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The Qualified Bidders List is NOW OPEN! Apply Today! The Lumbee Tribe Rehabilitation Housing Program is accepting new contractor applications for the following trades: Plumbing, Electrical, Septic, and HVAC. The Rehabilitation Program accepts applications for new contractors twice a year ONLY. Any American Indian contractor who would like to place their name/business on the Qualified Bidders List for the Lumbee Tribe Rehabilitation Housing Program must submit an application by mail or by the drop off box at the Tribal Housing Complex located at 6984 NC 711 in Pembroke, NC 28372. Address submissions to the attention of Jessica Jones. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 30, 2025 by 3 pm. For applications or additional questions, contact Jessica Jones at 910.522.5466 or jljones@lumbeetribe.com

Join Us for the 2025 AISES Powwow at UNCP during Lumbee Homecoming! Lumbee Homecoming is almost here, which means the AISES Powwow is right around the corner! We invite you to join us on Saturday, July 5, 2025, from 1-3 p.m. in the UNC Pembroke Quad for an afternoon of culture, community, and celebration! We also have a few important updates regarding the UNC Pembroke AISES Chapter & Powwow:  Thank You, Ms. Valerie Deese! After years of dedicated service, Ms. Deese has retired from UNCP and is no longer our chapter advisor. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership and wish her the best in retirement!  Student-Led & Student-Planned! Moving forward, the AISES Powwow will be organized entirely by our students. This is a great opportunity for us to develop leadership skills, and we appreciate your patience and support as we take on this important role.  Supporting Our Future! The AISES Powwow is also a fundraiser to help our student members attend conferences, workshops, and purchase materials for programming throughout the year. Your support makes a difference!  Vendor information will be sent out soon—stay tuned! We can’t wait to see you all on July 5, 2025! f you have any questions, please contact Chapter President Paisley Dimery at pl0021@bravemail.uncp.edu .

Congratulations to Coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars on an extraordinary season! The Houston Cougars gave their all in each and every game they played—they were a force to be reckoned with! This season has been one to remember because of Coach Sampson’s leadership and his team’s skill on the court; Lumbee people, throughout the nation, were cheering and supporting one of our own every step of the way! We are proud of Coach Sampson and his team’s hard work, sportsmanship, and resilience throughout this 2024-2025 basketball season!

Lumbee Tribal employees and children from the Pembroke Boys and Girls Club participated in National Walking Day on Wednesday by walking laps around the Turtle Building and some beautiful walking trails. The American Heart Association created National Walking Day to inspire people to move more and stress less. Let’s take steps together toward healthier, happier lives—refreshing our minds and reducing stress through movement.

Congratulations to Dr. Larry ‘Ray’ Brayboy, former UNC Pembroke baseball player, on the retirement of his No. 13 jersey! The Lumbee Tribe was honored to be part of the celebration as the University, Town of Pembroke, former teammates, family, and friends gathered to celebrate Dr. Brayboy and the impact he has had on the University’s Athletic Program. Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery presented Dr. Brayboy with an eagle feather and a proclamation to honor his lifetime accomplishments throughout Lumbee Tribal Territory and beyond. John Oxendine, of the Lumbee Tribe’s Dark Water Society, sung an honor song and played the American Indian Flute for Dr. Brayboy, which is custom when recognizing an esteemed individual. Dr. Brayboy was in the last graduating class of Pembroke State College in May 1969 and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. During his college career, he served in many capacities, including serving as the Class President his sophomore year. Among his many accomplishments is being inducted into the UNC Pembroke’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984. Dr. Brayboy's jersey will be permanently displayed at Sammy Cox Field.

The Lumbee Housing Complex welcomed Old Main STREAM Academy’s 4th - 7th graders on Friday. Tribal staff led the students on a tour of the ‘Turtle,’ where they were able to observe the important work being conducted for Lumbee Tribal citizens. Following the tour, Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery and staff shared the story of the American Indian Flute. The students had the opportunity to witness Chairman Lowery play the flute for them. In addition, they were able to learn what Chairman Lowery’s day-to-day operations look like as Tribal Chairman of the largest tribe east of the Mississippi as well as his staff. The Lumbee Tribe of NC hopes to continue to engage with students from local schools to share what the Lumbee Tribe is doing to support its’ citizens.

We look forward to seeing you TONIGHT at the Monday, April 7, 2025, evening Culture class. The class will be at the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club.

You are invited to the District 10 Community Meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Rennert Fire Department located at 9896 Rennert Rd. Shannon, NC. The event is hosted by Councilman Bobby Emanuel. The meeting will offer information about tribal services and community information. Dinner will be served.

The Qualified Bidders List is NOW OPEN! Apply Today! The Lumbee Tribe Rehabilitation Housing Program is accepting new contractor applications for the following trades: Plumbing, Electrical, Septic, and HVAC. The Rehabilitation Program accepts applications for new contractors twice a year ONLY. Any American Indian contractor who would like to place their name/business on the Qualified Bidders List for the Lumbee Tribe Rehabilitation Housing Program must submit an application by mail or by the drop off box at the Tribal Housing Complex located at 6984 NC 711 in Pembroke, NC 28372. Address submissions to the attention of Jessica Jones. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 30, 2025 by 3 pm. For applications or additional questions, contact Jessica Jones at 910.522.5466 or jljones@lumbeetribe.com

Chairman Lowery's Monthly report for February 2025. Dear Lumbee People, February 2nd is an official Lumbee Holiday, recognizing when our people came together to adopt the name Lumbee as our tribal name, which is our sovereign right. Our leaders took this necessary step on February 2, 1952, to stop the continuous mislabeling of our people by the State of North Carolina. By naming ourselves we took back our rights and recognized ourselves as the Lumbee people. This move, to take our name after the Lumbee River that we call ours, was much welcomed. There were 2,169 people voting for the measure with only a few dozen voting against the name. Here in North Carolina, the Sappony Tribe changed their name from the Indians of Person County in 2003, finally ending the state's practice of mis-naming Indian nations. Exercising our inherent sovereignty and reclaiming our naming rights solidified our ties to the River and the Land and it ended the State's ability to change our name when they saw fit. Recently, I submitted Ronnette Sutton and Emily Deese to the Tribal Council for appointment to the Lumbee Tribe Supreme Court. The Lumbee Tribal Council approved the two new justices during their February Business Meeting. Ms. Sutton is a practicing attorney with a law degree (JD) from UNC School of Law. Ms. Deese is an Energy Service Specialist with a master's in business administration (MBA) from UNC-Pembroke. These two individuals will hear cases that come before the court and will make rulings along with the other three members. I am proud of their continued commitment to our Tribe and community. Included in President Trump's Presidential Memorandum about full federal recognition for the Lumbee people, was a requirement that the Department of Interior (DOI) consult with Tribe as they prepared their report to the President. Tribal Officials and the DOI have moved forward quickly, holding our first consultation on February 11th. The meeting was very productive, and I felt like the DOI officials properly listened to our comments and asked appropriate questions. DOI has an April 23rd deadline to have a report sent to the White House and they are working to have this completed ahead of time. I love you all and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of our great Tribal Nation.

In accordance with Rule .1618(c)(6) of Title 15A Subchapter 13B of the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Regulations, Robeson County Solid Waste Department is holding a public meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Robeson County Commissioners’ Chambers situated in the Robeson County Managers Office Building located at 550 North Chestnut Street, Lumberton, NC 28358.