Post by Okwes on Jul 21, 2006 11:09:11 GMT -5
Tribal chiefs head to England
202-824-8224
July 12, 2006, 4:27 PM EDT
www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-chiefs,0,7320241.story?coll=dp-news-local-final
WASHINGTON -- A delegation of Virginia's eight Indian tribes headed for England Wednesday to help celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.
After a departure ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, tribal chiefs said they hope to use the weeklong visit overseas to promote a better understanding of Indian peoples and their role in the founding of the United States.
"Virginia Indians and the British people are linked by a history that spans more than four centuries, and we look forward to deepening the ties and understanding between our people during this trip and beyond," said Stephen Adkins, chief of the Chickahominy Tribe, based in Charles City and New Kent counties.
About 54 tribal members planned to travel to England on a trip financed with private contributions from a British committee that is helping celebrate Jamestown's 400th anniversary as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
The trip will include a trip to the town of Gravesend to visit the burial place of the legendary Pocahontas, the Native American woman who married an Englishman.
Tribal chiefs say they also hope the trip will help build momentum for federal recognition, a designation from the U.S. government that comes with health-care and education benefits. Legislation providing for such recognition has been stalled for years in Congress.
In a half-hour departure ceremony at the 2-year-old museum on the National Mall, tribal members clad in traditional Indian dress performed a "welcome dance" that blessed the ground beneath them.
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Indians back from Britain
One's T-shirt reads, 'England recognized us; now it's your turn'
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 21, 2006
They had just traveled 3,500 miles from England, but the Virginia Indians had bright eyes and big smiles as they arrived in Richmond.
The historic cultural exchange boosted the profile of the Indians as the state prepares for next year's 400th anniversary of the Jamestown landing, tribal leaders said.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Keith Smith, a member of the Nansemond and Tsalagi tribes. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
The group of more than 50 Indians spent the week in England where they visited Pocahontas' grave, took part in cultural performances and discussions, and met leaders of Parliament.
They returned to a hotel near Richmond International Airport last night by bus after flying into Washington Dulles International.
If they were worn out from the eight-hour flight, they didn't show it.
Dean Branham, a drummer from the Monacan tribe, came bounding out of the bus, grinning and showing off his T-shirt with a large British flag and the slogan, "England recognized us; now it's your turn."
A number of other travelers sported the shirt, underscoring a theme of the trip for many of the Indians.
Branham and several others said they hoped this trip would encourage lawmakers to vote in favor of federal recognition of the state's Indian tribes, which could give them access to federal funds and other benefits.
They praised the welcoming attitude the British exhibited toward the Indians and said they hoped the hospitality would set an example for American politicians.
"You can't put it into words the kindness and respect those people showed us," said Kenneth Adams, chief of the Upper Mattaponi tribe. "If this doesn't provide an impetus to get this recognition as soon as possible, our congressmen have a lot to learn."
Kenneth Branham, chief of the Monacan tribe, said he hoped this trip would lead to others in the future. He also echoed the call for recognition.
Others treated the trip and reception as a victory for raising the profile of the Indians' cause.
"For the first time, the state of Virginia sees Indians with a little bit of political clout. Just a little bit," said George Whitewolf of the Monacan and Sioux tribes.
Contact staff writer Shaun Bishop at sbishop@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6578.
202-824-8224
July 12, 2006, 4:27 PM EDT
www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-chiefs,0,7320241.story?coll=dp-news-local-final
WASHINGTON -- A delegation of Virginia's eight Indian tribes headed for England Wednesday to help celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.
After a departure ceremony at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, tribal chiefs said they hope to use the weeklong visit overseas to promote a better understanding of Indian peoples and their role in the founding of the United States.
"Virginia Indians and the British people are linked by a history that spans more than four centuries, and we look forward to deepening the ties and understanding between our people during this trip and beyond," said Stephen Adkins, chief of the Chickahominy Tribe, based in Charles City and New Kent counties.
About 54 tribal members planned to travel to England on a trip financed with private contributions from a British committee that is helping celebrate Jamestown's 400th anniversary as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
The trip will include a trip to the town of Gravesend to visit the burial place of the legendary Pocahontas, the Native American woman who married an Englishman.
Tribal chiefs say they also hope the trip will help build momentum for federal recognition, a designation from the U.S. government that comes with health-care and education benefits. Legislation providing for such recognition has been stalled for years in Congress.
In a half-hour departure ceremony at the 2-year-old museum on the National Mall, tribal members clad in traditional Indian dress performed a "welcome dance" that blessed the ground beneath them.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````
Indians back from Britain
One's T-shirt reads, 'England recognized us; now it's your turn'
BY SHAUN BISHOP
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 21, 2006
They had just traveled 3,500 miles from England, but the Virginia Indians had bright eyes and big smiles as they arrived in Richmond.
The historic cultural exchange boosted the profile of the Indians as the state prepares for next year's 400th anniversary of the Jamestown landing, tribal leaders said.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Keith Smith, a member of the Nansemond and Tsalagi tribes. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
The group of more than 50 Indians spent the week in England where they visited Pocahontas' grave, took part in cultural performances and discussions, and met leaders of Parliament.
They returned to a hotel near Richmond International Airport last night by bus after flying into Washington Dulles International.
If they were worn out from the eight-hour flight, they didn't show it.
Dean Branham, a drummer from the Monacan tribe, came bounding out of the bus, grinning and showing off his T-shirt with a large British flag and the slogan, "England recognized us; now it's your turn."
A number of other travelers sported the shirt, underscoring a theme of the trip for many of the Indians.
Branham and several others said they hoped this trip would encourage lawmakers to vote in favor of federal recognition of the state's Indian tribes, which could give them access to federal funds and other benefits.
They praised the welcoming attitude the British exhibited toward the Indians and said they hoped the hospitality would set an example for American politicians.
"You can't put it into words the kindness and respect those people showed us," said Kenneth Adams, chief of the Upper Mattaponi tribe. "If this doesn't provide an impetus to get this recognition as soon as possible, our congressmen have a lot to learn."
Kenneth Branham, chief of the Monacan tribe, said he hoped this trip would lead to others in the future. He also echoed the call for recognition.
Others treated the trip and reception as a victory for raising the profile of the Indians' cause.
"For the first time, the state of Virginia sees Indians with a little bit of political clout. Just a little bit," said George Whitewolf of the Monacan and Sioux tribes.
Contact staff writer Shaun Bishop at sbishop@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6578.