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Federal Recognition

Official acknowledgment by the U.S. government that a Native American group is a sovereign nation and has a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

Tribe

A self-governing group of Native American people who share a common heritage, culture, and often a traditional territory.

Weroance

A leader or chief of an Algonquian-speaking tribe or group in the Tidewater region of Virginia, often used during the early European contact period.

Sovereignty

The inherent right and authority of a nation, including Native American tribes, to govern itself without external control, particularly concerning its own affairs.

Racial Integrity Act of 1924

A Virginia state law that classified all residents as either 'white' or 'colored,' effectively eliminating the category of 'Indian' from official records and causing significant harm to Native American identity and recognition.

Paper Genocide

A term used to describe the systematic erasure of a group's identity from official documents and records, often leading to a loss of recognition, rights, and resources.