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Updated
March 21, 2008
The smallest Indian reservation in North America belongs to the Mattaponi tribe
in eastern Virginia. The reservation consists of only 125 acres. The Mattaponi
signed a treaty with the Virginians in 1646. The treaty provided for an annual
visit by the tribe to the governor of Virginia to renew their pledge of
loyalty. They have kept that practice to this very day. Every year the
Mattaponi appear before the governor of Virginia. They bring him gifts of fish
and fowl as prescribed by the treaty -- and they declare their loyalty. We do
something like that when we come to church. We bring our gifts, and we declare
our loyalty to the Christ who governs our lives.