in addition to other aspects of the racialized society 
that existed in Virginia starting in the late 1600s, 
effectively erased Virginia Indians from the official 
records of the Commonwealth until the middle of the 
1900s, amounting to a paper genocide. 
(16) In the 1930s and 1940s, at least 722 
Patawomeck ancestors were taken from their graves 
under the guise of archaeological research. Many of 
these ancestors were discarded by the excavators. 
The remainder, numbering well over 200 individuals, 
are currently held by the Smithsonian Institution. 
(17) In 1954, Elizabeth Newton of the 
Patawomecks married O.T. Custalow, Chief of the 
Mattaponis. 
(18) In 1996, the contemporary and formal re-
organization of the Patawomeck Tribe took place 
with the adoption of a written constitution. 
(19) In 2006, in partnership with linguists the 
Patawomecks began to work on reconstructing their 
native Algonquin language and sharing it with other 
Tribes and fellow Virginians. Since that time the 
Patawomecks have taught, transcribed, greatly en-
hanced the common Algonquin dictionary, and edu-
cated hundreds of Virginians in classroom settings. 
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(20) In February 2010, The Patawomecks re-
ceived official recognition from the Commonwealth 
of Virginia after years of hard work by Tribal mem-
bers and anthropologists at the College of William 
and Mary. 
(21) The Patawomeck Tribe resides in Spotsyl-
vania County, Virginia. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) TRIBAL MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Tribal mem-
ber’’ means— 
(A) an individual who is an enrolled mem-
ber of the Tribe as of the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(B) an individual who has been placed on 
the membership rolls of the Tribe in accordance 
with this title. 
(3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 
Patawomeck Indian Tribe. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex-
tended to the Tribe. 
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(2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ-
ing regulations) of the United States of general ap-
plicability to Indians or nations, Indian Tribes, or 
bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 
1934 (25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.)) that are not incon-
sistent with this title shall be applicable to the Tribe 
and Tribal members. 
(b) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Tribe and Tribal members 
shall be eligible for all services and benefits provided 
by the Federal Government to federally recognized 
Indian Tribes without the existence of a reservation 
for the Tribe. 
(2) SERVICE AREA.—For the purpose of the de-
livery of Federal services to Tribal members, the 
service area of the Tribe shall be considered to be 
the area comprised of King George County, Spotsyl-
vania County, and Stafford County, Virginia. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP; GOVERNING DOCUMENTS. 
The membership roll and governing documents of the 
Tribe shall be the most recent membership roll and gov-
erning documents, respectively, submitted by the Tribe to 
the Secretary before the date of enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. GOVERNING BODY. 
The governing body of the Tribe shall be— 
(1) the governing body of the Tribe in place as 
of the date of enactment of this Act; or 
(2) any subsequent governing body elected in 
accordance with the election procedures specified in 
the governing documents of the Tribe. 
SEC. 7. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of the Tribe, the 
Secretary of the Interior may take into trust for the ben-
efit of the Tribe any land held in fee by the Tribe, if such 
lands are located within the boundaries of King George 
County, Spotsylvania County, or Stafford County, Vir-
ginia. 
(b) DEADLINE
FOR DETERMINATION.—The Sec-
retary shall make a final written determination not later 
than 3 years of the date which the Tribe submits a request 
for land to be taken into trust under subsection (a)(1) and 
shall immediately make that determination available to the 
Tribe. 
(c) RESERVATION STATUS.—Any land taken into 
trust for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to this para-
graph shall, upon request of the Tribe, be considered part 
of the reservation of the Tribe. 
(d) GAMING.—The Tribe may not conduct gaming ac-
tivities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under 
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the authority of any Federal law, including the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) or under 
any regulations thereunder promulgated by the Secretary 
or the National Indian Gaming Commission. 
SEC. 8. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, GATHERING, AND 
WATER RIGHTS. 
Nothing in this Act expands, reduces, or affects in 
any manner any hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or 
water rights of the Tribe and members of the Tribe. 
SEC. 9. EMINENT DOMAIN. 
Eminent domain may not be used to acquire lands 
for a Tribe recognized under this Act. 
Æ 
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