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• 3 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> Resolution Congratulating and Celebrating the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi <br /> Nation on Recognition by the State of North Carolina <br /> WHEREAS, members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation moved south from Virginia <br /> in the late 1600s into what is now known as Hillsborough, and after the tribe returned north, <br /> some members returned back to the Hillsborough area in the middle of the 18th century; and, <br /> WHEREAS, members of the tribe, in 1985, began researching and working on an application for <br /> recognition by the State of North Carolina; and, <br /> WHEREAS; the tribe formally submitted its application to the North Carolina Commission for <br /> Indian Affairs (NCIA) in 1990, but was denied and then twice again applied for recognition, but <br /> further failed to receive approval; and, <br /> WHEREAS, a lengthy court process ensued between the tribe and the NCIA that ultimately <br /> returned the matter to Orange County Superior Court, with Superior Court Judge Wade Barber <br /> issuing an order in early February, 2002 granting the Occaneechi official state recognition; and, <br /> WHEREAS, after diligently working for nearly two decades to obtain recognition from the State <br /> of North Carolina, the Occaneechi tribe has finally been successful and achieved the <br /> recognition it so greatly deserved: <br /> NOW THEREFORE, We, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby congratulate <br /> the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation on its recognition by the State of North Carolina and <br /> do hereby celebrate with the Occaneechi this recognition and the hard work, perseverance, and <br /> dedication which led to it. <br /> This the 19th day of February, 2002. <br /> Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Beverly Blythe, Clerk to the Board <br />