Senate sends bill recognizing six Virginia Indian tribes to President Trump’s desk

By Jenna Portnoy January 11 at 6:58 PM

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday granting federal recognition to six Indian tribes in Virginia, ending one chapter in a nearly two-decades-long fight for official acknowledgment of their place in U.S. history.

The bill, which was approved by the House last year, now heads to President Trump’s desk. He has not publicly indicated his position on the legislation, which received bipartisan support.

The change in status makes federal funds available for housing, education and medical care for about 4,400 members of the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan and the Nansemond tribes. The recognition also allows the tribes to repatriate remains of their ancestors stored at the Smithsonian.

More importantly, sponsors say, it corrects a long-standing injustice for tribes that were among the first to greet English settlers in 1607.

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