House backs tribal status for Virginia's Patawomecks

Recognition vote for Virginia tribe passes house

Date published: 2/9/2010

By Chelyen Davis

RICHMOND

The resolution, sponsored by House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, drew lots of attention at the General Assembly because it also drew Las Vegas star Wayne Newton.

Newton, a member of the tribe, traveled to Richmond last week to testify on the resolution before the House Rules committee.

The Patawomecks, or Potomacs, want the state to recognize them as a tribe so they have some standing to protest when, say, development impacts their historic burial grounds. It would also help the tribe apply for grants, such as funding for learning the Algonquin language, said tribe Chief Robert Green.

But gaining state recognition is difficult. Winning recognition involves a lengthy process of proving that the tribe existed in Virginia at the time Europeans made contact, that it has existed in some form ever since, and that it is a distinct group, among other requirements. Such proof can be difficult for a tribe to gather, in part because of racist state policies in the early 20th century, which didn't allow Indians to identify themselves as Indian on documents like birth certificates.

Virginia currently recognizes eight tribes. All those tribes won recognition by going through the General Assembly, but since then, the process was transferred to the Virginia Council on Indians.

No tribe has won recognition from the council, though.

Green said the Patawomecks tried, and were told they met five of six criteria. They felt they had provided the necessary documentation and so, frustrated with the process, they went to Howell.

While no House member voted against the resolution, at least one asked about the council's position.

Del. Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester, said he used to be on the council and wanted to know if current members supported the tribe's bid for state recognition. He said he remembered the efforts at recognition by the Patawomecks and the Nottoways--there are two resolutions seeking state recognition for Nottoway tribes.

"The Potomac tribe, or Patawomeck tribe, was not recognized by that process," said House Majority Leader Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. He added that the Rules committee felt "they had, in fact, deserved to be recognized."

Griffith said the tribe had genealogical documentation.

"We heard extensive testimony in committee about the work that had been done to verify the lineage of the members of this particular Indian tribe and the fact that they have lived in the same general area" for generations, Griffith said.

In answer to other questions, Griffith said state recognition does not give a tribe any rights to open casinos, nor does it bestow federal recognition, a separate process.

"It's basically ceremonial and an honor," he said.

The resolution must now go to the Senate for approval. Green said Newton has said he'll come back to testify to the Senate if necessary.

Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com

Date published: 2/9/2010