Why Preserving Our Kikotan Heritage Matters
- Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez D.Ac, L.Ac
- Aug 16
- 6 min read
When we talk about the founding of America, we often hear about Jamestown, Pocahontas, and the struggles of early settlers. But rarely do we hear the stories of the people who were already here, living in harmony with the land long before ships appeared on the horizon. One of those communities was the Kikotan, a people who lived along the Chesapeake Bay, in what is now Hampton, Virginia.
Their story is one of resilience, but also one of erasure. And unless we keep telling it, that erasure will continue. Today, I want to share with you why it is so important to preserve Kikotan heritage, using the very words of those who once sought to eliminate them.
The Arrival of the English
Imagine standing on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1610. The water is calm, green marsh grass sways in the breeze, and the Kikotan are tending their fields of corn, squash, and beans. Families are cooking, fishing, and teaching children stories passed down for generations.
Now imagine the sight of armed English settlers marching into this peaceful village under the command of Sir Thomas Gates, the Governor of Virginia. In his own words, Gates declared he was:
“desyroeous for to be Revendged upon the Indians, att Kekowahtan.”– Sir Thomas Gates, July 1610
That wasn’t the cry of a man seeking peace. It was a declaration of war. From the very beginning, the goal was not coexistence, but conquest.
Erasing Identity with a Name
Not long after this confrontation, in 1611, colonial leaders decided that violence wasn’t enough. They wanted to erase even the memory of the Kikotan by renaming their homeland. As the order put it:
“Change the savage name of Kicotan to Elizabeth City.” – 1611
Pause and think about that. By stripping away the Kikotan name, they weren’t just creating a new settlement—they were rewriting history. Names carry meaning. They connect people to the land, to their ancestors, to their stories. To take away a name is to begin erasing a people.
Imagine if the town you grew up in was suddenly renamed, its history erased, and your family told they no longer belonged there. That’s exactly what happened to the Kikotan.
The Kikotan Massacre
The hostility didn’t stop with names. Colonial expansion demanded land, and the Kikotan were seen as an obstacle. On March 22, 1622, colonists described their plan in chilling terms:
“To drive the remaining ‘savages’ from the land known as the Kikotan Massacre.” – March 22, 1622
This was more than a battle—it was a massacre. It was an attempt to terrorize and scatter the Kikotan so they would no longer have a home. The very soil that had sustained them for generations was being claimed with blood.
And then came the words that revealed the colonists’ ultimate goal, the most devastating line of all:
“To root out [the Indian] from being any longer a people.”
This wasn’t just about taking land. It was about erasing the Kikotan from existence. To remove their name, their culture, their presence, and even their memory from Virginia’s history.
The Power of Memory
Now, here we are, more than 400 years later. Cities have grown, highways crisscross the land, and most people drive through Hampton without ever realizing it was once Kikotan land. Many have never even heard the name.
But here’s the thing—the fact that these colonial quotes still exist proves something powerful: even though they tried to erase the Kikotan, they didn’t succeed completely. Memory has a way of surviving. Stories, even hidden ones, find their way back. And it’s up to us to keep them alive.
Preserving Kikotan heritage is not about dwelling on the past. It’s about honoring truth. It’s about ensuring that when we talk about American history, we don’t only tell the story of the settlers but also of the people who were here before them.
Why It Matters for Us Today
You might be wondering—why does this matter now? Why, in 2025, should we care about something that happened in 1610, 1611, or 1622? The answer is simple: because forgetting is exactly what those colonists wanted. They wanted the Kikotan to be “no longer a people.” If we stop telling their story, we help finish the work they started.
Here’s why preservation matters:
Truth heals. Telling the true story, even the painful parts, allows us to face history honestly and move forward with respect.
Names matter. Calling the Kikotan by their true name restores dignity and recognition that was stripped away centuries ago.
Heritage inspires. The Kikotan may have been targeted for erasure, but their resilience lives on. Sharing their story teaches us that even against overwhelming odds, identity can endure.
It’s our shared responsibility. Preserving this heritage isn’t just for descendants of the Kikotan. It’s for all of us who care about justice, truth, and the richness of human history.
Reclaiming What Was Lost
So how do we preserve Kikotan heritage? It starts with remembering. Every time we say their name—Kikotan—we defy centuries of silence. Every time we tell their story, we bring them back into the light of history.
Here are some ways we can honor their legacy today:
Teach Indigenous history in schools—not just Pocahontas, but the Kikotan, the Powhatan, and all the nations of Virginia.
Support efforts to restore Indigenous place names where possible. Imagine if Elizabeth City were once again recognized as Kikotan.
Protect archaeological sites and historical markers that reveal the Kikotan presence.
Listen to and amplify Indigenous voices who are reclaiming their stories.
Preserving heritage isn’t about changing the past—it’s about changing how we carry the past into the future.
A Shared Story
The story of the Kikotan is not just an Indigenous story. It’s an American story. It tells us about the roots of our nation—the good, the bad, and the tragic. By preserving their heritage, we make sure that the story of America is fuller, richer, and more honest.
Think of it this way: imagine a family tree with branches broken off. You could pretend those branches never existed. Or you could take the time to trace them, to reconnect them, and to understand the whole picture. That’s what preserving Kikotan heritage does—it connects us to the full story of where we came from.
Carrying the Torch Forward
The colonists wrote their intentions in plain words: to seek revenge, to rename, to massacre, and to root out the Kikotan people. They wanted silence. But today, by remembering and retelling, we create the opposite of silence. We give voice to those who were silenced.
The Kikotan are not just a footnote in Virginia’s history. They are a people whose story deserves to be told, honored, and passed down. Preserving their heritage ensures that future generations won’t just read the colonists’ quotes—they’ll know the Kikotan lived, thrived, and still matter.
Final Thoughts
When Sir Thomas Gates and others wrote those chilling words in the 1600s, they could not have imagined that over 400 years later, we would still be talking about the Kikotan. They intended to erase them. Yet here we are, remembering.
That’s why preservation is powerful. Every time we speak their name, every time we tell their story, we undo a little of the erasure. We ensure that the Kikotan are not forgotten, not “rooted out,” but remembered as part of the living fabric of our shared history.
The story of the Kikotan is a reminder: history is not just about what was lost—it’s about what we choose to keep alive.
About the Author:
Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Reiki Master Teacher, author, and genealogist with a lifelong dedication to healing and heritage. With more than 40 years of experience in genealogical research, she has published several family history books that preserve the stories of Indigenous and colonial families across the United States. Her work has been featured on the television program Who Do You Think You Are, where she shared her passion for uncovering hidden histories and restoring forgotten voices.
As the founder of Book Serenity and Kicotan Acupuncture, Guadalupe bridges her expertise in health, wellness, and ancestral knowledge. She weaves Indigenous wisdom with Traditional Chinese Medicine to empower others on their healing journeys, while also advocating for the preservation of Indigenous nations like the Kikotan, whose stories have too often been erased from history.
Through her writing, teaching, and online platforms, Guadalupe continues to inspire others to reconnect with their roots, embrace holistic healing, and carry ancestral wisdom into the future.
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