Perseverance Across Generations, Day Two

This year’s conference, Perseverance Across Generations (October 2–3, 2025), explores the shared and diverse experiences that have shaped tribal communities in Virginia across time.

Agenda for Day Two

9:00 Registration  

All programming except for breakout sessions will take place in Halsey Hall.

9:30 Opening Remarks from Tribal Ombudsman, Commonwealth of Virginia and Chickahominy Indian Tribe citizen, Kara Canaday. Including prayer from Hailey Holmes and Native Drum/Song. 

9:40 Open Forum: Recapping Challenges in Indian Country – Introduction and Moderator: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Project Director and Chickahominy Indian Tribe citizen, Kerry Canaday 

 Panelists: 

• Kara Canaday, Tribal Ombudsman, Commonwealth of Virginia, and Chickahominy Indian Tribe citizen 
•  Melissa Holds the Enemy, Chief Justice of the High Court of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe; citizen of the Crow Tribe of Crow Agency, Montana, and a descendent of the Absentee Shawnee and Delaware tribal nations of Oklahoma 
• Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, U.S. Representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district (VA-04), 119th Congress - House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Chief W. Frank Adams, Chief of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe
• Chief Stephen R. Adkins, Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe 

10:45 Break  

11:00 Circuit 1: Breakout sessions 

1. Tool Crafting with Sam McGowan, citizen of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe 
2. Room: Reynolds Leadership Center, 2nd Floor 
3. Beadwork with Tamsye Stover, citizen of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe 
4. Room: Byrd Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 
5. College Preparation and Career Readiness with Virginia Community College Systems (VCCS) 
6. Room: Lacy Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 
7. Computer Science and Micro:bit Instruction wit CodeVA 
8. Room: Cullen Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 

11:45 Break 

12:00 Lunch 

1:00 - Circuit 2: Breakout Sessions 

1. Tool Crafting with Sam McGowan, citizen of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe 
2. Room: Reynolds Leadership Center, 2nd Floor 
3. Beadwork with Tamsye Stover, citizen of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe 
4. Room: Byrd Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 
5. College Preparation and Career Readiness with Virginia Community College Systems (VCCS) 
6. Room: Lacy Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 
7. Computer Science and Micro:bit Instruction with CodeVA 
8. Room: Cullen Meeting Room, 2nd Floor 

1:45 Break 

2:00 CULTURE KEEPERS: voices of the land, introduced by Executive Producer and citizen of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, Raven Adams 

2:50 Post-Film Audience Feedback Forum 

3:10 Closing Remarks from Second Assistant Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe and VTEC Chairperson, Reggie Stewart