Return to the River: Protecting Our Ancestral Lands and Waters
Restoring the river, caring for our homeland, and creating opportunities for future generations to connect with the land and the water.
The River That Sustains Us
The Rappahannock River holds deep significance to the Rappahannock Tribe both for sustenance and spiritual connection.
It is part of who we are.
Your gift today helps the Rappahannock Tribe continue the hands-on work of restoring and caring for the river that has sustained our people and families in the Northern Neck region for generations.
Our people have relied on the river for food, traveled its waters, gathered along its shores, and built generations of traditional knowledge around the waterway's native plants and animals.
Today, the Rappahannock Tribe carries that relationship forward by caring for the river and working to restore its health for all.
We combine traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation practices to restore and strengthen the health of the Rappahannock River.
Every fish we tag and monitor, every oyster we restore, and every effort we make to care for the river is part of a larger responsibility: ensuring the Rappahannock River remains healthy for the people, plants, and animals that depend on it.
Returning to Our Ancestral Land at Fones Cliffs
Through Return to the River, the Tribe is working to reconnect Tribal citizens with their homeland at Fones Cliffs while creating lasting public access to this historic and ecologically important landscape along the Rappahannock River.
This work includes restoring forests and wetlands, educating the public about Indigenous conservation, and creating opportunities for people to learn directly from the Rappahannock people on Rappahannock land.
Your support helps make this access possible. Gifts help fund the improvements needed to welcome visitors to the landscape, including walking trails, a river-viewing platform, and visitor facilities that support outdoor recreation and learning.
With these improvements, Tribal citizens and visitors can enjoy hiking, birding, and family nature exploration while learning about Rappahannock history, contemporary Tribal life, Indigenous conservation, and land restoration.
Please consider making a gift today to help create lasting opportunities for people to experience Fones Cliffs, connect with the Rappahannock River, and learn from the Rappahannock people on their ancestral land.
Why This Work Matters
The river has sustained our people for generations, but its health affects communities far beyond the Rappahannock Tribe.
We know that caring for the river can't be accomplished through one project or in one year. It takes continued work, patience, knowledge, and resources.
This is where you can help.
Your gift today will support our ongoing work to restore fish populations, rebuild oyster populations, care for natural habitats, and strengthen the health of the Rappahannock River. It can also help the Tribe restore ancestral lands, improve public access to Fones Cliffs, develop trails and visitor facilities, and create opportunities for public learning and outdoor recreation.
When you give to the river, you are helping continue the hands-on work that protects a resource that has sustained the region for generations.
Your gift can support:
- Restoration of Oyster Populations
- River Herring Monitoring and Tagging
- Hands-on River Stewardship
- Invasive species management
- Trail management
- Restoration of Forests and Wetlands
- River-Viewing and Visitor Facilities
- Trails for Hiking, Birding, and Nature Exploration
- Public Learning and Tribal-Led Cultural Experiences
- Protecting Ancestral Lands and the River for Future Generations
Give today to help protect the Rappahannock River and the life it sustains.