Kaine, in Washington urges federal recognition of Virginia tribes

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine this morning testified in Washington before a House Committee seeking support for legislation to federally recognize Virginia's Indian tribes.

Kaine told the House Committee on Natural Resources that the Jamestown settlers who arrived from England more than 400 years ago would have perished were it not for "the forbearance and assistance" of Native Americans such as Pocahontas and Chief Powhatan.

The governor argued that two reasons have kept Virginia's tribes from being federally recognized like the 562 others already acknowledged by the U.S. government.

Virginia's Indians, he said, signed treaties with the English and the settlers before the nation was formed.

"They laid down arms and made peace with us too soon," he said.

Perhaps more significantly, Kaine said that between 1924 and 1967, the commonwealth, operating under the Racial Integrity Act, systematically altered or destroyed records of Virginia's tribes, reclassifying native Indian populations as "colored."

That process removed documentation of much of the tribes' heritage -- a crucial component to meeting the requirements under the federal recognition process used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"Virginia perpetrated this monstrous injustice," Kaine said urging the committee to again approve House Bill 1385.

The six tribes seeking recognition are the Chickahominy Tribe, Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock Tribe, the Monacan Tribe, and the Nansemond Tribe.

Federal recognition could make the tribes eligible for federal grants that could help with services from college scholarships to housing.

The committee and the full House of Representatives approved the measure last year toward the end of the congressional session, but it was not taken up by the Senate. The bill includes a tightly written provision that would forbid Virginia's tribes from using federal status to pursue gambling licenses.

"There is no doubt these tribes existed," said Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, the bill's sponsor. "It's about their dignity, being recognized for who they are. That's what they're all about."

Moran said it is time for Congress to "bring closure to a travesty."

Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, a co-sponsor, said: "It's absolutely long overdue."