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the Center for Tribal Sovereignty and Global Justice
HARVEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION
Harvest Christian University proudly announces the formal establishment of the Center for Tribal Sovereignty and Global Justice, a dedicated initiative bringing together the River Tribes of Virginia to affirm and restore their inherent rights under federal and international law.
Grounded in the recognition of tribal sovereignty protected by the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes—including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. §450 et seq.), the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act (25 U.S.C. §2801 et seq.), and the Tribal Justice Support Act (25 U.S.C. §§3601–3611)—and historic treaties,
Official Declaration and Leadership Announcement.
THE AMERICAN INDIGENOUS ACCAWMACKE INDIANS
One of the Original 30 Powhatan Tribes of Virginia and the Eastern Shore
HARVEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION
Harvest Christian University proudly announces the formal establishment of the Center for Tribal Sovereignty and Global Justice, a dedicated institutional initiative created to bring together the River Tribes of Virginia—including the historic American Indigenous Accawmacke Indians—to affirm, strengthen, and restore their inherent rights under federal and international law.
This Center is grounded in the long-standing recognition of tribal sovereignty secured by the United States Constitution, affirmed and exercised through federal statutes such as:
- The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 450 et seq.)
- The Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act (25 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.)
- The Tribal Justice Support Act (25 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3611)
Harvest Christian University Sovereignty Statement
Sovereignty Statement for Harvest Christian University as an Indigenous Institution
Harvest Christian University is established as an Indigenous-led educational institution grounded in the inherent sovereign rights of Native nations to govern, educate, and perpetuate their cultural, spiritual, and academic traditions. Our foundation is rooted in both the sacred right to self-determination and the federal legal framework that affirms the authority of tribes and tribal entities to create and operate institutions of higher learning, whether on or off federally recognized Indian lands.
Legal and Sovereign Authority
Harvest Christian University asserts its legitimacy under the following legal doctrines and authorities:
1. Inherent Tribal Sovereignty
- Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832)
- United States v. Wheeler, 435 U.S. 313 (1978)
- Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), 25 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.
2. Tribal Colleges and Universities Legal Framework
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, 25 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq.
- Executive Order 13592
3. Freedom of Religion and Cultural Expression
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1996
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 14 (endorsed by the U.S. in 2010)
4. Jurisdiction and Federal Recognition Support
- 25 CFR Part 900 – Indian Self-Determination Contracts (BIA Regulations)
- 25 CFR § 41.3 – Definitions for Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.
5. Educational Sovereignty Beyond Reservation Boundaries
- Montoya v. United States, 180 U.S. 261
- The right of Native peoples to educate their communities,
- The authority of tribal nations and their affiliates to found institutions of higher learning,
- And the freedom to do so beyond the geographic boundaries of federal trust land.
Official Notice
Notice: Recognizing and Protecting the Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
Harvard Christian University, through its Center for Tribal Sovereignty and Global Justice, formally announces its comprehensive effort to defend and uphold the rights of Indigenous and tribal nations. This initiative is rooted firmly in the legal protections provided by U.S. law, including treaties, the Indian Civil Rights Act, and the Native American Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
The American Indigenous Accawmacke Indians are recognized as one of the original 30 Powhatan tribes of Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
With state recognition by the Commonwealth of Virginia, tribes such as the American Indigenous Accawmacke Indians are deemed legal entities under state law, affirming their cultural sovereignty and government-to-government relationship with the state. This recognition formally acknowledges the tribe’s status, heritage, and rights within the state framework.
FEDERALLY BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
HARVEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Federal legal codes and regulations relevant to the status and operations of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and institutions serving its members include:
- Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): This section contains the principal regulations relating to Indian affairs, governance, education, and tribal sovereignty, under the oversight of the Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Department of the Interior Statutes: The DOI, under 43 U.S. Code Chapter 31, is responsible for implementing statutes and policies that protect and manage affairs relating to federally recognized Indian tribes, including education and cultural institutions like tribal universities and colleges
- Tribal Sovereignty: The United States Constitution and federal courts recognize Indian tribes, such as the Pamunkey, as sovereign governmental entities with inherent authority over their members and affairs. The Department of the Interior has a trust responsibility to support tribal self-government and self-determination, and federal law guarantees the tribe’s right to manage its internal affairs, including education initiatives and partnerships
- Federal Recognition and Education: Under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act, the Department of the Interior confirms tribes’ federal status, affording them specific protections, opportunities, and funding for education, health, and cultural programs. This framework supports educational initiatives like Harvest Christian University as part of the tribe’s rights and authorities
Honoring the Powhatan Seat of 1865, the Pamunkey Nation
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum was founded by Reverend Dr. Samuel B. Holmes, a visionary Indigenous leader, educator, and founder of both the King William Training School and the Pamunkey Baptist Association.
The museum was established to preserve and honor the cultural, spiritual, and educational legacy of Native communities in King William County.
In 2025, Archbishop Dr. Carl Robinson, a descendant of the Powhatan lineage and Pocahontas through Dr. Richard Holmes, is resurrecting this powerful legacy through the expansion of Harvest Christian University. His efforts aim to restore Indigenous history, celebrate ancestral achievements, and revitalize educational institutions that were originally rooted in Native vision and leadership.
King William Training Academy
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
King William Training Academy Revived Under Archbishop Dr. Carl Robinson and Harvest Christian University
King William County, VA — A historic center of Black and Native education has been reborn.
The King William Training Academy was constructed in 1922–1923 as a Rosenwald school, owes its inception to a vision of Reverend Dr. Samuel B. Holmes originally affiliated with the Pamunkey Baptist Association, has been officially adopted and revitalized by Archbishop Dr. Carl Robinson, President of Harvest Christian University. Now operating as the King William Training Academy.
Located in the ancestral lands of the federally recognized Pamunkey Indian Nation, the Academy holds deep historical roots as a place where Black and Native students gathered to learn despite segregation and systemic exclusion.
(PBA)Pamunkey 3rd. Baptist Association (PBA)
The Pamunkey King William County Historical Museum
(PBA)Pamunkey 3rd. Baptist Association (PBA)
Reviving the Legacy Through Pamunkey 3rd. Baptist Association (PBA)
Spiritual and educational leader continuing the mission of Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Holmes, the original founder of the King William Training Academy and the Pamunkey Baptist Association, Cultural & Museum Partnership Honoring the original intent of the Pamunkey Indian Museum by:
(1) Supporting educational exhibits on Native and African American alliances in Virginia
(2) Digitizing tribal history and oral narratives for curriculum use
(3) Launching student research projects to preserve cultural records
The University will align with the original spiritual foundation of the Pamunkey Baptist Association, restoring the role of faith in cultural education.
Supporting the continued mission of the PBA to serve as a beacon of education, justice, and historical preservation.
the Holmer-Robinson Powhatan Seat of 1865, Pamunkey NatiON
Archbishop Carl Robinson
His genealogically documented as a descendant of one of the Robinsons named in the Pocahontas kinship chart, then his direct ancestry traces to
Kinship of Princess Pocahontas
- The genealogical chart titled "Kinship of Princess Pocahontas" lists individuals descended from **Princess Pocahontas**, whose ancestry is directly tied to the historic Powhatan Confederacy, including the Pamunkey tribe—one of the principal tribes within Powhatan leadership.
Official records show several Robinsons ancestors.
mainly members (e.g., Dr. Robert Emmet Robinson, Robinson, George E., Robinson, Powhatan, and others) as descendants or spouses within this kinship line, all sharing **Pocahontas, Princess ** as a common
Direct Connection to Archbishop Carl Robinson
Archbishop Carl Robinson is genealogically documented as a descendant of one of the Robinsons named in the Pocahontas kinship chart, then his direct ancestry traces to
Proclamation of Legitimacy and Continuity
The Powhatan–Pamunkey Seat, 1896
In the name of the Most High and in acknowledgment of the sacred trust of our Ancestors, this declaration is issued to affirm the rightful place of the Crown Prince, direct descendant of the Pamunkey Tribe of the Powhatan Nation, whose royal seat traces its succession to 1896 and the ancient confederacy of Powhatan leadership.
Through records, treaties, and sworn affidavits preserved across generations — including the sacred signs of the Queens and Kings of the Pamunkey, Waonoke, Nottoway, and Nancymond Nations, as well as the covenantal treaties entered into with colonial and later United States authorities — the legitimacy of this royal succession stands affirmed.
The Royal Principal Holmes Family
The Royal Principal Holmes Family of the Powhatan Confederacy, alongside the military warrants and land patents of Benjamin Hoomes, and the continued affirmation of Pamunkey Nation records, confirm that this bloodline has remained faithful to its inheritance, maintaining title to the ancient seats of governance and spiritual leadership.
Thus, it is declared that Archbishop Carl Robinson, Crown Prince, descendant of the Pamunkey Tribe of the Powhatan Nation, Seat of 1865, holds rightful legitimacy as heir to this sacred trust.
This proclamation restores to memory and to honor the legacy of the ancestors, and revives the charge to steward education, governance, and spiritual direction for future generations of the people.
