Va. Indian tribes deserve federal recognition (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Virginia's Indians have earned the right to be cynical.

Two years ago, six state tribes landed at the doorstep of federal recognition, only to have the mat snatched from underfoot. The bill stalled in the Senate after the conclusion of the feel-good Jamestown 2007 commemorative. Once the threat of Indian protest of the events passed, it seemed as if the politicians lost interest.

But the tribes -- Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan Indian Nation and Nansemond -- kept the faith. And now, the stars -- cosmic and political -- have aligned in their favor.

On Monday, Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, reintroduced his legislation to federally recognize the tribes. And the tribes are ready to believe again.

"There was optimism in 2007," said Chief Kenneth Adams of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. "But . . . in my heart, I still had reservations that it would get to the president's desk. I don't have those reservations now."

In 2007, the bill breezed through the House after the tribes agreed to give up their authority under federal law to pursue casino gaming. But the bill ground to a halt in the Senate, and some supporters worried their moment had passed.

Then the political winds shifted.

Barack Obama, viewed as a strong supporter of Native American causes, was elected president. Mark R. Warner, a staunch supporter of federal recognition for the tribes while governor, replaced the retiring Sen. John W. Warner, who was lukewarm at best on the recognition issue. Mark Warner joined Sen. Jim Webb, another strong backer of tribal recognition.

"With the change in Washington that took place, most people -- I won't say everyone -- have a renewed sense of hope," Adams said. "And I happen to be one of them."

Democrat Tom Perriello, who unseated Republican Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., has signed on as a co-sponsor of Moran's legislation. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is also in the tribe's corner. "So the support in Virginia is the best that we've ever had overall," Adams said.

"I guess we're always optimistic that something good's going to happen, especially when you have a new session of congress," said Wayne Adkins, president of the Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life, which has led the recognition effort.

"There are always bigger issues than our federal recognition bill, and that's the one thing we can't control."

The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the bill next week.

"Each year we've introduced it, the bill has moved further and further," said Moran spokesman Austin Durrer. "This congress, we feel like we're very well positioned in the House and the Senate to see this bill enacted."

Enactment is overdue. Virginia tribes have earned the same rights afforded the 562 federally recognized tribes. Instead, they've been receiving a raw deal for four centuries.

The Virginia Racial Integrity Act of 1924 resulted in what Moran called a "paper genocide" of the Indians by bureaucrat Walter Plecker, who destroyed records and reclassified non-whites as "colored" in an attempt to officially erase Indians from the Virginia landscape.

Virginia's tribes have received official recognition from the state. But unfortunately, 85 years after Plecker, Congress still wants to pretend these six tribes don't exist.

It's time to end this charade.