Home The News National News Senate committee OKs recognition of tribes

Senate committee OKs recognition of tribes

Written by Administrator

Sunday, 14 February 2010

Senate committee OKs recognition of tribes By Chelyen Davi s Date published: 2/13/2010 RICHMOND A Senate committee yesterday passed three resolutions granting state recognition to Indian tribes, despite protests from members of the Virginia Council on Indians, which said the state was undermining the very process for which it established the council. Two resolutions involve Nottoway tribes, and one grants recognition to the Stafford-based Patawomecks. The Patawomeck resolution is sponsored by House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, and drew tribe member and Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton to testify on it when it was before the House. Patawomeck Chief Robert Green said his tribe has worked with the VCI for years, trying to meet the council's stringent requirements for tribal status. Those requirements include proving that the group has existed as a distinct Indian community through the years, among others. Green has said it's difficult for tribes to prove that, because Virginia's racist policies regarding Indians in the early 20th century led some to hide their heritage. For years, Indians could not identify themselves as such on vital records, like birth certificates--the state required them to declare themselves white or "colored." The Patawomecks turned to the General Assembly for recognition, Green said, because they were frustrated by the VCI process; the council said the Patawomecks met some criteria but hadn't adequately proved others. Members of the VCI did not testify on the resolution when it was in the House, but showed up to the Senate Rules committee yesterday to protest. Chickahominy Chief Steph-en Adkins said his tribe, and the other seven that were granted state recognition in the 1980s and '90s, went through an "exhaustive" vetting process. He took offense at a comment from a delegate last week that tribal recognition is largely "ceremonial," which Adkins said is "demeaning and trivializing the process." Adkins said he's concerned that granting recognition to tribes without such a stringent vetting process would lead to people discounting the importance and value of state recognition. Upper Mattaponi Chief Ken Adams told the committee that the council process is "demanding and detailed" and that if the legislature wants to retake control over state tribal recognition, it should at least establish a similarly detailed process for tribes. Adams said he wants tribes that are qualified to receive state tribal status, but not without first proving that qualification through the process. Speakers from the council urged senators to at least postpone the resolutions for a year and give the council a chance to work with the tribes more. But senators said they think the council has made the recognition requirements more stringent for other tribes than it was for those tribes already recognized and members of the council. "It is disappointing to the General Assembly that in all these years, the criteria have been made so difficult for others," said Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, the committee chairwoman. Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarks-ville, who sponsored one of the Nottoway resolutions, urged the committee to step back and wait a year, and hope the council took it as a warning that "if this is not dealt with properly and historically, then the General Assembly will take action. "We should not be putting hurdles up saying 'we're the only ones who can be recognized'," he added. Ruff and other senators said the council has not approved any new tribes since it was created, more than 20 years ago. Adams shook his head to disagree with that, but after the meeting would not explain what he meant nor allow other council members to clarify, telling them not to talk to a reporter. In the end, the committee unanimously approved all three resolutions. The full Senate will vote on them next week. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/02132010/527848

 

< Prev		Next >