During
#IndigenousPeoplesMonth, we’re sharing facts about the tribes of Virginia. Here’s a neat one highlighted by a guide on a recent trip to Natural Bridge: Not all Indigenous people spoke the same language.
About 300 years ago, the now-famous area was home to individuals of the Monacan Indian Nation. They called Natural Bridge "Mohomony,” or "Bridge of God,” and legend has it that the bridge played a vital role in the survival of many members during a raging battle.
Though the Monacans communicated in a Siouan language, it’s now considered extinct. Unfortunately, the words were spoken, not written, and the dialect wasn’t well-recorded.