In January of 2025, the Patawomeck Tribe acquired over 850 acres of land, including the Alexander Berger Memorial Sanctuary, from the Nature Conservancy. Other groups, including the Virginia Outdoor Foundation and Trust for Public Land, helped to provide stewardship funds for the property and place a conservation easement on the property. The surrounding area was home to Patawomeck ancestors for hundreds of years, as indicated by the presence of Potomac Creek complex sites in the vicinity. The village closest to this site on John Smith’s map is Anaskanoans.  The Patawomecks are now, once again, the primary stewards of the land, in alignment with their mission and goal to preserve nature and their culture for the benefit of future generations. The tribe plans to continue and pass down traditional cultural practices at the sanctuary, which will entail harvesting white oak for making eel pots, gathering medicinal plants, and foraging for wild foods. Additionally, they aim to establish trapping workshops, engage in fishing, establish a youth hunting program, and expand the trail system on the property. Beyond their own uses, the tribe plans on making the property an educational space for visitors, and a site for research to be conducted in conjunction with universities and non-profits. 

 

Learn more about the sanctuary through the Patawomeck Tribe’s Chief, Charles "Bootsie" Bullock.