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American Indians perform a ceremonial dance Friday during Welcome America I, one of several weekend events marking the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. Lisa Billings/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Tribes: Recognition equals respect

Virginia Indian leaders cautiously optimistic about recognition

Date published: 5/13/2007

BY MICHAEL ZITZ

JAMESTOWN --Hang onto your headdress for this little piece of news:

It turns out that President Bush, who will speak at the America's 400th Anniversary event today in Jamestown, is related to Pocahontas.

His eighth great-grandfather, Robert Bolling, married Jane Rolfe, who was Pocahontas' granddaughter, according to Megan Smolenyak of Ancestry.com.

The president is not a direct descendant. But it would have made for all-too-perfect historical symmetry if Bush, Pocahontas' great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-stepgrandson, had pulled a signed bill out of his pocket today granting federal recognition to the six "first contact" Virginia Indian tribes.

Those Indians' ancestors (including the president's ninth stepgreat-grandmother) saved the Jamestown colony from starvation, only to be forced to sign treaties with the English before America was even born.

Because of those documents, generation after generation of Virginia Indians have been in limbo ever since the United States declared independence, while 562 other tribes have been recognized by the U.S.

When the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Tuesday recognizing the Virginia tribes, that status seemed a possibility to a gratified Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson, who had earlier threatened to "go on the warpath" this weekend in Jamestown if the House voted the bill down.

Indian leaders are cautiously optimistic this weekend, but nothing substantive can happen when Bush visits today because Sen. John Warner and Sen. Jim Webb (both D-Va.) want to take their time and study the bill, which would grant sovereignty and open the door to federal benefits for about 2,500 members of the Chickahominy, Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nanse- mond tribes.

With recognition, tribe members would be able to apply for education and health-care benefits. But tribal leaders say the issue is one of respect.

"Nobody expects to get rich," said Monacan tribe member Karenne Wood.

The House measure specifically bans gaming, a prohibition added to satisfy Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th). Wolf had said he was worried about a casino opening in the state.

A Webb aide said he won't be rushed into making a decision on the issue because of international media attention focused on the anniversary.

And Warner said he's concerned about lawsuits related to the question of whether that anti-gaming language restricts sovereignty.

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Date published: 5/13/2007

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