The morning began with ceremony: Drums, prayer and the jingling of dog tags sewn to the prayer dresses of the Native American Women Warriors who presented tribal flags during a procession of chiefs.
Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson hosted the day-long event in a small auditorium at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. "This is an important historic event," Richardson told the gathering. "The federally recognized tribes of Virginia, feel that it is time for our sovereignty to be recognized by the state of Virginia as well as the United States government."
There were scholars from Virginia Tech, Mary Washington University, the University of Richmond and the Centenary College of Louisiana to confirm centuries of broken treaties and erasure.
But it was Kitcki Carroll, director for the United South and Eastern Tribes, who drove home the importance of sovereignty. "Strong tribal nations lead to a stronger America," Carroll noted.
Governor Ralph Northam called federal recognition of seven of Virginia’s eleven tribes, “new territory” as government to government relationships are built. "It is an understatement to say the United States and state governments have too often failed to live up to the terms of agreements with the tribes who were here first," Northam said.
Chief Kenneth Branham of the Monacan Indian Nation summed up what most were saying after the program. "Today, they went very deep into the subject and that was very refreshing to get the rest of the story as the saying goes.
But the real work began after the conference when chiefs rolled up their sleeves to meet on a draft sovereignty accord. Their biggest worry: the state. "I’m hoping that the state representatives that were here really learned a lot," Pamunkey Tribal Chief Robert Gray said. "I have a feeling it will take longer to get through the state than it will get through even the seven tribes."
Chief Frank Adams of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe underscored that frustration. "We feel like we’re educating the state as we educate ourselves on the policy and procedures of the federal government and of just being federally recognized. Most of the time we’re explaining things to the state when we’re really calling to ask them for advice, but that’s the way it has been," Adams noted.
"I’m just ready to get into the nuts and bolts of an accord and how to work with the state to protect our sovereignty," Gray added.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.