Editorial: Return land to Nansemond Tribe

Thursday, July 26, 2007  

"It has taken years — centuries, if you want to go back to the start — but the time has come to return part of Suffolk to the Nansemond Indians who originally claimed it as their own.

The history of American Indians and their conquest by Europeans is one fraught with all kinds of unavoidable baggage — imperial, religious, racial. Once ousted from their land, various governments spent the next hundred years essentially ignoring the very existence of the Nansemonds.

That has changed, though not enough. Virginia recognized the Nansemonds as a tribe back in the 1980s. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend the tribe federal recognition. And earlier this month, a long impasse with the city of Suffolk appeared to be nearer an end.

For years, tribal officials have dreamed of building Mattanock Town, a complex on the Nansemond River, where they can celebrate their heritage and teach visitors their history. They’ve asked Suffolk to donate land at the city’s Lone Star Lakes park near Chuckatuck for the project, which would include a museum and a village and would open in 2011."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A welcome truce for Nansemond tribe (The Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot 7/26)

White House Transcript:
President Bush Celebrates at America's 400th Anniversary in Jamestown (May 13, 2007

Statements:
Rep. Jim Moran: House Approves Federal Recognition for VA Tribes (May 8, 2007) | WOLF STATEMENT ON FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF VIRGINIA INDIAN TRIBES (May 8, 2007)

Roll Call:
Providing for the consideration of H.R. 1294, Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act (May 8, 2007)

Committee Hearings:
Full Committee Markup (April 25, 2007) | Full Committee Legislative Hearing: H.R. 1294 and H.R. 65 (April 18, 2007)

Recognition Bill:
Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act (H.R.1294)

Relevant Links:
Virginia Indians Tribal Alliance For Life - http://www.vitalva.org
House Resources Committee - http://resourcescommittee.house.gov

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