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ZION CROSSROADS — Monacan Indian Nation members and their supporters spoke out Tuesday against a planned water project in Fluvanna County.

Point of Fork, also known as Rassawek, the historic capital of the Monacan Indian Nation, is the planned site for the water intake and pump station for the project.

The water intake and pump station are part of a larger project through the James River Water Authority to bring water from the James River to a water treatment facility in Louisa County, and ultimately would serve the Zion Crossroads area in Fluvanna and Louisa.

At the water authority’s meeting Tuesday, Monacan Nation members, as well as supporters from other tribes and the community, spoke out against the project.

Monacan Chief Kenneth Branham said no one at the meeting would like to see their ancestors’ remains dug up and removed.

“I’ve done that once before and I do not want to go through it again,” he said. “I don’t think any of you gentleman would like to see your grandparents and great-grandparents dug up and removed, so I’m asking you to do the same thing that you would do if you were in my place, you would fight it. That’s why we’re here.”