Appalachian Cherokee Nation Tribe; General Assembly to extend state recognition. (SJ220)

Introduced By

Sen. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Appalachian Cherokee Nation, Incorporated. Extends state recognition to the Appalachian Cherokee Nation, Incorporated. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/16/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15100984D
12/16/2014Referred to Committee on Rules
02/06/2015Reported from Rules with substitute
02/06/2015Committee substitute printed 15104909D-S1
02/06/2015Read first time
02/09/2015Read second time
02/09/2015Reading of substitute waived
02/09/2015Committee substitute agreed to 15104909D-S1
02/09/2015Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SJ220S1
02/10/2015Read third time and agreed to by Senate by voice vote
02/12/2015Placed on Calendar
02/12/2015Referred to Committee on Rules
02/20/2015Tabled in Rules

Map

This bill mentions Lee, Smyth, Wise, Nottoway, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Winchester.

Comments

Joan Reynolds writes:

Please pass bill sj220. The Appalachian Cherokee Nation Tribe has had a continuous, uninterrupted presence in Virginia for centuries. It is only right that the Tribe receive State Recognition.

Thank you,
Joan Reynolds

Jim Dillard writes:

We have gone through this process three times with the Senate voting 40 to 0 for our recognition. Now is the time to recognize our Tribe with the documentation we have that prove we are who we are and that we have always been here in Virginia. Do the right thing and approve our State Recognition.

Rita Kirk writes:

SSJ220 is an extremely important bill to the people of The Appalachian Cherokee Nation Tribe. It validates our existence!!!! To deny our existence, by voting against State Recognition, is saying that we weren't a part of the history, of The Great State of Virginia. It also nullifies any contributions we have made, then and now. As you are aware, history says otherwise. It says we were an integral part of Virginia's history. Not to be honoured and recognized for our contribution, then and now, is mind boggling. I, personally, would like to preserve our culture and history for future generations. Being validated (State Recognized) gives us permission to move forward. Please know, I surely understand that we must, according to current laws, cross every "t" and dot every "i". Hopefully, we have done that this time around. It appears that the documentation required and presented to the State of Virginia, for State Recognition, is in order. To deny this request, in my opinion, would be unconscionable!!! I want to personally thank Senator John Cosgrove for introducing this bill. State Recognition for The Appalachian Cherokee Nation Tribe is long overdue. Looking forward to our tribe having State Recognition...God Bless!

Shari Martin writes:

Please pass this bill! It is overdue. We are proud of our heritage, and want only to be recognized, once and for all.

Fletcher (arrow maker)Wells writes:

Please pass this, it will not just be good for the tribe it will make a positive mark in history for all involved.

Jerry Skyles writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recognized in the state of Virginia. It is passed over due. A part of the State of Virginia was at one time Cherokee lands. So please pass this bill. Thank You

Anna Gray writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recognized in the State of Virginia. Thank you for your time.

Kelly Skyles writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recogonized in the State of Virginia. Thank you your time and consideration.

Virginia Skyles writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recogonized in the State of Virginia. Thank you your time and consideration

David Vandam writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recogonized in the State of Virginia. Thank you your time and consideration

Chris Skyles writes:

Please pass this bill. It is time for the Appalachian Cherokees to be recognized in the State of Virginia. Thank you for your time.

George "Corn Man" Wilson writes:

It's about time to do the right thing. Look into your hearts and ask, "How much longer can we make these native people wait"? Haven't we suffered enough injustice at your hands and those of your predecessors?

Adam Skyles writes:

Please pass this bill.

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 Dinwiddie realized the necessity of retaining the friendship and securing active assistance from Virginia 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 conning 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.
Quote Citation:
(A Treat: Between Virginia and the Catawbas and Cherokee, 1757) source: The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 13, No. 3 (Jan, 1906, pp 225-264). Published by: Virginia Historical Society.

Kansas C writes:

please pass this bill for us Cherokees to be recognized by the state of Virginia. its long time past due us

Cherii Feathers of Many Tears Robison writes:

We share tradtions that would be lost forever if we did not exsist. Pictures and words of the past are nice. And being with the the past tradtions in person makes history come alive. We did a program at Long Branch Plantion in Boyce, VA last month. The people that visited our tribe really enjoyed our presentation. We bring much to the state of Virgina.

Donna Wood writes:

Please pass this bill. It grants a long-overdue recognition to a group that has been long-recognized.

tony gonzalez writes:

please pass this bill, it grants overdo, recognition to a group that has been overlook, thank you very much

Thomas Pannell writes:

I hope this bill will go through.

Terrie French writes:

We are asking that we be recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Long ago, we were friends to the colonists and we continue to represent our ancestors in this regard. We offer our hands in friendship to the Commonwealth. Thank you for your consideration of our historical contribution to our wonderful Commonwealth. Please pass our bill.

Sheila Garner-Allen writes:

Please pass this bill to help recognize the Cherokee Nation Tribe.

Gregory (Soaring Osprey) French writes:

The Cherokee people played an important role in the history and survival of the Colony of Virginia which we now know and love as the Commonwealth of Virginia. A brief timeline exhibits the important role Cherokees played:

1634 - First contact with English Colonial explorers.
1674 - Fur trade with Cherokees (deerskins and beaver) second only to tobacco as export.
1739 - 1761 - Deerskin trade at zenith with England. Provided funds to expand colony.
1755 - French & Indian War - Cherokees saved Colonel George Washington and Major Andrew Lewis from massacre at Braddock's Defeat (Battle of Wilderness)
1758 - Cherokees send over 1,200 warriors to fight French, Ohio Indians, and Six Nations. Demanded and negotiated a lasting truce with Six Nations tribes that served to end the French & Indian War.

The Cherokees have always existed and have lived in Virginia since the 1400s. We are your neighbors, your teachers, your doctors, your lawmakers. We never left Virginia and will always be here. Please allow SJ220 to proceed to a floor vote where the House will vote to recognize a vibrant Cherokee tribe that is making a positive difference in the lives of many Virginians.

Let us walk together hand-in-hand on a path of light, not darkness.

Harry W. Reynolds writes:

Please pass bill sj220 to grant State Recognition to the Appalachian Cherokee. The presence of this tribe in Virginia, has been continuous and uninterrupted for hundreds of years. Virginia tribes, including the Cherokee, experienced identity theft when the Racial Integrity Act became law. It is time to do the right thing and restore the right of their heritage to ALL Virginia Indians, including the Appalachian Cherokee. Thank you.
Harry W. Reynolds

Ramona Page & Family writes:

Our family’s heritage is Cherokee. Five generations of my family were born, raised, lived and died in the State of Virginia. I’m sure this is true for many Cherokee families in Virginia today. With respect to SJ220, we are simply asking to grant extension of state recognition to the Appalachian Cherokee Nation, Incorporated’s existence. Quoting Ohiyesa, a Native American: “Our contribution to our nation and the world is not to be measured in the material realm; our greatest contribution has been spiritual and philosophical … we live and will live, not only in the splendor of our past, in the poetry of our legends and art, not only in the interfusion of our blood with yours, but in the living heart of the nation.” While speaking of Native Americans in general, his words capture the essence of our Cherokee ancestry and legends so deeply rooted in Virginia. Please open your hearts, do what you know is right, and pass SJ220.

Sherry Madden writes:

My mother, Vera White, is one of the five generations of Cherokee mentioned by my sister Ramona Page in her previous comments. We are proud of our heritage, and believe we deserve the respect and recognition other tribes have gained. We ask that you please pass this bill, so our future generations will know from where they came and be proud.

Betty (Eagle Heart)Williams writes:

Please pass bill sj220 giving the Appalachian Cherokee state recognition.
This would be the right thing to do as we are long overdue.
Thank you for your consideration.

Robert Stack writes:

I support this bill and hope it passes.

Kansas C writes:

please pass the bill sj220. I be leave that the tribe should be aloud to receive state recognition. it's the right thing to do. thank you

kansas carroll writes:

how can this bill fail when you have 93 votes? its not fair i think that you should put it back to passed

kansas carroll writes:

please tell me how at one time you said that it passed and then changed your mind and failed it. i think that you should have passed it.

redbubba writes:

same as its been for many,many moons. The redman gets the short end of the peace pipe. We are not wanted here as of all people of color in the commonwealth. thanks for nothing for proving me right.

kansas carroll writes:

I think that you should reopen this case. you were not fair. at 93 votes it should have passed. that's what I think myself

Samaria Anna writes:

Please pass this bill. The Appalachia Cherokee nation has a RIGHT to it's rightful place in Cherokee history.