HJ680: Native Americans of Virginia; General Assembly to support establishment of commemorative commission.

WHEREAS, Native Americans have lived in the land now known as Virginia for thousands of years, their history having been and continuing to be documented; and

WHEREAS, the historical record confirms that Virginia Indians provided aid and comfort to the British colonists in 1607 and were instrumental in the establishment of the first permanent English-speaking settlement in North America at Jamestown; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of the indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth has been recorded in the names of many Virginia locations and landmarks, such as the Cities of Chesapeake and Roanoke, the Counties of Accomack, Appomattox, and Powhatan, and the Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Pamunkey, Potomac, Powhatan, and Rappahannock Rivers, as well as many other sites; and

WHEREAS, despite hardships brought about by the loss of lands, languages, and civil rights, American Indians in Virginia have persisted and continued to contribute to the Commonwealth through agriculture, land stewardship, teaching, military and civil service, the arts, and other avenues of productive citizenship; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has established procedures by which Virginia Indian tribes are recognized, and at this time, eight Virginia Indian tribes are officially recognized; and

WHEREAS, a memorial to Virginia Indians and their ancestors would remind the people of the Commonwealth and the nation that for centuries the courage, persistence, determination, and cultural values of Virginia's Indians have significantly enhanced and contributed to society, and would be a tangible acknowledgement of the achievements of generations of the indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly support the establishment of a commemorative commission to honor the American Indians of Virginia on the grounds of Capitol Square; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Governor be called upon to establish a commemorative commission that shall consist of the Governor of Virginia, who shall serve as Chairman thereof, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, three members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates, the Clerk of the House of Delegates, the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules, two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, the Clerk of the Senate, the Executive Director of the Capitol Square Preservation Council, three nonlegislative citizen members who shall be representatives of the Virginia Indians, to be appointed by the Governor, and the Executive Director of the Virginia Capitol Foundation who shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the commission shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the commission, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.

The Commission shall determine and recommend to the General Assembly an appropriate monument in Capitol Square to commemorate the life, achievements, and legacy of American Indians in the Commonwealth. The Commission shall seek private funding for the operation and support of the Commission and the erection of an appropriate monument.  However, the costs of implementation of the Commission, its work, and the compensation and reimbursement of members shall be borne by the Commission from such private funds as it may acquire to cover the costs of its operation and work. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

Until completion of the Commission's work or the erection of the monument, whichever occurs later, the Commission shall report annually the status of its work, including any findings and recommendations, to the General Assembly, beginning on December 1, 2009. The report shall also be posted on the General Assembly's website.

WHEREAS, Native Americans have lived in the land now known as Virginia for thousands of years, their history having been and continuing to be documented; and

WHEREAS, the historical record confirms that Virginia Indians provided aid and comfort to the British colonists in 1607 and were instrumental in the establishment of the first permanent English-speaking settlement in North America at Jamestown; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of the indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth has been recorded in the names of many Virginia locations and landmarks, such as the Cities of Chesapeake and Roanoke, the Counties of Accomack, Appomattox, and Powhatan, and the Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Pamunkey, Potomac, Powhatan, and Rappahannock Rivers, as well as many other sites; and

WHEREAS, despite hardships brought about by the loss of lands, languages, and civil rights, American Indians in Virginia have persisted and continued to contribute to the Commonwealth through agriculture, land stewardship, teaching, military and civil service, the arts, and other avenues of productive citizenship; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has established procedures by which Virginia Indian tribes are recognized, and at this time, eight Virginia Indian tribes are officially recognized; and

WHEREAS, a memorial to Virginia Indians and their ancestors would remind the people of the Commonwealth and the nation that for centuries the courage, persistence, determination, and cultural values of Virginia's Indians have significantly enhanced and contributed to society, and would be a tangible acknowledgement of the achievements of generations of the indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly support the establishment of a commemorative commission to honor the American Indians of Virginia on the grounds of Capitol Square; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Governor be called upon to establish a commemorative commission that shall consist of the Governor of Virginia, who shall serve as Chairman thereof, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, three members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates, the Clerk of the House of Delegates, the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules, two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, the Clerk of the Senate, the Executive Director of the Capitol Square Preservation Council, and three nonlegislative citizen members who shall be representatives of the Virginia Indians, to be appointed by the Governor. Nonlegislative citizen members of the commission shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the commission, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings.

The Commission shall determine and recommend to the General Assembly an appropriate monument in Capitol Square to commemorate the life, achievements, and legacy of American Indians in the Commonwealth. The Commission shall seek private funding for the operation and support of the Commission and the erection of an appropriate monument.  However, initial costs for the implementation of the Commission, its work, and compensation and reimbursement of members shall be borne by the Office of the Secretary of Administration until such time as the Commission has obtained private funding to cover the costs of its operation and work. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

Until completion of the Commission's work or the erection of the monument, whichever occurs later, the Commission shall report annually the status of its work, including any findings and recommendations, to the General Assembly, beginning on December 1, 2009. The report shall also be posted on the General Assembly's website.