Teresa R. Pollak is an enrolled citizen of the Monacan Nation. She has served several terms over the last 25 years as council member and secretary and was elected Secretary to the Council again in October 2025. She is a former board member of VTEC (Virginia Tribal Educational Consortium), a non-profit organization with members from the Federally Recognized tribal Nations of Virginia that is focused on educational success for Virginia’s indigenous people.
She represents the Monacan Nation on various community committees with University of Virginia and other organizations. She has worked on various projects with students, the most recent being the Community Engagement class that developed a book in collaboration with the Monacan Elders to be used in the Social Studies Standards of Learning.
She frequently is a speaker at community events educating the public about the Monacan people and their ancestors. She is an apprentice potter, learning the traditional skills of the Monacan Ancestors. A newly elected board member of Yesa:sahį Language Project, she is diligent in learning and moving forward the traditional language of the Monacan people.
