Tribes look ahead at tribute

Virginia's Indian tribes gave Gov. Timothy M. Kaine two freshly killed deer yesterday -- and the tribes got reassurances that the state's top elected officials will push for them to be recognized by the federal government in 2009.

The bucks that representatives of Virginia's Indian tribes presented to Kaine continued a Thanksgiving tradition of paying annual tribute to the governor that dates back to the late 1600s.

Kaine and first lady Anne Holton accepted the offerings from the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indian chiefs at a morning ceremony attended by more than 250 people outside the Executive Mansion.

"This is a wonderful celebration of the peaceful and warm relationship of Virginia's Indian tribes and the commonwealth of Virginia," Kaine said.

"Challenging times in the world, challenging times in the commonwealth," Kaine said. But "we have a lot to be thankful for."

The annual gift of wild game commemorates the peace treaty with Virginia's Indian tribes that was signed by England's Lord Charles II and royal governor Herbert Jeffreys in 1677.

More than three centuries later, the tribes, too, have reason to be cheered. With Democrat Barack Obama as president-elect, and Democratic majorities in the House and U.S. Senate, officials think 2009 may be the year that the tribes finally gain recognition by the federal government.

In 1983 Virginia officially recognized the six tribes now seeking federal recognition: Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Nansemond, and Monacan Indian Nation. Federal recognition would make the six tribes eligible for federal funds for housing, education and senior care for the tribes' estimated 3,000 members.

"The most known stories of the interactions between Indians and the European settlers is the Pocahontas story, and it's just ironic that with over 500 tribes federally recognized that none of the Virginia tribes have been," Kaine said yesterday. "We think it's time to remedy that injustice."

A bill to recognize the tribes passed the House last year, but did not clear the Senate. On Sept. 25 Kaine traveled to Capitol Hill, where he called federal recognition of the Virginia tribes a matter of "fundamental justice."

On hand yesterday with Kaine were Sen. Jim Webb and Reps. James P. Moran, D-8th, and Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, strong supporters of tribal recognition.

"I think we can do it next year," said Webb, who was presented with a tomahawk by Chickahominy Chief Stephen Adkins.

"If we properly construct ourselves as a country, we need to make sure we properly respect the heritages of different groups that have come here and different groups that were here when the European immigrants arrived," Webb said.

Adkins, who is also a deputy director of the state's human resources department, presented Kaine with a peace pipe -- the first conferred by his tribe in over 200 years.

"I think 2009 is going to be our year," Adkins said.

After the ceremony, children in the crowd posed for pictures with American Indians in traditional dress. They cautiously petted the dead deer, which will be donated to the relief organization Hunters for the Hungry.

"Everybody in the crowd should be proud of their heritage this morning, whether it's Native American or no matter what it is," said Pamunkey Chief William P. "Swift Water" Miles.

"It is something that belongs to all of us, and it's something we all need to keep and cherish for the rest of our lives."
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .