Whereas, hundreds of years ago, the Chickahominy people lived in an area along the Chickahominy River they called "Tsena Commocko," which became the homeland of the Chickahominy people; and
Whereas, over several generations, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe established a distinct culture consisting of customs, laws, dress, architectural style, social standards, religious beliefs, and traditions; and
Whereas, in 1607, when English colonists established the settlement at Jamestown, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe lived in towns and villages along the Chickahominy River, from the fall line of the river to its mouth; and
Whereas, because of their proximity to Jamestown, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe had early contact with the English colonists, teaching them how to grow and preserve their own food; and
Whereas, as the colony grew, relations between the English settlers and the Chickahominy Indian Tribe became more hostile; and
Whereas, the English settlers engaged in a series of hostile actions and policies aimed at displacing the Chickahominy Indian Tribe from their homeland, including (i) destroying villages, (ii) forcibly taking established croplands, (iii) seizing hunting and fishing grounds, and (iv) kidnapping Chickahominy Indian Tribe children and forcing them into indentured servitude or slavery; and
Whereas, when the Chickahominy Indian Tribe resisted these actions and policies, they were killed or driven farther away into the lands of other indigenous peoples; and
Whereas, throughout colonial history and to the recent present, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe have survived attempts to have their culture destroyed; and
Whereas, despite this history and the wrongful taking of their homeland, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe have endured and maintained their cultural identity as a people; and
Whereas, it is appropriate to repatriate the Chickahominy Indian Tribe to a portion of their original homeland as an acknowledgment of past injustice; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. That the Governor is hereby authorized to purchase, in a form approved by the Attorney General and for an amount up to $2.5 million, land located in Charles City County for the purpose of conveying such land to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.
§2. The conveyance shall be made in a form approved by the Attorney General. The appropriate officials of the Commonwealth are hereby authorized to prepare, execute, and deliver such deed and other documents as may be necessary to accomplish the conveyance.