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+---- Thread: Virginia tribes gain federal recognition (/Thread-Virginia-tribes-gain-federal-recognition)
Virginia tribes gain federal recognition - Belsnickel - 01-30-2018
http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/trump-signs-bill-giving-federal-recognition-to-virginia-indian-tribes/article_0596872c-040c-540d-a5e6-2e3dbdbb0001.html
Previously, only the Pamunkey had recognition at the federal level. This has been a battle for more than twenty years, honestly. Part of the problem is that during the early twentieth century, state record keeping lumped all of the tribal members in the category of "colored" and as a result, any attempts to trace back consistent tribal existence was nearly impossible. They lost their history in a way.
The tribes have played a great role in Virginia's history, and so for them to finally be granted this federal recognition is a huge step in helping them out.