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Photo by Vincent Schilling The Virginia Indian Patawomeck Tribe has ended a 16-year battle for state recognition in the Commonwealth of Virginia. About one week after an appearance by tribal member and entertainer Wayne Newton, the Virginia House and Senate approved HJ 150 granting the tribe state recognition and a seat on the Virginia Council on Indians. Multimedia 3 Va. tribes gain state recognitionNottoway tribes nearly forgotten – but also receive recognition By
Vincent Schilling, Today correspondent
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“Some people say that Indians can survive without recognition, but in this day and age, they can’t.” – Wayne Newton, |
“When my dad was working my grandfather had to take care of me because I had bronchial asthma. When the other kids went out and played they didn’t want me along because I was a little too slow for them, so I had a chance to spend that time with my grandfather,” Newton said.
“He was proud of his Indian heritage, and he talked about it to me and taught me things that I never would have learned, had I not been sick and had been able to go out and play with the other kids.”
Newton also explained the day he told his daughter about her Native heritage. “I sat her down on the steps because it was a very important day for me – and a very emotional day. I explained to her that she was part Indian, and part American – she looked at me as only a 7-year-old could and said, ‘does this mean I am half Indian and half human?’
“I realized our heritage, had to be documented more than ever before,” Newton said.
Patawomeck Chief Robert “Two Eagles” Green, Newton’s cousin, was pleasantly surprised to see Newton show up at his own expense in defense of the tribe. “I originally asked him to write a letter. He said, ‘Heck, no, I’m coming to testify live.’ He had a show in Vegas and canceled the performance so he could testify. I am sure it cost him a pretty penny.”
Green also spoke to the House Committee members and said state recognition would enable the tribe to ensure the protection of sacred sites and burial mounds. “If I appear nervous it’s because the heritage of my father and grandfather and their father and grandfather rest on your decision. Some people say that Indians can survive without recognition, but in this day and age, they can’t.”
After the testimony presented by Newton and Green, a committee member asked Newton if he was from Virginia, Newton answered “yes” and House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County – who sponsored the bill added, “He won his first music contest at the Kiwanis Club.”
After Newton’s testimony, the room cleared considerably. Without receiving the same level of media hype, the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia and the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe introduced similar bids for state recognition.
The tribes claimed two separate tribal structures and different chiefs. They have both undergone separate processes to achieve recognition. The Nottoway Indian Tribe has gone through VCI in an attempt to gain a recommendation while the Cheroenhaka as of yet has not.
Committee members asked the tribes if they could combine efforts to become one tribe.
However, the tribes denied the request and Nottaway Chief Lynette Allston told the committee there were two Chickahominy recognized tribes in Virginia. The committee approved both resolutions.
The initial measure passed unanimously and eventually passed on the House and Senate floors, so on Feb. 26, both Nottoway tribes were officially recognized in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“It’s been a long journey,” Allston said. “Now is an appropriate moment in history to advance an accurate and truly balanced cultural exploration of all the relationships of all people in Virginia. We have much to gain from reaching out to share our cultures.”
“Newton is ecstatic,” Green said. “I am overwhelmed. I never thought it would go that fast.”
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Wind said on Friday, Apr 30 at 2:01 AM
I am sure that black children would think similarly that their parents and elders are humans and that whites are not human. Same for children from other races. Of course, Indians are humans but I guess white children have not been taught properly. It is a shame!
42285599Tsenre said on Thursday, Apr 8 at 8:42 AM
The writer on Teusday,Mar.9yh at 4:50 does not have his facts correct relative to the Free Blacks of Richmond County. There were Free Blacks who were part Native Books as evidenced at documented in the county record of Richmond County. It seems that the writer has continued to descredit Freed Blacks, and Native People as is the norm or some Anglo people.
40860779hisjr said on Friday, Mar 12 at 12:32 PM
HJ 32 Passed Yesterday Nottoway HJ 171 Passed Yesterday Cheroenhaka/Nottoway
39126779Joe said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 8:55 PM
Weird stuff. The question remains??? Who are they?
39093076GuerraLaCroix said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 4:17 AM
GAsp wrote: "Amazing how even a 7 yr old believes whites are "humans" and Indians are, well just "Indians." Anybody catch that". Astute observation GASP indeed, something to ponder. In fact, it is likely that precise reason Mr. Newton mentioned it all. Gasp indeed. Gasp at a society that speaks and preaches(d) "equality for all" yet was built on back of slaves and stolen lands, broken treaties, and promises spit upon. It is a great time for honesty and reconciliation, acknowledgement, and acceptance. Honesty about how this nation was formed, reconciliation with one another, acknowledgement of Indigenous culture where it has survived the American holocaust, and acceptance that today is a new day, a new beginning. We ARE ALL EQUAL. Do not be afraid of American Indians gaining recognition, in so many cases, it is long past due.
39041064Zebras and Indians said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:32 AM
A zebra and a horse have a baby. The baby(1/2 horse 1/2 zebra)grows up and has a baby with a horse. Generation after generation the offspring continue to have babies with horses and no other zebras are introduced into the line. This continues for 400 years. At which point does the offspring stop being zebras? At what point does the offspring stop claiming to be zebras? Are these offspring recognizable as zebras? (You know: Hey look! A zebra!) Does the offspring act like a zebra? Live like a zebra?Now what if a horse with no zebras in the family tree says, "Yeah, I think you're a zebra." Does that count? Does it make these "zebras" zebras? Does having a single zebra in the family tree mean that the descendants 400 years later are still just as zebra as their ancestor? It's not hard to figure this out when we're talking about zebras so why is it so hard to figure out when we're talking about Indians? Acknowledging a zebra ancestor is one thing but claiming to be a zebra is something else
39036881Virginia Resident said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 5:54 PM
Ellen - I suspect your "confusion" is the partially due to the use of the phrase " passed by for the day" in Virginia's General Assembly deliberations. " Passed by" for the day ( regarding HJ32 ) is not the same as " Passed" bills and resolutions( regarding SJ12 ) which you find find under the link "Statistics" on the Virginia Legislative Information Services ( LIS) website. SJ 12 has been adopted/passed by both the Senate and the House of Delegates of Virginia. SJ12 is the legislation that has granted recognition and a voting seat on the Virginia Council on Indians. SH12 is the legislation that has been through the full cycle of approvals, amendment and adoption.
39017731tjb said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 5:51 PM
From the very beginning, my two children knew they were Native. Whatever they become in the future, Doctor, Lawyer, Actor, Educator, they know and acknowledge that they are Native first. Why did Mr. Newton wait until his child was seven to make her aware of their heritage? Be Proud Mr. Newton...Be Native because you are PROUD, not because you can benefit from it...Nontheless, Congratulation to these tribes on their recognition...
39017479Virginia Resident said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 5:33 PM
Ellen - Once again, you are mistaken. SJ12, Recognizing the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, and granting them a voting seat on the Virginia Council on Indians, is the "Joint" resolution that originated in the Virginia Senate and was positively voted on by a 40-0 Senate vote on Feb.16th. SJ12 was then sent to the Virginia House of Delegates, emerged from the House Rules Committee on re-referrel on Febriuary 23, 2010 by a 15-0 Vote of the House Rules Committee. SJ12 was then positively voted on by the House of Delegates on February 26, 2010 by a 91-5 vote ( actually 92-5 since the legislative website has a notation by Delegate Athey that he intended to vote "Yes" but was recorded as not having voted). The House of Delegates Vote included a minor technical amendment to the Senate version of the "Joint" Resolution. This language merely conformed the language for consistency. Finally, on Mar. 2, 2010, the Virginia Senate, by voice vote,closed the matter.
39016316Ellen in Southern California said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 3:51 PM
10 March 2010.... After listening to the Senate for several months now concerning the two Nottoway Indian Tribes, the Senate once again passed by for the day Bills HJ 32 Nottoway Indian Tribe; recognizes existence within State and grants representation on VCI.AND HJ 171 Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe; General Assembly to extend state recognition thereto. The house decided that the SJ12 and SJ127 Bills were the same but these bills were not passed in the Senate just the House. Please go to the site. Yes, it is confusing but I had a Senator explain it to me. I believe, if these two tribes had state recognition now, it would be posted on their websites and in the area newspapers. Why would the Chiefs still be up in the General Assembly waiting and waiting to see what happens to their bills? Tomorrow is another day BUT the 2010 Session ends on 13 March. Will these two bills have to wait until the 2011 Session meets? I am a Proud Virginian...born and raised.
39008866A taino man said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 3:41 AM
Sad was the day when "indians" started to point fingers and say "you are not indian" because the conqueror from across the great oceans says so. When the "knowing" old ones saw actual relations pointing fingers at each other then they knew something is so wrong with the future.
38973946Katy Herndon said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 12:42 AM
It was official the 26th Ellen - the rest is language oriented amendments
38969676Katy Herndon said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 12:40 AM
Actually Schilling is correct - I was present at the passing of the resolution granting recognition on Feb 26 - to Virginia Resident credit - the rest is the approval of amended language in the resolutions - but the recognition took place on the 26th - three tribes have been recognized. KH
38969606Virginia Resident said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 11:42 PM
Senate Joint Resolution SJ12 ( with amendments)Recognizing the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, Inc. has already passed in both the Senate and House of Virginia. Hj32 is legislatively redundant and unnecessary at this point. You may find this on the Virginia Legislative Information System ( LIS) site under "Passed" legislation.
38967114Ellen in Southern California said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 11:31 PM
I cannot believe someone wrote this without getting the facts first. Only the Patawomeck Indian Tribe has been recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia this year so far. The NOTTOWAY TRIBE OF VIRGINIA and the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe have NOT received recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia yet. Today, March 9th 2010 the Senate on HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON THIRD READING decided HJ 32 -Nottoway Indian Tribe; recognizes existence within State and grants representation on VCI.) Read third time, Committee substitute agreed to (voice vote), out of block, passed by for day AND HJ 171 - (Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe; General Assembly to extend state recognition thereto.) Read third time, Committee substitute agreed to (voice vote), out of block, passed by for day....On Wednesday March 10th at 11 am the Senate will meet and maybe the Senate will finally do something about these two bills. We can only hope these bills will both get the justice they both deserve
38966574Joe said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 9:13 PM
What a joke. Schilling writes about a 16 year battle. Thats BS. As for the others, joke city.
38960546Actually said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 8:14 PM
I certainly understand the criticism of the people leaving comments - but the facts are that the Patawomeck and Nottoway tribes have gone through an exhaustive process of documenting their family lineage and tribal identity through years of research. BIA membership officer Mitchell Bush approved the Nottoway specifically as actually meeting Federal Criterium. Outside of the Cheroenhaka, The two other tribes really have done their homework. They have proved in countless ways that they do meet the criteria of not only Virginia but the future BIA. Besides - as Indian people, let us abstain from telling another indian - that they are not indian. Let us come together and not fight amongst ourselves. Everything is right - if we only let it be... Kindness prevails my fellow friends. You too deserve great things.
38957886Mistified said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 6:40 PM
What A JOKE!
38952901State recognized/Schmate recognized said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 5:06 PM
I googled all three of these tribes and all I can think is What the... While they might (like so many others) have NDN ancestry, they are not NDN. State recognition is so corrupt that all a group needs to do is show up with a celebrity who claims to be one of them and, bam, they're recognized. As they say in Vegas, that's show business.
38947156Oh no not again said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 4:50 PM
There is not much, if any, American Indian ancestry in any of these so-called "tribes." In the 1700s, the Norfolk Newtons were black "mulattoes," and the ones from Richmond County were "free blacks," and the others were "Asiatic Indian," East Indian, descended from servants and not from tribal native Americans. There isn't room here to explain the Nottoway story—that would take hundreds of pages. But in Virginia nobody bothers to check the facts, and so these groups get "the recognition they deserve," and waltz right into an identity, a culture, a heritage, and special rights to which they have no rightful claim.
38946214Enrolled Member EBCI said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 4:11 PM
Why don't they follow the BIA process if they are Indian. So what, Wayne Newton, says he is Indian, so does everyone else. When did he join the stuggle. I bet after the hearing he flew right back to his suite in Vegas. What a joke........
38943454Walk Te Tib said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 3:31 PM
Powerful words and action by Mr. Newton. In the few instances when fame and fortune are brought so infrequently among our people it is a blessing to see it leveraged in favor of our people. Mr. Newton has brought a renewed pride to his grandfather, and Indian Country. Thank you.
38940746Gloria Weedon Sharp said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 2:01 PM
Congratulations to everyone, what a wonderful day for all the tribes and history! It was great to see the video on line that can be seen not only by all those that couldn't be there, but future generations. Hope the tribes will be able to get a copy for their history libraries too. There are so many heroes to be thanked in this whole process. Tribal chiefs, Mr. William Howell, Wayne Newton, all those that did the historical research and those that never gave up and many others that that prayed, wrote and called the list goes on and on. It was time to right the wrongs and share the true stories of our history.
38934296sandra beasley unenrolled cherokee african american white said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 12:12 PM
awsome! congradulations and many thanks to wayne newton for cancelling a show to do this! it shows to me that giving back to your nation out weighs a show any day! I have always been a wayne newton fan since I was a kid and know I am even bigger fan for what he has done! and thanks for the video.
38926271GASP! said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 12:10 PM
Amazing how even a 7 yr old believes whites are "humans" and Indians are, well just "Indians." Anybody catch that?
38926106Alan Flanders, Portsmouth said on Monday, Mar 8 at 1:51 PM
Congratulations at long last! Those seem the most appropriate words. I am particularly proud of Chief Lynette Allston-anyone who meets her will soon realize what a great leader of all peoples she is; wisdom, quiet strength, and persistent determination to do what is right. All the best to the Native Peoples of Virginia-what a pleasure it is to see a bit of what is rightfully theirs being returned to them-in this case the Commonwealth's recognition. You know it is a funny thing when you really think about; shouldn't the Commonwealth be asking recognition from the tribes of Virginia as well.
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