Pamunkey's federal recognition begins to bear fruit

The Pamunkey Indian tribe has already started to receive long-awaited federal benefits, less than three weeks after being granted official federal recognition.

The tribe received $50,282 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Native American Programs' Indian Housing Block Grant to help build affordable housing on its land, according to a Feb. 16 announcement from U.S. sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman.

The money comes from a funding program the tribe otherwise wouldn't have access to without the federal recognition.

Tribe members learned in late January that the Interior Board of Indian Appeals denied a challenge from a California-based anti-gaming group, Stand Up For California, allowing the Pamunkey to clear a final hurdle to receive federal recognition.

At the time the challenge was denied, tribe members pointed to housing and education as areas they hoped to improve using federal benefits.

Native American Housing Block grants are the main source of funding for housing assistance on Native American lands, according to HUD. The funding is given to all 567 federally recognized tribes in the country, as well as five non-federally recognized tribes that were "grandfathered in" to the program due to prior funding contracts with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Tribes with federal recognition are eligible to receive funding and assistance from the federal government, opening up opportunities to improve tribes' quality of life.

Funding opportunities

Virginia Tech Director of American Indian Studies Samuel Cook believes federal benefits can split two ways. Tribes can use the money as a way to improve their circumstances, or the funding can act as a crutch tribes become dependent on if other opportunities aren't available.

"It's not an automatic windfall," he said. "It requires a great deal of navigating through the bureaucracy, but those funding opportunities do exist."

The tribe will have access to Indian health care systems, as well as opportunities to fund community gardens and revive traditional food ways. Cook said that these changes could bring about a more mentally and spiritually healthy community.

Some tribes also employ full-time grant writers and people who monitor the Federal Register for available funds.

The economic engine often associated with Indian tribes — casinos — are an unlikely option in Virginia, Cook said.

"The question of gaming is a lot more complex than people think," he said. "The federal legislation that's already in place is so rigid, it would be very difficult for a tribe in Virginia to just open a casino."

Tribes have to negotiate with the state to allow a casino to be built. If the state says "no," it doesn't happen, Cook said.

According to Cook, federal recognition is extremely beneficial, but also can create a web of dependency for some tribes which rely on federal funds and are tied to the federal government through complex legislation.

"For every page of legislation concerning Indians, there's at least 100 pages of regulations to implement it," Cook said. "This is a group that is supposed to be understood as a nation."

Despite some dangers associated with federal recognition, Cook is confident that the Pamunkey will not make hasty decisions.

"I have incredible faith in the Pamunkey leadership because they are so reserved and meticulous," Cook said. "Their leadership is really the voice of the people — they're connected to each other."

With federal recognition, the tribe could establish its own judicial system, law enforcement and licensing procedures, Cook said.

- See more at: http://www.tidewaterreview.com/news/va-tr-pamunkey-opportunities-0224-20160223,0,5734912.story#sthash.lzz1FbGh.dpuf