Bill to recognize Native American tribes languishes

Simplified procedure was proposed

Friday, April 3, 2009

A House committee has taken no action on the measure three weeks after dozens of supporters came to the state capital to testify in favor of it. A Senate committee postponed its hearing on the bill scheduled for the same day without explanation.

"At the very least, I think it's inconsiderate," Del. Peter F. Murphy (D-Charles) said of the Senate hearing's postponement.

The legislation would make it easier for Indian tribes to prove their Maryland lineage. None of the Native American tribes that claim historical roots in Maryland are recognized by the state, despite several petitions that have languished on the governor's desk.

Under current law, a group that petitions for recognition must furnish historical documentation showing they were indigenous prior to 1790. Records that old are scarce and a fairer date would be 1900, Murphy and supporters argued.

However, with just more than a week left in the session and the bills still stuck in committee, it appears likely to stay put.

Opponents have previously tied the proposal to a Native American tribe's desire to build a casino in Maryland, which supporters say is untrue. Rather, they says, it is a matter of livelihood for Maryland's indigenous people that would allow access to minority health services, minority contracting set-asides for tribal entrepreneurs and access to minority and Native American scholarships, among other things.

"The goal of recognition is to simply place Maryland's indigenous people on a level playing field with all other minorities in the state," Chris Newman, communications director for the Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland, wrote in an e-mail to Southern Maryland Newspapers. The misguided connection between recognition and gaming, he wrote, "is to reinforce a grossly offensive and irresponsible stereotype, akin to claiming that an increase in [Small Business Administration] loans to the African-American community would invariably result in a proliferation of fried chicken restaurants."

Murphy expressed disappointment that his proposal was not afforded full consideration in Annapolis.

 "All we were looking for was an opportunity to have a fair hearing," he said.

abrody@somdnews.com