Chairman Brooks testifies before Senate Indian Affairs Committee Oversight hearing on broken administrative acknowledgement process Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Thursday, July 12, 2012. The oversight hearing was on federal recognition, focusing on the process of recognizing tribes through the administrative and Congressional processes. "The basis was to discuss the efficiencies, or lack thereof," said Chairman Brooks, "regarding the federal acknowledgement process at the Bureau of Indian Affairs".
Tribe of North Carolina.
Care System campus. “The purpose of the retreat was to share and hear ideas between the Executive and Legislative Branches,” said Tribal Chair Paul Brooks, “about how to move the Tribe to self sufficiency in 5 years,
and put more of our housing funds back into our tribal housing programs.”
Welcome to Lumbee Tribe
Hunt officially named Tribal Administrator
PEMBROKE – Tony Hunt is the new Tribal Administrator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks named Hunt interim tribal administrator last week. On Thursday, (May 17) the Tribal Council approved Hunt’s appointment. Hunt will now assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the tribe.
The Council voted 12 to 8.
Hunt said he is excited about his new position.
“I look forward to the challenges that come along with this very important role with the tribe,” Hunt said. “I want to make sure our tribal members continue to receive exemplary customer service and to improve in the areas we need to improve in order to help this government continue to grow.”
Chairman Brooks nominated Hunt for the position in March. A special called meeting was held May 6 to confirm Hunt as Tribal Administrator. No action was taken because there was not a quorum present.
The Lumbee Constitution requires two-thirds of the seated Council members to be present to conduct business. Only 12 of the 21 Council members attended the meeting on May 6.
"(Hunt) has been confirmed by the council," said Tribal Speaker Pearlean Revels, said after Thursday’s council meeting. "There have been some issues that have been holding government back. I hope this government can go forward now and get done the work of the people..”
Mr. Hunt expressed his desire to rid some of the misconceptions in the tribal community of the staff by implementing procedures to make staff more accountable to the membership. He also stressed the importance of communicating in a courteous manner to tribal members, and the Tribal Council.
“Tribal members seeking assistance should be treated with the utmost respect, their requests should be handled in a professional and expeditious manner, and telephone calls must be returned in a timely manner.”
Click on the categories below to view a complete listing of winners
from the 2013 "Dance of the Spring Moon" Lumbee Spring Powwow
Dance Competition Categories
2013 Business Calendar for Tribal Council Meetings
January - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
February 21- Four Winds Commmunity Center - Saddletree Community
March 21- Tribal Housing Comple - Pembroke
April 18 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke (*changed 4/12/13)
May 16 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
June 20 - Capefear Family Life Center - Fayetteville
July 18 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
August 15 - Pembroke Boys & Girls Club - Pembroke
September 19 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
October 17 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
November 21 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
December 19 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
Congratulations to the Officers of the
2013 Tribal Council
Mr. McDuffie Cummings, Treasurer; Mrs. Louise Mitchell, Secretary; Mr. Terry Hunt, Parliamentarian; Mrs. Pearlean Revels, Speaker, and Mr. Charles Bullard, Vice-Chair.
Welcome 2013 Tribal Council of the Lumbee Tribe
PEMBROKE — Unity and rebuilding tribal member trust were repeated themes echoed during the Swearing-in Ceremony of the 2013 Lumbee Tribal Council on Thursday, January 10, 2013.
Council members pledged to work with their fellow councilmembers, Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks and Administration to move the Tribe forward.
The 2013 Tribal Council welcomed four new members and three returning councilmen during a two-hour ceremony inside the Indian Education Gym. More than 200 people attended. Several former council members, tribal leaders and local dignitaries were also present.
Congratulations to the newly elected members: Mr. Evan Davenport, Tribal District 1; Mr. Jonathan Locklear, Tribal District 4; Mr. Bobby Oxendine, Tribal District 5 and Anita Hammonds Blanks, Tribal District 9. Returning members are Mr. Robert Chavis, Tribal District 7; Mr. Terry Collins, Tribal District 10, and Mr. Homer Fields, Tribal District 14. They each won election in November and will serve a three-year term.
The outgoing council members – Mrs. Audrey Hunt, Mrs. Helen Locklear, Mr. Kernice Locklear and Mr. James Taft Smith – were presented with a ring.
The Chief Justice of the Lumbee Supreme Court, the Honorable Gary Locklear, offered encouraging words before administering the oath of office. He compared their service to a trip he and his wife took on a sailboat.
“On a sailboat, you can’t go from point A straight to point B,” Locklear said. “You have to go to the right and left and eventually, you will end up at your destination.”
Locklear told the Council that they must all have the same goal in mind and to “follow your heart.”
Tribal Councilman Davenport told a story about a disabled tribal member who lives with a leaky roof. “When you’ve got a broken foundation, the rain falls in,” Davenport said. “I see that in our tribal government. We’ve got rain coming in on our people.”
Tribal Councilwoman Blanks said she raised four children as a single mother in a home that should’ve been condemned. She said housing was not the “end-all, be-all” to being a tribal member.
“Its not what you live in … it’s what lives in you,” she said.
Councilman Jonathan Locklear is filling a seat once held by his mother, Helen, and his father, the late Sanford Locklear. He promised to strive to do what is right.
“It takes unity for things to be possible,” he said.
Councilman Bobby Oxendine said he accepts the challenge before him. He challenged the Council to work “tirelessly” to restore the confidence of the membership and improve the relationship between the branches of government in order to better serve the members.
Chairman Brooks gave closing remarks before the crowd was treated to refreshments.
“There are a lot of expectations in relation to where we need to go from here,” Brooks said. “We heard some heartfelt speeches tonight. To the new council members … we’ve got work to do. I believe that you and I, together, we can make a difference. And this administration is ready to go with you to make that difference.”
Chairman Paul Brooks Inauguration
On Monday, December 17, 2012, Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks reaffirmed his commitment to tribal elders, youth, veterans, and economic development through job creation during his inaugural speech in front of several hundred supporters at the Southeastern Agricultural Center/Farmers Market.
"I am not worthy of this honor," a humbled Brooks said. "I don't know how to thank you enough for this privilege. There are no differences in this room. There is nothing we can't do because God is on our side. We can all move forward together because God will be doing the leading."
Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Locklear issued the oath of office. Chief Justice Locklear is also a retired Superior Court judge. Dr. Martin Brooks participated in the ceremony pinning his brother, on behalf of the Brooks family, during the pinning ceremony. Brooks was first elected in 2011 and served the remainder of former Chairman Purnell Swett’s term.
The room was filled with current and former Tribal Council members, state and local dignitaries, and several hundred of well-wishers.
During his speech, Brooks highlighted some of the services the tribe has extended to its members over the past year. The Tribe has provided services to more than 250 veterans, 500 elders, and 400 youth. The Tribe repaired homes for 135 families and built 10 new homes. In the area of energy, the Tribe has assisted nearly 3,000 families.
“I would like to give a huge thanks to the Tribal Council,” Chairman Brooks said. “Without their hard work, we would not be where we are tonight.”
In his vision for the next three years, Chairman Brooks said efforts are in place to achieve 8A Certification for the Tribe.
“We need jobs,” he said. “We need to put our people back to work. And that is my commitment to you. I am nothing but a servant and I am willing to do what is necessary to move us forward as a Tribe.”
Monday's inauguration coincided with the Tribe's Second Annual Christmas Celebration. The event featured a catered meal, gospel singing and informational booths, which promoted the Tribe's housing and other programs and services.
For more information about programs and services offered at the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, please call the Tribal Housing Complex at 910.521.7861.
