Group in Facebook

I recently created a group called "Virginia Indian Tribes Seek Federal Sovereignty" on Facebook.

The purpose for creating this group was to create another means of creating a discussion on the topic of federal sovereignty for the Virginia tribes.

The description was simple:

Thomasina E. Jordon Indian Tribes of Virginia are seeking the United States Congress to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.

Hopefully facebook users interested in Virginia Indian tribes will visit Facebook and become part of the Facebook group. Click here to visit Facebook.

Tribal G8

President-elect Obama outlined a number of steps to give the issues facing the Indian community some attention. He has pledged to appoint an American Indian Policy advisor to his senior White House staff.

He has proposed an annual "Tribal G8" meeting of national Tribal leaders to develop an Indian policy agenda. Obama has continuously upheld Tribal sovereignty through support of policies for self-determination and self-governance, and has indicated support for legal protection of sacred places and cultural traditions.

Mark Warner

Senator Jim Webb endorsed a bill to grant federal recognition to six Indian tribes in Virginia. The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007 was approved in May and never voted upon. A new bill must be reintroduced in the new session of Congress.

New hope is on the horizon with a new minority President-elect all things are possible.

On-board to support the Virginia tribes is Jim Moran, Jim Webb, and Tim Kane. Senator-elect Mark Warner has been support in the past. In 1999 he help to support both Houses of the Virginia General Assembly adopt resolutions embracing federal recognition.

If the Virginia tribes are to be successful addressing senators Byron Dorgan and Lisa Murkowski, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, a consorted effort on the part of Virginia leaders will be needed.

Alaska Tribal Sovereignty

Governor Palin opposes Alaska tribal sovereignty. Given past court rulings affirming the federally recognized tribal status of Alaska Native villages, Palin does not technically challenge that status. But Palin argues that Alaska Tribes have no authority to act as sovereigns, despite their recognition.

Regarding tribal sovereignty issues Palin has sought to block tribes from exercising any authority even over the welfare of Native children, adhering to a 2004 legal opinion issued by the former Murkowski Administration that no such jurisdiction exists (except when a state court transfers a matter to a tribal court).

Both the state courts and the federal courts have struck down Palin's policy of refusing to recognize the sovereign authority of Alaska Tribes to address issues involving Alaska Native children. Native Village of Tanana v. State of Alaska, 3AN-04-12194 CI (judgment entered Aug. 26, 2008) (Ak. Super. Ct.); Native Kaltag Tribal Council v. DHHS, No. 3:06-cv-00211- TMB (D. Ak.), pending on appeal No 08-35343 (9th Cir.)).

Palin's policy of refusing to recognize Alaska tribal sovereignty remains unchanged.

Federal Sovereignty - Virginia Indian Tribes

Read article on Federal Sovereignty for Virginia Indians I published in NALA magazine.

Reprinted with permission of NALA, The Association of Legal Assistants/Paralegals. The article originally appeared in the August 2008 issue of Facts & Findings, NALA’s quarterly magazine for paralegals. The article is reprinted here in its entirety. For further information, contact NALA at www.nala.org or phone (918) 587-6828.