Fred “Beekeeper” Bright has been a member of the Nansemond Indian Tribe since the 1980’s. He, as many American Indians residing in Virginia, knew very little about his heritage growing up. He learned of his connection with the American Indian community through his father as a teenager. However, it was not until the 1980’s and his meeting with Chief “Running Deer” Bass of the Nansemond that he felt the true spirit of his ancestors. He was struck by the resemblance of Chief Bass to his own father. He began a quest to find out more about his heritage by talking to other relatives. Fred encourages others find out more about their heritage, particularly if they may have American Indian ancestors, through their local Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (Mormons), who have kept such genealogical records in Virginia. 

Fred is has been married since 1963 and has 3 sons and 8 grandchildren. Having served in the US Army Combat Engineers, he is now retired and dedicates himself to teaching others about the Nansemond tribe and the lives of American Indians, past and present, in Virginia. He serves as the treasurer and head of genealogy for the Nansemond Tribe. In the 1980’s Fred started flint knapping by studying the work of “Sparrowhawk” who he met initially on the internet and then visited on yearly trips taken to Las Vegas, where he and his family also met with other tribal people.

Fred “Beekeeper” Bright is an accomplished artisan, creating reproductions of arrowheads and arrows, some of which he fashions into jewelry. He is also a master woodcut artisan. Many of his pieces are for sale in the First Landing Foundation gift shop. In addition, Fred is a master storyteller, entertaining hundreds at the Historic Villages at Cape Henry and many Tidewater schools. His knowledge of the history of the Nansemond Tribe and American Indian culture is both informative and entertaining.