Newton spoke on behalf of the Native American tribe of which he is a member, the Patawomeck Indians, asking for state recognition for the tribe.
Posted by: Lisa Kipps-Brown in Lifestyle on Feb 03, 2010
I never knew that Wayne Newton, Mr. Vegas himself, was born and raised in Virginia!
Newton was in Richmond to address the General Assembly yesterday, and Shelia Bradley, 60th District Del. James Edmunds' aide, is pictured with him.
Newton spoke on behalf of the Native American tribe of which he is a member, the Patawomeck Indians, asking for state recognition for the tribe.
Chief Robert "Two Eagles" Green, who is Newton's cousin, said that state recognition would help the Patawomeck, or Potomac as they're more commonly known, Indians protect their burial grounds and sacred sites.
Wayne Newton was born in Norfolk and had asthma as a child; he spoke of the many hours he spent inside with his grandfather, who instilled in him an appreciation for the tribal traditions and culture. Newton passed around a picture of his grandfather in full headdress, and a peace medal that General George Washington gave to members of his family.
The Patawomeck defied Chief Powhatan and continued to feed the Jamestown colonists during a period of starvation, after the Chief commanded them to cease trade with the colony. The tribe was all but wiped out during later conflict with the colonists.