By Peter Hardin
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Jim Webb is taking up the fight for federal recognition of six Virginia Indian tribes where his Republican predecessor left off.
It is unclear whether Webb will be more successful in a Democratic-led Senate than was Republican Sen. George Allen in a Republican-led chamber.
"This is long overdue based on simple dignity and fairness," Webb, who unseated Allen last year, told reporters at a Capitol news conference Thursday.
Webb was joined by tribal leaders from Virginia and Reps. James P. Moran, D-8th, and sponsor of an Indian bill passed in the House, and Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd.
Webb backs Moran's bill.
As a self-described "steward of American history" in the Senate, Webb said he had done research and concluded the tribes deserve the sovereign status enjoyed by 562 other tribes.
Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, in a written statement, lamented the Virginia Indians' current status in the year when the nation marks the 400th anniversary of Jamestown's founding.
"It is especially shameful that Virginia's tribes have still not received equal status with the other federally recognized tribes in the United States," Kaine said.
Webb did not give new evidence of progress for the bill. Similar legislation has faced dogged opposition for more than seven years from foes raising the specter of casino gambling in Virginia.
"To me, that sort of an issue pales in comparison to the issue of dignity and cultural identity here," Webb said.
Key tribal leaders seemed to take a long-term view.
"I am as positive about where we are at this point as I have been at any time in the past eight years," said Chief Kenneth Adams of the Upper Mattaponi.
Virginia Indian leaders want to be able to qualify for U.S. money that's available to aid federally recognized tribes. And they are seeking formal respect for their heritage and identity.
The Indian leaders contend their tribes face huge difficulties in taking a federal administrative route for recognition because state-sponsored racism in the 20th century led to destruction or manipulation of their vital records.
An unusual note on that front was struck Monday when Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock talked emotionally about that period and Walter Plecker, the longtime registrar of Virginia's Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Plecker, in enforcing racial-purity laws, tried to wipe out the Indians' existence on paper. "We call that paper genocide of the Virginia Indians," Richardson said in her speech at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Richardson called for sovereign status and also went on to say that for Indian people, "there can be no freedom without forgiveness."
She added, "I forgive Walter Plecker today for everything that he has done to our ancestors."
It is unclear whether Webb will be more successful in a Democratic-led Senate than was Republican Sen. George Allen in a Republican-led chamber.
"This is long overdue based on simple dignity and fairness," Webb, who unseated Allen last year, told reporters at a Capitol news conference Thursday.
Webb was joined by tribal leaders from Virginia and Reps. James P. Moran, D-8th, and sponsor of an Indian bill passed in the House, and Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd.
Webb backs Moran's bill.
As a self-described "steward of American history" in the Senate, Webb said he had done research and concluded the tribes deserve the sovereign status enjoyed by 562 other tribes.
Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, in a written statement, lamented the Virginia Indians' current status in the year when the nation marks the 400th anniversary of Jamestown's founding.
"It is especially shameful that Virginia's tribes have still not received equal status with the other federally recognized tribes in the United States," Kaine said.
Webb did not give new evidence of progress for the bill. Similar legislation has faced dogged opposition for more than seven years from foes raising the specter of casino gambling in Virginia.
"To me, that sort of an issue pales in comparison to the issue of dignity and cultural identity here," Webb said.
Key tribal leaders seemed to take a long-term view.
"I am as positive about where we are at this point as I have been at any time in the past eight years," said Chief Kenneth Adams of the Upper Mattaponi.
Virginia Indian leaders want to be able to qualify for U.S. money that's available to aid federally recognized tribes. And they are seeking formal respect for their heritage and identity.
The Indian leaders contend their tribes face huge difficulties in taking a federal administrative route for recognition because state-sponsored racism in the 20th century led to destruction or manipulation of their vital records.
An unusual note on that front was struck Monday when Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock talked emotionally about that period and Walter Plecker, the longtime registrar of Virginia's Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Plecker, in enforcing racial-purity laws, tried to wipe out the Indians' existence on paper. "We call that paper genocide of the Virginia Indians," Richardson said in her speech at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Richardson called for sovereign status and also went on to say that for Indian people, "there can be no freedom without forgiveness."
She added, "I forgive Walter Plecker today for everything that he has done to our ancestors."