[rasmel]

Indian tribes may boycott celebration
Leader: They may back out of Jamestown's anniversary unless U.S.
recognizes
them

BY ANDREW PETKOFSKY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Nov 17, 2005
Some Virginia Indian tribes could refuse to participate in the Jamestown
2007 commemoration if the federal government does not grant the tribes
recognition, a spokesman for an organization representing six tribes said
yesterday.

"Something needs to be done, or we may have to evaluate our position,"
said Reggie Tupponce, president of the Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for
Life.

The alliance has called a news conference on the state Capitol grounds in
Richmond next Wednesday immediately after the traditional Indian tax
tribute ceremony with the governor at the Executive Mansion.

Tupponce, a member of the Upper Mattaponi tribe, said that while Virginia
tribes have been preparing to participate in events marking the 400th
anniversary of Jamestown and the English settlement of America, their
efforts to win official federal recognition have been stalled.

"For me, and I would say for most of us, that [recognition] comes before
the commemoration of Jamestown 2007," Tupponce said.

The alliance was formed to educate the public about the campaign for
federal recognition and to work for passage of the necessary federal legislation.
It represents six Virginia tribes: the Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Eastern
Chickahominy, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond.

The two remaining Virginia tribes, the Mattaponi and Pamunkey, have
reservations dating to 1646 and are not members of the alliance.

Those two tribes annually present fish and game to the governor each
November in lieu of taxes to commemorate a treaty ratified in 1677. The
alliance's news conference will follow that ceremony.

Tupponce said Chief Kenneth Branham of the Monacan Indian Nation is
expected to deliver a strong statement about the Indians' feelings. A written
announcement of the news conference said Branham and others will discuss
the irony of Virginia Indians being used "for fanfare and pageantry [in the
Jamestown commemoration] only to be denied on their quest" for federal
recognition.

"How can you celebrate our history and not acknowledge our existence?" the
statement said.

The six tribes have been working on recognition since 2000. Federal
recognition is supported by the state's U.S. Sens. George Allen and John
W. Warner, both Republicans, but it has met opposition by some lawmakers who
claim it would open the doors to casino gambling as has happened in other
states.

The Indians say they simply seek an affirmation of their sovereignty.

Tupponce said he doesn't expect the news conference will be an ultimatum,
because each tribe is an independent entity that will make its own
decisions about whether to participate in activities that include a Virginia Indian
festival in England planned for 2006.

Tupponce also said there is debate among the Indians regarding the issue,
and in some cases the argument has pitted family members, as well as tribe
members, against each other.

"I think that it would be very naive to think that everybody is going to
be excited about the commemoration," Tupponce said. "We look at this as
a commemoration of survival, and survival of our culture."
Contact Andrew Petkofsky at (757) 229-1512 or [email protected]

[rasmel]

Need to be boycotted.They have never done right by us .It looks they never will.Need to stop begging and start demanding. "TWOHAWKS"

[Wojapi4Me]

Originally Posted by rasmel

Need to be boycotted.They have never done right by us .It looks they never will.Need to stop begging and start demanding. "TWOHAWKS"

Each individual tribe should seek recognition on its own. There are a couple of those groups who are not tribes - pure and simple. The rest are and should have been recognized YEARS AGO, but those that aren't are dragging the rest down.

[geronimo]

"the irony of Virginia Indians being used for fanfare and pageantry [in the Jamestown commemoration] "

Hello, why else would they want Indian people there?

But, this "ultimatum" of sorts is very unrealistic & kinda silly if you ask me......

[Wepunkwteme]

Originally Posted by Singerdad

Each individual tribe should seek recognition on its own. There are a couple of those groups who are not tribes - pure and simple. The rest are and should have been recognized YEARS AGO, but those that aren't are dragging the rest down.

Actually, all six tribes mentioned in the article are
real and have had treaties since the 1640's.
With the exception of the Monacan Nation who refused
Chief Powhatan.
All the other five tribes were a member of Powhatan's Confederacy.