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Thank you to Robeson Community College for spotlighting American Indian Culture during the 4th Annual Native American Heritage Month Cultural Exhibition this week. The event featured special entertainment, a powwow featuring the Lumbee Ambassadors, Senior Ms. Lumbee Carolyn Emanuel, song and dance, storytelling, craft vendors, and much more. School children from across the region filled the center lawn of the RCC campus, as well as students, faculty, staff and community members.

Pembroke, NC (November 6, 2024) – On Sunday, October 27, 2024, a delegation representing the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina arrived at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Annual Convention to unwelcome news. Earlier that day the NCAI Executive Committee decided that it would suspend the membership of 14 Tribal Members from renewing their memberships for the 2024-2025 membership year as a result of the recommendations of the Membership Integrity, Education, and Healing Taskforce. All 14 of those Tribal Members were State-recognized. The Lumbee Delegation, along with our partners, led the way in receiving an explanation from NCAI leadership. While we do understand the need for Membership Integrity, NCAI’s stated reason for the membership review lacked the Education and Healing components that had been promised as part of the Taskforce. This need for Education and Healing was brought to the forefront on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 as the NCAI membership found slanderous flyers at every seat, a product produced, by the “so called” United Indian Tribes of Oklahoma group. This material provided a false summation of the legislative impacts of the Lumbee Fairness Act and a link to a website with a grossly misleading “summary” of Lumbee history. NCAI issued both a public denouncement of the action on the stage at the end of that morning’s general session, but also a written apology to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina denouncing the flyer as a violation of the NCAI Code of Conduct. The Lumbee Tribe is currently reviewing legal options against the “so called” United Indian Tribes of Oklahoma group for their defamation of character against us. We will not stand for these slanderous actions toward our Tribal Nation! The Lumbee Tribe has been a member of NCAI for decades. Lumbee Tribal members have proudly stood with and served Indian Country and will continue to do so. We are thankful to our close friends and allies from the many federal and state tribes who continue to work together against these oppressive and divisive behaviors. ###

Congratulations  to Lumbee Tribal Councilwoman Pam Hunt (District 3) on receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Hunt, who also serves as a Housing Authority of the City of Lumberton Board Commissioner, was recently awarded the prestigious award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and unwavering commitment to serving the local community. Hunt was presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by NC State Representative Jarrod Lowry, and Lumberton Housing Authority Executive Director, Adrian Lowery, at the Housing Authority’s Annual Board Meeting. According the Housing Authority staff, Hunt was pleasantly surprised and humbled to receive such an honor, having her family present at the meeting made the recognition even more special. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award is one of the most prestigious awards granted by the Governor of North Carolina. It is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and have a proven record of exemplary service in strengthening the state. Pam Hunt recently retired from the Robeson County Housing Authority as the Director of Finance. A release from the Housing Authority spotlights her contributions to the community, which extend far beyond her work at the Robeson County Housing Authority. She has been involved in numerous volunteer efforts, supporting various causes and served in various roles on multiple boards. She has dedicated over 19 years of service to the Lumberton Housing Authority and has served on the Lumbee Tribal Council for over 11 years and has served 9 years on the Southeastern Family Violence Center Board. She previously served as the B.A.R.T Volunteer Case Manager Supervisor and has recently returned as part-time Case Manager. Her dedication and hard work throughout the years, has helped various organizations provide essential services and resources to the residents of Lumberton and surrounding communities. Her leadership and vision have made an impact on the lives of countless individuals. Hunt grew up in the Wire Grass Community of Robeson County and graduated from Orrum High School in 1974 and from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 1993, she would return college and earned an accounting degree in 1997. She is married to Donald Hunt; she has one son Travis Lowery and 4 beautiful grandchildren. Upon receiving this award, Hunt expressed her gratitude and dedication to North Carolina and was deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award. She has always been passionate about serving her community and is humbled to be recognized for her contributions. She is grateful to have the opportunity to serve her community every day. Hunt’s name will now be etched in the history of North Carolina, with other individuals who have received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, for her outstanding service and commitment to the state. According to Executive Director, Adrian Lowery, “Pam’s dedication to the Lumberton Housing Authority has provided staff the opportunity to think outside the box, her wealth of knowledge concerning the local community is unmatched. It would be extremely difficult to measure all her contributions to Robeson County and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.” Those sentiments were echoed by NC Representative Jarrod Lowry, who was honored to present this prestigious award on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper and the State of North Carolina.

Pembroke, NC (October 23, 2024) – On Friday, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina drew the interest of the candidates in the race for the US President. During a visit to Pembroke, former President Bill Clinton met with Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at UNC Pembroke following a meeting with Lumbee Democrats. Shortly after the meeting with Bill Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris called Chairman Lowery to discuss full federal recognition for the Lumbee People. This issue is both familiar to Harris and Trump as both gave support in October of 2020. “It was a good meeting with former President Clinton as we discussed the issues before congress. I also had a good conversation with Donald Trump, Jr., where I conveyed the same thoughts with him,” said Lowery. “It is time that both parties uphold their promises to us, and it's time to put action behind their words.” On Friday, while former President Clinton met with Lumbee leaders in Pembroke, Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. joined Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. Senator of Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin, in the Prospect Community to hold a rally less that 10 miles from Pembroke. Hundreds of people poured onto a Lumbee owned farm for the event. “This campaign event was in the heart of Lumbee Tribal territory,” said Lumbee Tribal Administrator Ricky Harris. “As we get closer to election day, we anticipate that the campaigns will continue to target North Carolina and try to garner support from the American Indian community at large.” The key issue on the table is full federal recognition. The Lumbee Fairness Act legislation was introduced into the senate in 2023. This bill extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and makes its citizens eligible for the services and benefits provided to other federally recognized tribes. The legislation will undue the injustice of the Lumbee Act, which President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law in 1956. With the first legislation, the United States Congress simultaneously acknowledged the Lumbee as an American Indian Nation and denied the Lumbee services and benefits based on their Indian status. With the presidential election just two weeks away, Lumbee Leaders say it is nice that the candidates acknowledge the voting power of the largest American Indian Tribe East on the East Coast, but the Lumbee People can’t be seen as a pawn on the road to the White House. Tribal Chairman Lowery said the time for action is at hand. “Senator Tillis and other NC Lawmakers are working hard on the Lumbee Fairness Act,” said Lowery. “Our people will be excited to see this issue finally corrected in the newly elected presidential administration.”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Superfund Research Program (SRP) is conducting a research study in partnership with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina  and the Winyah Rivers Alliance   to prevent and reduce harmful exposure to contaminated well water. After completing the survey below, if you live in certain areas of Robeson or nearby counties , you may be selected for a free well test . We will provide 200 well tests. More tests may be available if resources allow. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. The samples will be analyzed for inorganic metal  contamination. Confidential water quality results  will be emailed and mailed to residents’ homes, and a follow-up community meeting will be held in the county to report back results and answer participant questions. Take the survey Eligible well users will have kits mailed to their home and must be returned either by mail or dropped off at a central location. Detailed sampling instructions will be provided. Questions?  Contact Andrew George at andrewg@unc.edu  or 919-966-7839 . For more about well testing visit our All About Well Testing  page. To learn about contaminants that may be in your county visit our Well Water Contaminants  page. This study is supported by the UNC Superfund Research Program  and funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (#P42ES031007-01). Take the survey  https://go.unc.edu/wellempowered

Our Lumbee Tribe staff is wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thank you to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Department for bringing out the Breast Cancer Awareness car. Congratulations are in order for Sam Bird and Terry Locklear, Rehabilitation Staff members, for taking first place for the second time in the Lumbee Tribe Chili Cookoff contest for the staff. 2nd Place was Mark Strickland, Tribal Security, and 3rd Place was Jessica Jones, Rehab Department staff. Thank you to our judges Eric Fuller Locklear, Fuller’s BBQ, Bra Oxendine from Papa Bills BBQ and Chairman Lowery for taking the time to try the four different chili’s. Congratulations to Janeva Moore and Brittany Demery on their first place win in the pumpkin decorating contest. Second place winner is the Vocational Rehab team and third place was the Finance Department team.

Thank you, Robeson Community College (RCC), for inviting the Lumbee Tribe Culture Team to be a part of your amazing 2nd Annual Fall Festival at the COMtech location in Pembroke! There was a tremendous turnout. Attendees received free services from students, including haircuts, manicures, facials, and blood pressure checks. They visited the many food trucks and craft vendors that were onsite as well as participated in a cultural workshop by the Lumbee Tribe Culture Team. The team showcased Women’s Southern Traditional and Men’s Eastern Woodland dance styles, weaponry that was used to hunt small game and in battle, and flute music with various styles of flutes. Attendees also made the seven direction bracelet.

The Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Housing Complex and all tribal offices will be CLOSED on Monday, October 14, 2024 for the Indigenous Peoples' Day Holiday. Our offices will reopen Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Lumbee Citizens, the Lumbee Tribal Rolls are mandated under Lumbee Tribal Law to close 30 days prior to any tribal election. The rolls will close on October 18, 2024 for the November 19th tribal election. There are eight Lumbee history culture classes left before closure. You must pre-register for the class by calling 910.522.5468 or emailing enrollment@lumbeetribe.com. If you email, please include your name and telephone number. Classes may fill up quickly, so contact us early.