HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22
(By Delegate Blair)
[Introduced February 6, 2004; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the West Virginia Legislature review, examine and study
the statutory means by which West Virginians of indigenous
descent who do not meet the current criteria for federal
acknowledgment as American Indians may be given separate
recognition as Metis.
Whereas, There are thousands of people of American Indian
descent who are living in West Virginia; and
Whereas, These descendants may have hidden their true
identities out of fear of persecution and prejudice; and
Whereas, These people were denied religious freedoms afforded
federally recognized American Indians, even when they may have
desired it; and
Whereas, These persons may have suffered the same torments
visited upon other indigenous people because of their heritage or
affiliations but were, and are currently, denied the recognition
and religious freedom afforded the status of American Indian tribes
and nations. Those people are now coming forward to claim
recognition and religious freedom because of increasing cultural
awareness among Americans who self-identify as Metis; and
Whereas, Our society has failed to provide a clear and concise
manner by which these descendants, some of whom extract their
heritage from three or more ethnicities, can be identified as a
distinct subculture, Metis; and
Whereas, There are groups and communities of descendants of
indigenous people in our state who have created and maintained
cultures that are distinctively theirs alone, who have made
cultural contributions to the overall rich heritage of West
Virginia, and who are striving to preserve and foster their
traditional culture and religious ways of life; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature is hereby requested to officially
recognize those people of American Indian descent who are of mixed
blood Metis; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Metis is defined as someone who: (a)
Self identifies as Metis; (b) is distinct from American Indians;
and (c) is accepted by the Metis community; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature is further requested to
review and examine the statutory means by which West Virginians of
indigenous descent who do not meet the current criteria for federal
acknowledgment may be given formal recognition as Metis; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance or such other committee as the House finds appropriate
report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of
any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to prepare a
report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative
appropriations to the appropriate committee.
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