American Indian recognition bill might die

Murphy effort to ease rules stalls in committees

Friday, April 3, 2009

By ALAN BRODY

Staff writer

ANNAPOLIS — An effort to simplify the recognition requirements for American Indian tribes in Maryland appears out of steam this year.

A House committee has taken no action on the measure in three weeks since 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 said of the Senate hearing's postponement.

The legislation would make it easier for Indian tribes to prove their Maryland lineage. None of the American Indian 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 (D-Charles) and supporters argued.

However, with less than two weeks left in the session and the bills still stuck in committee, the measure appears unlikely to pass.

Opponents have previously tied the proposal to an American Indian tribe's desire to build a casino in Maryland, which supporters say is untrue. Rather, it's 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 American Indian 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 the Independent.

The repeatedly misguided connection between recognition and gaming "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," he wrote.

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.

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