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Reggie Brewer offers up an honor song on the flute to close the tree-planting ceremony at the cultural center on Saturday evening.

A group of Lumbee children do their part to take care of the tree as they water it after the ceremony. Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin emphasized that full federal recognition is for them more so than any other tribal members because Lumbee children are our future.

The Rev. Jimmy F. Locklear of Cherokee Holiness Methodist Church in the Wakulla community near Red springs offered up a rousing prayer to bless the tree-planting ceremony at the Lumbee Tribe’s Indian Cultural Center on Saturday.

Senior Ms. Lumbee Angeleta Hunt sang a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” acapela during the Lumbee Tribe’s tree-planting ceremony Saturday evening at the cultural center. Her husband, popular Fairmont barber Odell Hunt, looks on

Don Michael Woods’ beautiful three-bedroom, two-bath home was recently selected as yard of the month for the Lumbee Tribe’s Cheraw Acres subdivision in the Hawkeye community of southern Hoke County. Woods has lived in the home since 2009. He is a 2007 graduate of UNC Pembroke and is now in the graduate program there pursuing a masters degree in public administration. Woods is a social worker for the Hoke County Department of Social Services. Congratulations Mr. Woods on taking pride in your Lumbee tribal home. “I will never forget April 2, 2009. That’s the day I got my home. It made a huge difference in my life. The tribe provided me with a new home. It was my dream to own my own home. They helped me and I’ll forever be grateful for what the Lumbee Tribe did for me. I would encourage others to become educated on the tribe’s housing programs and take advantage of the excellent opportunities available.” Anyone interested in the tribe’s housing program may call (910) 521-7861 or visit www.lumbeetribe.com.

Tree-planting ceremony Saturday at Lumbee Tribe’s Indian Cultural Center. Evening program to highlight tribe’s centuries old struggle for full federal recognition, honor past tribal leaders who have led the fight for full federal recognition. PEMBROKE – The Lumbee Tribe will hold a tree-planting ceremony Saturday evening at the tribe’s Cultural Center off Recreation Road in the Red Banks community near Pembroke. Everyone is invited to the ceremony, which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday marked the 60th anniversary of the Lumbee Act of 1956 that gave the tribe partial federal recognition. The tree-planting ceremony will honor tribal leaders like the late Rev. D.F. Lowry. He led the Lumbee Tribe’s recognition efforts during the first half of the last century. Dozens of other Lumbee leaders worked tirelessly on behalf of the people for full federal recognition from the 1800s on. Those folks will be honored in the Saturday ceremony as well. Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin and Tribal Councilman Jarrod Lowery will lead the ceremony. Lowery is chairman of the tribe’s federal recognition committee heading up efforts to get the tribe’s current bill approved. “I encourage all Lumbee people to take part in the political process,” Lowery said. “The success of full federal recognition rest in part on the participation and input from the average Lumbee person.” Lowery encourages tribal members to call, email and write their United States Congressman and Senator to ask for support for H.R. 184 and S. 2285. “The success and prosperity of the Lumbee people does not hinge on the efforts of one person or a few, but on the ability for us to come together as a unified community and work toward a common goal such as full federal recognition,” Lowery said. “While we do honor, we cannot rest on the laurels of our ancestors, but put our best foot forward for future generations and for our children. Today, I call to action every Lumbee to do your civic duty and join the fight for full federal recognition.” Lowery said they will plant the tree on the lake at the cultural center to symbolize a new beginning in the efforts toward full federal recognition. “Everyone is encouraged to come out for the ceremonial tree planting as we recognize our tribal elders who have fought for our recognition. We anticipate a huge crowd for the event. God bless the Lumbee Tribe,” Councilman Jarrod Lowery said. Additional information on the program will be available on Facebook, at www.lumbeetribe.com on the web or by calling(910) 521-7861.

I want to inform the tribal membership that the Lumbee Tribe did in no way authorize R.A. Jeffries, the local Budweiser distributor, to use the tribe’s logo, website information or an image of a tribal dancer in a recent beer advertisement posted at several area convenience stores. As alcohol and drug abuse are often associated with Native American culture, the use of the Lumbee tribal brand and an image of a Native American dancer in an advertisement promoting an alcohol product is viewed as particularly offensive to Lumbee People. I made contact with officials today at Anheuser-Busch to resolve this matter. I will provide an update to the Lumbee People as more information is available. As your Lumbee Tribal Chairman, I vow to make sure those responsible for this offensive ad will be held accountable. Thank you, Lumbee Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin

Red Springs senior Antwaun McNeill was one of 17 Robeson County baseball players named first-team all-confernce. McNeill hit .301 with a team-high 16 RBIs for the Red Devils. Anton, aka “Twig,” is shown here pitching in recent action for Red Springs. Congratulations on your selection Antwaun.

Mike Miller, Senior Director of Operations at Campbell Soup in Maxton, toured the Lumbee Tribe’s headquarters earlier today with Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin. The chairman he was pleased to have Miller as a special guest at the tribal office. He said it’s important for the tribe to develop corporate partnerships to let others know what the tribe offers to the community.“It was a pleasure to have Mr. Miller with us today,” Godwin said. “I think it’s important for our tribal government to reach out to the various businesses and organizations within our communities to keep them informed on what our tribe is doing. We have a lot of wonderful activities and functions and we need to make sure we keep everyone informed about what the tribe has to offer.”Godwin said it is especially important to reach out to businesses and companies like Campbell Soup. The major food manufacturer prides itself on its long-standing commitment to the communities where they live and work.Campbell Soup donated more than $2 million in food locally last year, Miller said.And, a group of local Indians called the Maxton American Indian Network, volunteered at this years Dance of the Spring Moon powwow May 6-8. The three-day event at the Lumbee Tribe’s Indian Cultural Center drew thousands of spectators and organizers say the Campbell Soup volunteers greatly contributed to a successful event.Godwin explained the tribe’s governmental process to Miller as they toured the spacious council chambers. He also took the Campbell Soup executive through the tribe’s enrollment office and other departments before heading to the Boys and Girls Club next door.Kelvin Melvin is the manager of the Pembroke club. He gave Miller a brief history of the tribe’s Boys and Girls program during a tour of the facility, which is located just behind the main tribal complex.Melvin pointed out during his presentation to Miller how one club member convinced his father to donate a pallet soup to a recent food drive the club sponsored. The member who raised the most can goods was awarded a prize, which the child won hands down.“He had a definite advantage,” Melvin said laughing.The tour concluded in the spacious full size gymnasium adjoining the Boys and Girls Club’s main building.Campbell Soup’s Maxton plant has been honored numerous times through it’s nearly 35-year history in Robeson County.The United Way of North Carolina honored the soup manufacturer with its Spirit of North Carolina Campaigning for Excellence award two years ago after the company’s 850 Maxton employees pledged more than $200,000 to various Robeson County and Scotland County United Way activities in Robeson and Scotland Counties. Campbell Soup also donated hundreds of bicycles and thousands of pounds of food to families at Christmas. The Maxton soup company also sponsors teams on the annual Relay for Life event, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.In addition to the plant’s annual involvement with United Way activities, Mike Miller, Senior Director of Operations at Campbell, serves on the United Way of Robeson County board of directors and Meredith Hale, Senior Manager of Human Resources, serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Scotland County, according to the Campbell Soup website.Company officials say that they “are proud to continue our commitment to our local communities and are proud of our Maxton employees for bringing that commitment to life in so many ways,” according to the website.

Lumbee Pride!!! That is what we are all about. Let us all know that this is a symbol of pride for our people. And, let’s all represent our tribe with a sense of pride that reflects this great symbol. Let’s always defend our pride and our people. We are a great people and let’s never forget that. The Lumbees are some of the most beautiful, talented, and intelligent people God ever created. Let’s always be sure to support one another and lift our fellow man up like our ancestors did a long time ago.

Customer service is what Lanedra Strickland, left, and Kristie Revels, right, are all about. These women are the faces and voices of the Lumbee Tribe. The pair are known for their excellent customer service skills, greeting visitors to the tribal complex with friendly voices and warm smiles. Lanedra is the main office receptionist and Kristie is the Tribal Housing Office Manager. Lanedra is the daughter of the Rev. Jimmy and Brenda Strickland. She lives in Pembroke with her 18-year-old son. Lanedra has worked for the tribe for about a year.Kristie is the daughter of Wesley and Sharon Revels. She lives in Pembroke with her daughter and two sons. Kristie has worked for the tribe for nearly five years. Anyone looking for information on tribal services and programs may reach Lanedra or Kristie at (910) 521-7861 or visit on the web

The work is almost done on Donald and Roshawna Deese’s new home on Preston Road in the Preston community near Pembroke. Lumbee tribal contractors put the finishing touches on the driveway earlier today. Anthony Holden is the tribe’s director of new construction. He said work on the house should be completed in about two more weeks. Construction of the 1,537-square-foot home began March 9. Roshawna Deese said she was pleased with the progress contractors have made. She said she seriously considered selecting house plan No. 7 before deciding on plan No. 8 earlier this year. “This was the plan I liked when I first saw it,” Deese said. “It was a difficult decision because I liked things about both of them. I just think it’s beautiful.”The Deese family lived in a 14x70 two-bedroom two bath mobile home with their three children. She said they added a new room about five years ago. The new home has four bedrooms and two baths. And, the home features one special amenity that greatly influenced Deese’s decision to select plan No. 8 in the end.“I love the front porch,” she said. “That’s what got me. And, I like the fact that it has four bedrooms. I wanted one for each child.”Patrick Lowery was the contractor on the home. She said he has been great to work with throughout the building process. Lowery is a veteran builder who has worked for the tribe for several years.“Patrick is a good contractor,” Roshawna Deese said. “We couldn’t ask for anything better. We have no complaints. Everything has been good.”Despite the rainy weather this spring, construction workers have managed to keep the project on track, according to New Housing Director Anthony Holden.And, Deese has made several changes to the original plans, including getting an upgrade on stainless steel sinks, countertops, cabinets and light fixtures. She said she went with all LED lighting, which cost more.To compensate for the added expenses, she has agreed to pay for her own appliances. For now, she is ready to move into her new home.She is looking forward to playing with her children on the plush living room carpet.“It’s been a long time coming,” she said with a wide smile. “I can’t wait.”For more information on qualifying for a new home through the Lumbee Tribe’s New Housing program, call Director Anthony Holden or Housing Manager Kathy Locklear at (910) 521-8621 or visit on web.