Tsenacommacah

Tsenacommacah (pronounced SEN-ə-KOM-ə-kə in English; also written Tscenocomoco, Tsenacomoco, Tenakomakah, Attanoughkomouck, and Attan-Akamik) is the country of the various Native American peoples who inhabit the modern-day Tidewater region of Virginia. The region is carved by a series of large rivers, such as the Pamunkey, Chickahominy, Potomac, Rappahanock and Powhatan rivers, with large peninsulas nestled between them alongside extensive wetlands. The region today is part of the United States alongside six federally recognized Native American tribes: Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Chickahominy Indian Tribe–Eastern Division, Nansemond Indian Nation, Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Rappahannock Tribe and Upper Mattaponi Tribe.

Name

Tsenacommacah is translated variously, including as “Land that was dwelt upon closely together” or “a nearby dwelling-place.” The word Tsenacommacah includes a word for a house.

Geography

Tsenacommacah encompasses what is now also considered the Atlantic Plain and Tidewater of Virginia. It is centered on the Powhatan (James) and Pamunkey (York) rivers. It also includes the Potomac River, whose name is translated as meaning, "To bring again they go and come," a refer to trade in the region The rivers of Tsenacommacah are lined by extensive wetlands. Many of the Native placenames in the region are from the point of view of traveling by canoe as they often reference canoeing, fishing and gathering wetland plants. Tsenacommacah's northern bound is the Potomac River, the western boundary is the fall line and the eastern boundary is the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Its southern extent includes the south shore of the James River, its mouth and a bit further along the coast, going as far inland as the Great Dismal Swamp.