Appalachian Cherokee Nation of Virginia; State recognition. (SJ326)

Introduced By

Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk) with support from co-patron Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Recognition of the Appalachian Cherokee Nation. Recognizes the existence of the Appalachian Cherokee Nation within the Commonwealth. Read the Bill »

Status

02/01/2013: Merged into SR30

History

DateAction
01/09/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13103551D
01/09/2013Referred to Committee on Rules
02/01/2013Incorporated by Rules (SJ300-Vogel)

Map

This bill mentions Lee, Smyth, Wise, Nottoway, Winchester.

Comments

Karen Rose writes:

This is such an important piece of legislation. So many native Cherokee fled into the mountains rather than be forced onto the reservations. Those people did not make it onto the Dawes list. Now they aren't recognized even though they possess documentation of their native heritage. Please vote yes. Don't let our native people get punished twice for being who they are.

Thank you.

Karen Rose

Marshall (Princi;al Chief) Couch writes:

My Great Great Great Grandfather was Chief Aaron Redbird Brock who had signed many Treaties while living in Virginia. We the Cherokee people have been in Virginia before 1600AD. We are a Proud people that still reside in the State of Virginia and continue to make contributions to the Commonwealth communities in Virginia.

I believe with the history of the Appalachian Cherokee Nation, the past Chiefs involvement in Treaty signing, we should be granted State Recognition

Audrey (Whispering Wind) Dillard writes:

I believe the Appalachian Cherokee Tribe of Virginia should be approved for State Recognition. The Cherokee Indians has been in the State of Virginia for a long time and before both West Virginia and Kentucky split from Virginia as individual States. The history of the present Principal Chief Marshall (Lone Wolf) Couch's Great Great Great Grandfather, Aaron Redbird Brock and his brothers and Uncles who were instrumental in signing Treaties with the Commonwealth of Virginia and aided in Virginia's development is proof of our existence in the State of Virginia. It should be know that we are still here and are continuing to making contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia's communities

Roosevelt (Silver Fox) Dillard writes:

What some folks forget is the West Virginia, Kentucky States were one time called Virginia until the split by West Virginia in 1863 and Kentucky in 1792. The cherokee Indians were here before and still after the split between the two mentioned States. We are still here and there were Treaties signed by one of the main Cherokee Chief, Aaron Redbird Brock, his sons and other member os his family also took part and the signing of treaties.

For this one fact alone, this Tribe should be granted State Recognition

Betty(Eagle Heart) Williams writes:

My great,great,great Uncle Chief Aaron Redbird Brock and his brothers and uncles were instrumental in signing
treaties with the Commonwealth of Virginia and aided in
Virginia's development is prood of our existence in
the State of Virginia.
We are still here making great contributions to the
Commonwealth of Virginia's communities.
Therefore, we should be granted State recognition.

Lorraine Schneider writes:

I am reading a book about Native Americans in our area, and it makes me sympathetic to all the tribes.

Cindy Bamford writes:

Cherokees have historically occupied the southeast portion of the United States: AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, VA and WV. From as early as the 1750's, Virginia's Governor Robert Winwiddie realized the necessity of retaining the friendship and securing active assistance from Virgnia Indians, in particular, the Cherokee and the Catawbas. Governor Dinwiddie, as part of his negotiations in recruiting natives for the French/Indian War, instructed his esquires, Peter Randolf and William Byrd, appointed Commissioners to treat on behalf of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, "you are to exhort them [natives] not to be drawn away by deceitful empty speeches, the peculiar talent of that cunning People, nor to suffer them on any Pretense whatsoever, to erect any fort in their country. But in every attempt that shall be made to shake their duty to our common Father, let them consider what real Acts of Friendship have been done by them by the English, and what by the French; let them weigh these things well in their minds, and then determine who best deserves their esteem and regard, for it is not by vain unmeaning words that true friendship is to be discovered, but by its effects..." The key word here is friendship between the Virginia Indians and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over the past 250 years, the Cherokee numbers may have dwindled, but we are here in Virginia, we always have been and we always will be. We only ask that the State of Virginia recognize our friendship now, just as we did over 200 years ago. Aho.

Quote Citation:
(A Treaty: Between Virginia and the Catawbas and Cherokees, 1757) Source: The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 13, No. 3 (Jan., 1906, pp 225-264). Publish by: Virginia Historical Society

Mary Sunbeam writes:

Tribal affiliation is valued as a cultural identity and provides a sense of official acknowledgement of one’s connection to a source of song, dance, clothes, food, storytelling; ancestry and America’s history; especially so as reservation life was removed. The State recognition of the Appalachian Cherokees is vital for present and future generations. Thank you for caring.
You Are Important!♥™ Mary Sunbeam

Jerry Skyles writes:

The Common Wealth of Virginia and the Appalachian Cherokees would both benefit from State Recognition for the ACN. Since the State of Virginia was part of the home land of the Cherokees. And to have one of the original tribes in the state. The Cherokees never left. They were always there. And they will always be there. As through out the southeast US. It was, and still is their homeland. So please grant State Recognition to the Appalachian Cherokee Nation. Thak You!!!!!

marsha maines writes:

The only reason this should not pass, is to Protect the facists' continued debt-driven "schemes" to fund the state with federal corporate $$$ ...in other words, legislators who aid and abet the criminal element currently maintained within the shadow governments (Corporations) that the masses have not yet noticed are in control, will vote no here. Follow the money, my dear people. I vote YES. My wounded knees are my Testimony that every Virginian NEEDS to be re-educated with REAL History.