The Senate Indian Affairs Committee last week adopted a report supporting the federal recognition of six Virginia tribes.

The report says the tribes "are, and always have been, Indian tribes warranting acknowledgment by the federal government." It was adopted with one dissent.

The report accompanies a bill the panel approved that would recognize the Chickahominy, the Chickahominy Eastern Division, the Monacan, the Nansemond, the Rappahannock, and the Upper Mattaponi tribes. The tribes are some of the oldest state-recognized tribes in the nation.

Get the Story:
Senate may vote on recognizing 6 tribes (The Richmond Times-Dispatch 5/9)

Get the Bill:
Senate Committee Report | The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2003 (S.1423)

Related Stories:
Virginia tribes press case for federal recognition (04/19)
Virginia tribes seeks support for recognition bill (03/15)
Va. tribes seek recognition for Jamestown 2007 (2/16)
Senate bill to recognize six Va. tribes advances (10/30)
GOP Editorial: Say no to Virginia's tribes (05/19)
BIA opposes Va. recognition bill (09/27)
Va. tribes rally for sovereignty (4/30)
Recognition of Va. tribes opposed (1/26)
Recognition bills crowd Congress (11/29)
Virginia tribes: Recognition Yes, Casinos No (09/19)