Stephen Adkins
Stephen R. Adkins is Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe of Virginia, first elected in 2001, and a leading advocate for federal recognition of Virginia's Native tribes.
1
APPEARANCES
1
PODCASTS
Sep 22, 2026
Rachel PierceHOST
And I want to ask, how do the indigenous cultures and the Christian faith relate to one another in your experience?
Stephen AdkinsGUEST
When I look at the Christian faith and how we embraced it, the tribes in Virginia, it was kind of a natural progression.
Stephen AdkinsGUEST
One represented evil, which is the devil or Satan, and one represented the creator.
Stephen AdkinsGUEST
So to go from that to Christianity wasn't It wasn't a long stretch, but I'm amazed at how the invaders construed some of the things we did to be pagan.
Stephen AdkinsGUEST
We recognized the different seasons and the significance of the moon as it relates to tides and the position of the stars.
15 MINS LATER
Suzanne BrownGUEST
So like we talk about what kinds of things can we use as a guide, that Bible that we were introduced to using that Bible as a guide will help you be successful.