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Thank you to Quannah Chasinghorse for stopping in to visit the Lumbee Tribe staff during her first visit to Lumbee Tribal Territory. Quannah, a fashion model, actor, and fourth-generation Indigenous land protector, is in our community for UNC Pembroke's Native American Speakers Series Friday, March 21, 2025. Quannah visited with Lumbee Tribal Chairman Lowery just before her UNCP appearance at 7 pm. She shared about her Alaskan community and some of the projects that she has in the works. Our team shared some goodies with her for her journey, including a woven basket by Reggie Brewer. The Deep Roots, Strong Ties Fireside Chat is at 7:00 p.m. this afternoon at the James A. Thomas Hall, Upchurch Auditorium. The event is open to the public and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Chasinghorse is from the Han Gwich’in from Eagle Village, Alaska, and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota tribes from the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota. Chasinghorse is the face of a new generation of models and a powerful advocate and activist for Indigenous rights, sovereignty and representation, including justice for the movement MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People). Chasinghorse has walked the runway for Gucci and Chloé and starred in Calvin Klein and Chanel campaigns, among other high-end brands. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Allure and National Geographic and was honored on Teen Vogue’s 2020 list of “Top 21 Under 21.” Chasinghorse and her mother were recently featured on an episode of Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s Apple+ TV series Gutsy, which celebrated environmental activists and was the subject of the documentary Walking Two Worlds.

If you missed the Lumbee Tribal Council meeting Thursday night, you missed the opportunity to see three Lumbee greats together. Tribal Chairman John Lowery and the Lumbee Tribal Council honored Mr. Furnie Lambert for his contributions and lifetime of service to his tribal community. Mr. Furnie Lambert received a standing ovation as he was presented with an Eagle feather. Lambert, a retired US Marine and Lumbee Warrior, served multiple terms on the Commission of Indian Affairs following his appointment by Governor Pat McCrory in 2016. He was a Master Gunnery Sergeant. Mr. Larry Townsend was also recognized and received the “Unsung Hero” Award. Mr. Larry was selected last year by the United Tribes of NC, but he was sick and was unable to accept the award so we looked for an opportunity to recognize him and Mr. Furnie Lambert together because both of them worked to establish the Lumbee Veterans office. The Lumbee Tribe Veterans Office assist veterans of all races from around the nation. Mr. Larry Townsend also received a standing ovation. Mr. Larry has dedicated his life to service for his community and for veterans. Mr. Larry helped to draft legislation to begin this office, which opened in 2004 and has helped thousands of veterans. Mr. Larry is a Vietnam Veteran and he spent years serving as a Veterans Service Officer for the Lumbee Tribe. Mr. Larry also served multiple terms on the Lumbee Tribal Council, and would go on to serve as the Southeast Region Vice President to the National Congress of American Indians. During his time at NCAI, Mr. Larry represented 29 American Indian tribes throughout the Southeast. He worked with the full NCAI Executive Committee Members to fulfill a variety of national and regional responsibilities to ensure that NCAI remained a strong, stable organization that serves the broad and best interest of American Indians and Alaska Native tribal governments and communities. He also served on the Robeson County Board of Elections. Chairman Lowery and the Council also recognized Professional Baseball Player and commercial artist Mr. Gene Locklear and gifted him with an Eagle Feather. Gene, who is from Union Chapel Community, was a Major League Player with the Padres, Yankees, and Reds and also played overseas in the Japan's leagues. He is also well known for his Sport Paintings which are on display through the U.S. Locally his paintings celebrate Lumbee history, culture and community and our hero Henry Berry Lowrie. Gene is also a Vietnam Veteran. They are proudly displayed throughout our tribal community, in businesses and museums. All three Lumbee legends received a standing ovation Also recognized was Emily Deese and Ronnette Sutton who were recognized as the newly sworn in Supreme Court Justices. They were sworn in on February 28, 2025 by chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mark Brooks.

Mark your calendar for free well water testing coming up this weekend.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Superfund Research Program, in partnership with the Lumbee Tribe of NC and the Winyah Rivers Alliance, are testing private wells in Robeson and nearby counties. After completing a short survey, if you live in certain areas of Robeson or nearby counties, you may be provided with a free well test. The purpose of this research study is to prevent and reduce harmful exposure to contaminated well water. Residents who live in Robeson or nearby counties, are over 18 years-old, and use a private well are eligible for a free well test. Interested households with private wells should come to one of the well testing locations listed below, complete a short survey, and pick up a tree test kit. We will provide 200 well tests. More tests may be available if resources allow. Detailed sampling instructions will be provided.

This week, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina received President Trump’s Executive Memorandum related to Lumbee Federal Recognition and the pen associated with signing the document. Congressman Mark Harris dropped by at the same time of the documents arrival. There was a lot of excitement!

Spring arrived today to the Northern Hemisphere at 5:01 am. American Indian Tribal Leaders from tribes across North Carolina joined Indigenous peoples from across the globe to welcome in the first day of Spring with thanksgiving and prayer in a ceremony at Town Creek Indian Mound in Mt. Gilead. The N.C. American Indian Heritage Commission coordinated the event. The tribal leaders prayed for their families, community, peace, wellness, blessings for youth and much more. During the ceremony, sunlight shown through the sky light of Town Creek Temple Mound to illuminate the sacred alter at noon today. Culturally, the Spring Equinox is the beginning of a new year for Native People. It is a time to start anew. Town Creek was home to Native peoples spanning thousands of years. It was an ancient ceremonial site and village with a platform mound. During the early Town Creek phase (A.D. 1150-1250) the site started out as a village of circular houses around a plaza. At about A.D. 1250, the platform mound was built. The vernal equinox or the first day of spring is determined by where the Earth is in its orbit around the sun. On this day, the Earth's axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun, causing roughly an equal amount of sunlight and dark hours at all latitudes.

This week, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina received President Trump’s Executive Memorandum related to Lumbee Federal Recognition and the pen associated with signing the document. Congressman Mark Harris dropped by at the same time of the documents arrival. There was a lot of excitement!

Former professional baseball player and commercial artist Gene Locklear stopped in to visit with our youth this afternoon to encourage them to be determined and to follow their dreams. Gene visited Tribal Chairman Lowery and the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club. Being from the Union Chapel community, Gene talked about how he decided that he wanted to be an artist and a baseball player in 2nd grade at Union Chapel Elementary School. This visit is part of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian's Lloyd Oxendine Artist-in-Residence program. The residency, which kicked off today, will feature Gene Locklear March 17 - 22. Gene played major league baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees and in Japan from 1969 until retiring in 1979. He also is a commercial artist, but is known locally for some of the most well known drawings of Henry Berry Lowrie and Rhoda. Today after speaking with the students, he visited individual classes and discussed various art styles. In one class he drew a sketch of Henry and the children followed along, while another focused on landscapes. Locklear, an enrolled citizen of the Lumbee Tribe, has produced works of all sizes in oils, acrylics and pencil. Locklear’s styles include realism, impressionism and abstract, with subjects that include Native American and Western figures and landscapes, professional athletes from countless sports and animals. There will be several opportunities to meet him in person throughout this week. On Tuesday, at 6 pm, you can see Gene and his artwork in person at the Exhibition Opening and Panel Discussion: “From the Pitcher’s Mound to the Easel: The Life and Career of Athlete and Artist Gene Locklear" at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian on the campus of UNC Pembroke. Lloyd Earl Oxendine (1942-2015), who was Lumbee and from Pembroke, devoted his art career to raising the profile of Native American art while fighting for its place within the American art canon. In 1972, he opened one of the first art galleries in SoHo in New York City, devoted exclusively to showing contemporary American Indian art. Oxendine later served as the director of Native North American Artists and curator for the American Indian Community House, where he curated more than 40 art shows. During the residency, Locklear will participate in studio hours open to the public, co-curate an exhibit, create an exhibit based on public programming and participate in a program discussion about Southeastern American Indian art, culture, history, identity and personal legacy. Events to be held in the museum in Old Main include:     • March 18:     ◦ Drop-in Studio Hours, 2-4 p.m.     ◦ Exhibition Opening and Panel Discussion: “From the           Pitcher’s Mound to the Easel: The Life and Career of           Athlete and Artist Gene Locklear,” 6 p.m.     • March 19: Drop-in Studio Hours, 10 a.m.-noon     • March 20: Drop-in Studio Hours, 9 a.m.-noon     • March 21: Drop-in Studio Hours, 9 a.m. -noon     • March 22: MSAI open house and art activity, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. The weeklong residency embodies Lloyd Oxendine’s and the Museum of the Southeast American Indian (MSAI) shared lifelong mission to educate the public about contemporary American Indian art while supporting both emerging and established artists. To learn more about the Lloyd Oxendine Artist-in-Residence, visit uncp.edu/museum .