The 200-member Pamunkey Indian Tribe in Virginia recently received federal recognition from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe was considered the most powerful in the Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom, which greeted the English settlers at Jamestown and claims Pocahontas as an ancestor.
Pamunkey Assistant Chief Bob Gray noted the tribe began the petition process in 1982. Now federal recognition gives them access to medical care, housing and education—plus the opportunity to pursue a casino through a separate approval process, although Gray said the tribe has no casino plans. “We’re looking at all economic opportunities, but we have nothing on the table right now,” he said.
Gray acknowledged the Pamunkey hired a consultant to determine if the reservation could handle increased traffic from a casino; the answer was the investment from reconstructing roads and building a casino would not be feasible. “We want to modernize, yes, but we’re country people and we like it that way.
“For the long term we’re looking for options that benefit the tribe and allow us to be an independent sovereign nation. There’s a multitude of paths we can take but a casino is not one of them,” Gray said.
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said, “The Pamunkey are the first Virginia Indian tribe to receive federal recognition, over 400 years after making contact with the first European settlers. Despite the integral role the tribes played in American history and the unique cultures they have continued to maintain for thousands of years, they have faced barriers to recognition due to extraordinary circumstances out of their control. Today’s announcement is an important step toward righting this historical wrong.”
Kaine added he hoped the action would lead to “long overdue federal recognition” for six other Virginia tribes.
Governor Terry McAuliffe stated, “I want to congratulate members of the Pamunkey tribe on their tireless efforts to ensure that they receive the federal recognition that they deserve.”
The tribe’s application was opposed by several groups, including MGM Resorts, which is building a $1.2 billion casino resort at the National Harbor outside Washington, D.C. in Maryland; the Virginia Petroleum and Grocery Association, which is concerned about losing customers if the tribe can sell gas, alcohol and cigarettes tax-free to non-tribal members; and a California-based organization group that has supported gambling limits there. In addition, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus opposed recognition over interracial marriage issues.
Gray stated, “We knew the rules and what the decision making was based on by the federal guidelines, and we knew that those issues were distractions.” He added, “We’re just elated. It’s been a long time coming. Recognition means vindication of all the attacks against us. We met the criteria and met every challenge. And we were challenged all the way. It wasn’t easy.”
The tribe’s 1,200-acre reservation is located east of Richmond. Nationwide, 566 tribes are federally recognized.
