VIRGINIA TRIBES
Biden meets with leaders of tribal nations, signs order easing access to federal funds
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that would make it easier for tribal nations to access and invest federal funding on their own terms. “It’s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward,” Biden said. “But the actions we are taking today are […]
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Celebrating 1,000 cultures within the United States
Monday, Oct. 9, was Indigenous Peoples’ Day, replacing Columbus Day in many places. Former Gov. Ralph Northam first proclaimed the occasion in 2019, and since then, Virginia has observed Indigenous Peoples’ Day every second Monday of October. But what is it and why should anyone care? Indigenous Peoples’ Day began as a movement in 1992 […]
Virginia congresswomen propose federal recognition of Patawomeck Indian Tribe
Three Virginia congresswomen are pushing for federal recognition of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, whose presence in present-day Stafford and King George counties can be traced back to the 1300s and was noted in some of European colonists’ earliest records. “Our community has always been here, and we have been a strong part of the fabric […]
The Indian Child Welfare Act is a cornerstone of Virginia tribal sovereignty
The Supreme Court of the United States last month upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a federal law designed to protect Native American children and keep them connected to their heritage. Four Virginia Indian tribes that signed on to a brief supporting the ICWA in the face of a challenge to its constitutionality say […]
Members of Mattaponi tribe plan protest during annual tax tribute ceremony
For 343 years, representatives of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indian Tribes have been delivering fresh game in lieu of taxes to Virginia governors under the terms of a 1677 peace treaty. This year, some members of the Mattaponi tribe are hoping the pre-Thanksgiving ceremony will deliver something for them: attention to their push for democratic […]