Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 13, 2007 14:57:05 GMT -5
Indian panel challenges state over tribal recognition
MONTPELIER (AP) — Despite recommendations against it by the Attorney
General's Office, a commission on Native American affairs plans to come
up with a method for recognizing Indian tribes in Vermont.
The state's Commission on Native American Affairs was formed after the
Legislature formally recognized the state's Indian population less than
a year ago.
Deputy Attorney General William Griffin has recommended the panel decide
who is eligible to sell arts and crafts labeled as Native American
rather than rule which tribes should be formally recognized.
Commission Chairman Mark Mitchell, an Abenaki from Barnet, said he
thinks the commission must decide whether entire tribes should be
recognized so individuals can sell arts and crafts.
A 1990 federal law requires that arts and crafts labeled as Native
Americans only be exhibited by members of tribes with formal state or
federal recognition. Mitchell one intension of last year's bill was to
help American Indians sell their crafts.
But proving who is Native American is a challenge. Griffin said
researching which tribes have the proper history should not be the
panel's focus.
"I discouraged them from investigating certain groups," Griffin said.
"It seems to be a much more complex process."
He suggested that the commission set up a system for Vermonters to apply
for Native American arts-and-crafts certificates.
Mitchell said he'd rather establish a process for recognizing whole
tribes. "We should be allowed to try," he said.
He said the disagreement is an extension of the Attorney General's
Office opposition to the Abenaki attempts to achieve state and federal
recognition. "They have a hidden agenda to not allow tribes and bands in
the state of Vermont to be recognized," he said.
Griffin said the commission asked for his opinion on the issue. "We were
trying to come up with something fairly straightforward," he said.
MONTPELIER (AP) — Despite recommendations against it by the Attorney
General's Office, a commission on Native American affairs plans to come
up with a method for recognizing Indian tribes in Vermont.
The state's Commission on Native American Affairs was formed after the
Legislature formally recognized the state's Indian population less than
a year ago.
Deputy Attorney General William Griffin has recommended the panel decide
who is eligible to sell arts and crafts labeled as Native American
rather than rule which tribes should be formally recognized.
Commission Chairman Mark Mitchell, an Abenaki from Barnet, said he
thinks the commission must decide whether entire tribes should be
recognized so individuals can sell arts and crafts.
A 1990 federal law requires that arts and crafts labeled as Native
Americans only be exhibited by members of tribes with formal state or
federal recognition. Mitchell one intension of last year's bill was to
help American Indians sell their crafts.
But proving who is Native American is a challenge. Griffin said
researching which tribes have the proper history should not be the
panel's focus.
"I discouraged them from investigating certain groups," Griffin said.
"It seems to be a much more complex process."
He suggested that the commission set up a system for Vermonters to apply
for Native American arts-and-crafts certificates.
Mitchell said he'd rather establish a process for recognizing whole
tribes. "We should be allowed to try," he said.
He said the disagreement is an extension of the Attorney General's
Office opposition to the Abenaki attempts to achieve state and federal
recognition. "They have a hidden agenda to not allow tribes and bands in
the state of Vermont to be recognized," he said.
Griffin said the commission asked for his opinion on the issue. "We were
trying to come up with something fairly straightforward," he said.