Orapakes (1609–1614) Tsenacommacah (pronounced /ˌsɛnəˈkɒməkə/ SEN-ə-KOM-ə-kə in English; also written Tscenocomoco, Tsenacomoco, Tenakomakah, Attanoughkomouck, and Attan-Akamik)[1] is the name given by the Powhatan people to their native homeland,[2] the area encompassing all of Tidewater Virginia and parts of the Eastern Shore.

Another closely related tribe of the same language group was the Chickahominy, but they managed to preserve their autonomy from the Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom.

[citation needed] The Accawmacke, located on the Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay, were paid nominal tribute to the Powhatan Chiefdom, but enjoyed autonomy under their own Paramount Chief or "Emperor", Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King").

[6] Wahunsenacawh died in 1618, after which the chiefdom was ultimately passed to his younger brother Opechancanough, who led the Indian massacre of 1622 as well as a second attack in 1644.

The boundaries specified in the treaty separated Virginia Indian lands from those that were considered colonial territory, and restricted crossings to those on official business.

The treaty also established the payment of a yearly tribute to the English, as well as delineating a number of tribal land reservations.

[4][7][8] Among the surviving tribes of the now-dissolved confederacy, the Appomattocs, Nansemonds, and Weyanokes retreated to the south, becoming independent of Necotowance, as did the Powhites or Powhatan proper.

The Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Rappahannock, Kiskiack, Wiccocomico, Patawomeck, Morattico, Nanzatico, Sekakawon, and Onawmanient, occupying the peninsulas north of the York, were cut off from the southern tribes by the English colonial authorities.

[citation needed] The Virginia Colony long respected its southern boundary established by this treaty, refusing to recognize settlements beyond it as late as 1705.

However, the ban on settling north of the York River was lifted on September 1, 1649, and a wave of new immigrants quickly flooded the northern tribes, leaving them scattered and isolated on ever-shrinking patches of land.

[11] Tracts were surveyed for the remaining tribes in the following decades, but these quickly shrank as they were either sold off or in some cases actually seized outright.

[citation needed] Following Bacon's Rebellion, the Treaty of Middle Plantation was signed by many Virginia Indian leaders in 1677, limiting Tsenocommacah even further.

[4][7] The treaty set up six reservations, reinforced the annual tribute payment to the English, and more fully acknowledged the Virginia tribes' subjection to the King of England.

It has not always been easy for the Mattaponi and the Pamunkey to get the necessary items for their yearly payment, but they have made it a point of honor to uphold their end of the bargain.

The natives also used fire to maintain extensive areas of open game habitat throughout the East, later called "barrens" by European colonists.

Women tended crops, and processed food, such as grinding cornmeal, and gathered wild plants, including nuts.

The site is on a farm bordering on Purtan Bay of the York River, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from Jamestown.

When the first English colonists arrived in Virginia, some of the weroances subject to the paramount chief Powhatan, or mamanatowick (Wahunsenacawh) were his own nearest male relatives:

In A Map of Virginia John Smith of Jamestown explains:His [Chief Powhatan's] kingdome descendeth not to his sonnes nor children: but first to his brethren, whereof he hath 3 namely Opitchapan, Opechancanough, and Catataugh; and after their decease to his sisters.