The Lumbee Tribe’s Journey to Federal Recognition Reaches a Historic Milestone
In a landmark moment for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the U.S. government has granted them full federal recognition after a long 137-year wait. This significant event was marked by tears of joy from the tribe’s members who gathered in Washington, D.C., to witness the occasion. Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery was present at the White House as President Trump signed the bill into law on Thursday.
“I’m so thankful today for everyone who has helped us along this way — everyone from our ancestors from the late 1880s all the way up to present day. So many people have been a part of this fight,” Lowery stated in a video posted to the tribe’s social media accounts.
The Lumbee Fairness Act, which secured the tribe’s recognition, was incorporated into the $900 billion annual military spending package. With a population of 55,000 members, the Lumbee Tribe’s territory spans Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland Counties in southeastern North Carolina.
Federal recognition of tribes opens up access to various federal resources. Recognized tribes can receive funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for housing, education, and health care. Lowery noted, “I do believe that the biggest benefit we’re going to receive as a tribe is Indian Health Services,” he said during a press conference Friday.
In 2022, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that federal health benefits for the Lumbee Tribe would cost nearly $250 million over four years through the Indian Health Service.
The tribe’s pursuit of recognition dates back to 1888, with their initial petition to Congress. Despite being granted partial recognition in 1956, it wasn’t until recently that they achieved full recognition. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein praised this achievement, emphasizing that “full federal recognition will allow members access to the federal health care, education, housing, child care, and disaster relief benefits afforded other federally recognized tribes.”
Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a sponsor of the bipartisan Lumbee Fairness Act, acknowledged President Trump’s role, stating that the recognition was “long overdue” for the Lumbee people. He remarked, “a historic injustice has been corrected, and the Lumbee people can finally access the full federal benefits they have long earned and deserve.”
While the Lumbee Tribe’s recognition is celebrated by many, it faced opposition from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. They contended that the Lumbee bypassed necessary procedures, which require historical evidence of Native heritage. Until now, the Eastern Band was the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina, with the Lumbee becoming the 575th recognized tribe in the country.
Lowery expressed the significance of this milestone, stating, “I know with every fiber of my being that our ancestors are smiling down on us today,” as the bill awaited President Trump’s signature.
Currently, more than a dozen tribes across various states are listed as petitioning the Interior Department for federal acknowledgment. According to the Office of Federal Acknowledgement website, decisions are based on anthropological, genealogical, and historical research.
The Department’s criteria for recognition require that a petitioner “comprises a distinct community and demonstrates that it existed as a community from 1900 until the present.” It is not uncommon for petitioners to await decades for a decision.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
