Gov. Kaine believes Va.'s Indian tribes will get federal status by Jan.

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The Associated Press
© November 27, 2009

RICHMOND

Gov. Tim Kaine thinks six Virginia Indian tribes can win federal recognition before he leaves office in January.

Kaine made the prediction Wednesday in Richmond while receiving an offering of wild game from the tribes. The tradition dates back to a peace treaty signed in Virginia in 1677.

About 200 people, including members of the tribes in traditional attire, attended the ceremony.

Kaine testified before Congress this year on behalf of the six tribes, which have about 3,000 members. Seeking recognition are the Eastern Chickahominy, Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi (MAT'-ah-puh-NY'), Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond tribes.

A bill granting recognition has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives and been approved by a Senate committee.

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That's a good example

Submitted by sdougan on Fri, 11/27/2009 at 1:22 pm.

That's a good example that getting around in a giant government bureaucracy is all about who you know. If you're not in good with a governor to give you cuts, you're stuck behind everyone else in the bread line.

No gambling

Submitted by David Campbell on Thu, 11/26/2009 at 9:17 pm.

Virginia tribes have brought venison and wild turkeys to Democratic and Republican Governors since 1677.

The benefits of federal recognition include the legal authority to exercise control over their internal affairs, the ability to repatriate ancestral remains, and eligibility for federal benefits to support housing, education and health care programs.

Federal law already prohibits gambling on Indian reservations without state approval. (I doubt the General Assembly will ever allow it.) In addition, the bill granting recognition to the Virginia tribes explicitly prohibits gambling.

GAMBLING IN VIRGINIA

Submitted by Publius85 on Fri, 11/27/2009 at 11:17 pm.

I have no problem with gambling in the Commonwealth. As long as it's controlled and regulated, the fattened coffers of the Commonwealth could serve the citizenry well.

Gaming in Virginia would bring money in

Submitted by vabeach757 on Fri, 11/27/2009 at 8:28 am.

instead of allowing Virginia money to go elsewhere to gamble, this state should wise up and having gambling/casinos here so money stays here and/or comes in here. Maybe people wouldn't fly off to other states to gamble if it were offered here. And any comments about it brings crime, well, guess what, crime is here and it isn't going anywhere.....Virginia should have allowed gambling a lot time ago when economy was better....maybe we wouldn't be in negative numbers in our budgets.