The Pamunkey Tribe of Virginia has filed a petition for federal recognition.

The tribe says it has maintained relations with Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. government as far back as 1646. The tribe resides on a 1,200-acre reservation that is the oldest in the U.S.

"We believe that federal acknowledgment is the natural means to continue those traditions and honor the ancestors who have given us our birthright, Chief Robert Gray told The Hampton Roads Daily Press.

The tribe said it has filed a fully documented petition with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Other tribes in Virginia have sought legislative recognition because they say the state's race-related laws resulted in a purge of their Indian status from government records.

Get the Story:
Pamunkey Indian Tribe seeks federal status (The Hampton Roads Daily Press 10/21)
Press Release: Pamunkey Indian Tribe Files for Federal Acknowledgment (NARF 10/14)