Senators Tim Kaine (third from right) and Mark Warner (fourth from right) stand with tribal leaders who attended the vote to federally recognize six Virginia tribes.
WASHINGTON-After a nearly two-decade long fight for federal recognition through legislation, six Virginia Indian tribes received federal recognition Jan. 29 as United Stated President Donald Trump signed legislation known as the Thomasina Jordan Act. The tribes receiving recognition are the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Nansemond and Monacan.
With the passing of this final legislation, the number of federally recognized tribes in the Commonwealth of Virginia now stands at seven. The amount of federally recognized tribes now stands at 573.
In February of 2017, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, introduced H.R. 984, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a voice vote in May, and the Senate approved it with unanimous consent on Jan. 11.
Wayne Adkins, first assistant chief for the Chickahominy, said, "It's definitely a historic day for the tribe and for the commonwealth . . . We're really looking forward to planning the future of our tribe."
Rep. Wittman said, "Today, we celebrate a decade of hard work. This is an issue of respect . . . Federal recognition acknowledges and protects the historical and cultural identities of these tribes."
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both former Virginia governors, released a joint statement: "Virginia's tribes have loved and served this nation, and today our country is finally honoring them with the recognition they deserve."
This status provides for a government-to-government relationship between the six nations and the U.S. Government and endows them with greater ability to create and enforce their own laws and manage their lands and resources.
