G. Anne Nelson Richardson was elected the first woman chief to lead a tribe in Virginia since the 18th century in 1998. She is a fourth-generation chief in her family. Under her tenure as chief, in 1998, the tribe purchased 140 acres to establish a land trust, cultural center and housing development. In 2017, Chief Richardson accepted a donation of a 1-acre parcel facilitated by Chesapeake Conservancy to return her tribe to their ancestral lands along Fones Cliffs.
Under Chief Richardson’s leadership, the Rappahannocks are currently engaged in a number of projects ranging from cultural and educational to social and economic development programs including their Return to the River Project, which is a youth leadership program. She has been an engaged partner in Chesapeake Conservancy’s campaign to protect our natural resources from unsustainable development.
In 1989, Chief Richardson helped to organize the United Indians of Virginia, which was established as an intertribal organization represented by all Virginia chiefs. In 1991, she became executive director of Mattaponi-Pamunkey-Monacan, Inc., which provides training and employment services for Virginia Indians. In her work with the Department of Labor, she was appointed by the Secretary to serve on the Native American Advisory Council. She was also elected as Cchairman of that Council while working with the Secretary to further the goals of Indian Country through Labor Programs.
Chief Richardson ran for the State Delegate of her district and was named one of the Virginia Women in History in 2006.
In 2023, Chief Richardson was named Chesapeake Conservancy's Champion of the Chesapeake.
