Washington, DC – November 7, 2024 – The Mattaponi Indian Tribe today filed a petition for acknowledgment as an Indian Tribe with a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The petition was with the Office of Federal Acknowledgment at the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. A delegation of tribal citizens and leaders, including Chief Mark T Falling Star Custalow, traveled to Washington to deliver the petition.
“Today we return to Washington, D.C. to continue the pursuit of the highest possible recognition of our Tribe’s sovereignty” said Chief Mark T Falling Star Custalow. “Since the 1970’s we have fought for the federal government to acknowledge our sovereignty, as the State of Virginia does, to give us access to the rights, freedoms and resources granted to other federally recognized tribes. Our people have fought long and hard for this, and we look forward to joining the family of federally recognized tribes.”
Virginia has seven federally recognized tribes, and eleven state-recognized tribes. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe was the first Virginia tribe to receive federal recognition in 2015. Six other tribes were added in 2018. The Mattaponi are one of the original tribes of the Powhatan chiefdom in Virginia and is the last to be federally recognized. Support for the petition has poured in from other state and federally recognized tribes in Virginia, as well as from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Pursuing federal recognition is a long and costly process. In 2021, the Mattaponi Tribe received a grant to help with the cost of collecting data and preparing the petition. The narrative alone is nearly 1000 pages plus over 1000 of supporting documents. Researchers poured over detailed documentation dating back to the Founding of Jamestown. Several staff were dedicated to the initiative, six of them enrolled tribal members who worked tirelessly with the Mattaponi Petition Office. Today, efforts dating back several decades culminate in this filing which could be life-changing for many tribal members.
“We could not have gotten this far without the dedicated staff, tribal members, and consultants who worked long hours on short deadlines.” “Special thanks also goes to Administration of Native Americans for their help and support along the way,” said the Chief. Through federal recognition, the Mattaponi can ensure their sovereignty at the highest possible level, providing the ultimate self-determination for its people, lands and resources. Federal recognition would also unlock access to opportunities for education, healthcare and housing that could enhance the Tribe’s economic stability and prosperity. It will also enable the Tribe to better protect its cultural and anthropological resources that would preserve its history and tradition, thereby enriching America’s Native American heritage.