Virginia Indian Advisory Board on State Recognition
About the Board
In 2016, the General Assembly passed HB 814 directing the Secretary of the Commonwealth to establish a Virginia Indian advisory board “to assist the Secretary in reviewing applications seeking recognition as a Virginia Indian tribe and to make recommendations to the Secretary, the Governor, and the General Assembly on such applications and other matters relating to recognition”.
Unlike other advisory boards, this board does not advise the Governor, Secretary, or General Assembly on any matters other than groups’ state recognition applications.
Powers & Duties
The board shall have the following powers and duties:
- Establish guidance for documentation required to meet the criteria for full recognition of the Virginia Indian tribes that is consistent with the principles and requirements of federal tribal recognition;
- Establish a process for accepting and reviewing all applications for full tribal recognition;
- Appoint and establish a workgroup on tribal recognition. The workgroup may be activated in any year in which an application for full tribal recognition has been submitted and in other years as deemed appropriate by the board;
- Solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, grants, donations, bequests, or other funds or real or personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the board;
- Make recommendations to the Secretary for full tribal recognition based on the findings of the workgroup and the board; and
- Perform such other duties, functions, and activities as may be necessary to facilitate and implement the objectives of this subsection.
Virginia Indians Links
Members
Cami Adkins
Chickahominy Indian Tribe
term expires: August 24, 2022
Ashley Atkins Spivey, Ph.D.
Pamunkey Indian Tribe
term expires: August 24, 2022
Young Brinson
Nansemond, Nottoway, Mattaponi
term expires: August 24, 2022
Brandon Custalow, Chair
Mattaponi Indian Tribe
term expires: August 24, 2022
Jillian Ballow
Virginia Department of Education
Ex-Officio
Julie Langan
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Ex-Officio
Gregg Kimball, Ph.D.
Library of Virginia
Ex-Officio
Contact
Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office
Post Office Box 2454
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Applying for State Recognition
The Virginia Indian advisory board has adopted the following criteria and procedures to be used by groups petitioning for state recognition: