Fellow VA-Hist list subscribers: Whatever the ultimate legislative outcome, history was made last week for American Indians in Southwest Virginia by the introduction of parallel bills to the two houses of the Tennessee legislature to grant Tennessee state recognition to Native American tribes. American Indians in Southwest Virginia associate with their brethren in Northeast Tennessee. Attendees at the Second Virginia History Conference at the State Library in Richmond this spring will recall the morning plenary session devoted to the Virginia state recognized American Indian tribes. Those tribes, are all, however, in the eastern part of Virginia. American Indians in western Virginia have received very little attention of any kind. Though, like their Tidewater kin they are still here. Eight Virginia American Indian tribes were state recognized in the 1980s. The fight for federal recognition for six of those tribes is presently ongoing. No American Indian tribe has ever received state recognition in Tennessee. The bipartisan Tennessee legislation proposing such recognition was introduced last week. The Tennessee Senate Bill (SB3123) is cosponsored by Senators Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville) and Doug Jackson (D-Dickson). The Tennessee House Bill (HB3299) is cosponsored by Representatives Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport), George W. Fraley (D-Winchester), and Dale Ford (R-Jonesborough). The language of the Bills can be read on line at http: [close up] //www.legislature.state.tn.us. American Indians in Virginia counties such as Lee, Scott, Smyth, Russell, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, etc., will be closely following developments across the state line. Jim Glanville Retired chemist 201 Graves Avenue Blacksburg, VA 24060-5305 ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html