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 (July 2010) The Lumbee Tribal Chairman held a meeting with religious leaders on Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 8 a.m. at Prospect United Methodist Church to discuss federal recognition efforts.
The meeting opened up with “Victory in Jesus,” a selection from the Prospect United Methodist Church hymnal, and was followed with a prayer. The goal of the meeting was to become clear about the objectives toward federal recognition efforts and to effectively show the Lumbee communities as working together. “We are all struggling toward the same effort and we are not focused on gaming; it is not in the Bill and it is not going to be changed by Congressman Mike McIntrye,” said Reverend Mike Cummings, Associational Missionary for the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, “the faith community is the largest community and we want to show the people are together with the Ministers in the lead.”
The discussion continued amongst the ministers as various individuals that were previously elected to discuss the matter at hand stood to give clarity andencouragement. “We need this very much, it is not outside the realm of possibility and it can happen,” stated Presiding Bishop James A. Woods with the Holiness Methodist Conference, “we are laying the foundation now for those to come behind us and we want you to be of good courage, we are on a mission to seek something that will bless and enrich our people.”
“Everyone wants Federal Recognition and that is what is before us today,” continued Reverend Kenny Locklear of Prospect United Church, “it is our effort here to say we are together on Federal Recognition and nothing else, we need to send that message as strongly as possible to our communities.” Midway through the discussion the ministers heard commentary from Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett via video due to his absence regarding other tribal business. The video continued to drive home the idea of unity toward federal recognition and coming together on one accord within all Lumbee communities. Chairman Swett also communicated that members of the Tribal Council were on hand within the meeting for any additional information or questions regarding the matter.
 Reverend Ricky Burnett (pictured above), speaker for the Lumbee Tribal Council of The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Tribal District 13 Representative as well as Federal Recognition Committee member, stood to share his thoughts after Chairman Swett’s video. “Today is a new day and we have to stand together and push forward,” he began, “we need to say I’m Lumbee and I’m standing behind my people; this is about Federal Recognition and nothing more, this is not about gaming and if we are divided what more can we expect?”
 Councilor Sharon Hunt (pictured right), Chairperson of the Federal Recognition Committee and Tribal District 2 Representative, was present to share how imperative federal recognition is to the Lumbee tribal members. “When you are in line and you hear someone say ‘can I just get $10 worth of my medication’--that is why we need federal recognition,” she urged “it would bring money for health care and our people would not have to choose between buying grocery or getting their medication.”
Counselor Charles Bullard (pictured left), Tribal District 5 Representative, then stood to say, “we have got to rally around the [tribal] council as a people and push forward.”
Reverend Doug Locklear who is also the Community Resource Specialist for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina closed out the meeting by saying, “we all have to abide in the ship--we can’t do anything about what happened yesterday it is all going to start in the churches, we have to be the leaders in this community.” The meeting closed with a group prayer with everyone in attendance holding hands in a circle. Reverend Ricky Burnett requested they hold hands referencing Mathew 18:19-20, stating “where two on earth agree about anything when asked for, it will be done by my Father in heaven, where there are two or three gathered in His name there He is with them.”
GROUP SHOT
CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 910.522.2187
Email: kdchavis@lumbeetribe.com |
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