the same 2018 legislative cohort as Nansemond. Operates the same housing, health, and environmental programs via federal grants and is a sister member of VTEC, making it a structural peer in service area and size.
• Rappahannock Tribe: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized in 2018 alongside Nansemond. Operates comparable housing, health, environmental, and cultural programs and is a VTEC member, providing a direct peer model for governance and federal grant administration.
• Chickahominy Indian Tribe: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized alongside Nansemond in 2018 via the same Public Law 115-121. Operates identical federal funding streams (HUD, IHS, EPA) and is a fellow VTEC member, making it a directly comparable sovereign tribal government peer.
• Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized alongside Nansemond in 2018. Operates an analogous sovereign tribal government structure with HUD, IHS, and EPA-funded programs, serving a similar small citizen base in eastern Virginia.
• Pamunkey Indian Tribe: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized alongside Nansemond in 2018 under the same Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act. Operates the same governance, services, and consultation model and serves a comparable Virginia-based tribal citizen population.
• Monacan Indian Nation: Federally recognized Virginia tribe recognized in 2018 under the same statute as Nansemond. Operates the same federal program portfolio and serves a similar small service-area population in central/western Virginia.

Others

• National Indian Health Board (NIHB): National advocacy organization supporting tribal health programs and IHS-funded services. Comparable as a peer to Nansemond's Health Program administered via IHS, but operates at national scope rather than as a single tribal government.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): The oldest and largest national organization advocating for tribal governments. Comparable as a coordinating/advocacy peer for federally recognized tribes, although it operates at a national scope rather than as a single tribal government.
• Virginia Tribal Education Consortium (VTEC): Coalition entity that Nansemond is a member of. Comparable as an enabling/coordination organization that supports tribal education objectives across Virginia's recognized tribes, although it is a consortium rather than a sovereign tribal government.

Broad incumbents

• Mattaponi Indian Tribe: One of Virginia's oldest state-recognized tribes (recognized via 1649 and 1677 treaties). Although not federally recognized, it operates similar governance, cultural preservation, and federal/state engagement functions and is a VTEC member, providing a peer operating model for tribal programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NansemondIndianNation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nansemond-indian-nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nansemond Indian Nation