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The Lumbee Tribe’s Housing Rehabilitation Department will not accept applications during the month of February 2026. This continued pause in services is necessary to allow staff time to complete internal changes and implement program updates to better serve the tribal membership. Application intake is scheduled to resume March 2026. We will keep our citizens updated as we move closer to reopening.

We’re excited to share some upcoming events celebrating Federal Recognition throughout the year. Join us as we honor the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina's history and culture. • February 12 – The People’s Table  (in partnership with LRDA) • February 24 – Governor’s Mansion Honoring Federal Recognition  (Invitation Only) • March 28 – Wild Game Event | Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center • May 16 – Federal Recognition Celebration  | UNC-Pembroke • June 27 – July 4 – Lumbee Homecoming  | Pembroke, NC • TBA – Lumbee Gala • September 25–27 – Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow • October 3 – Fall Festival, Fishfry & 5K Fun Run • December 18 – Federal Recognition Day We look forward to celebrating with you throughout the year. More details to come.  #LumbeeTribeFederalRecognition #575

Important Lumbee Tribal Enrollment Information - Phase 2 Begins Monday Phase 2 (February 9 – February 27) - Updates will focus on members ages 16–25 and those living outside of the service area or territory. This age group is being prioritized because upcoming scholarship and educational opportunities require updated enrollment records. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with an updated enrollment card. If the parent or guardian’s card is not current, it will be updated at the same time as the minor’s. Important to know: • If your phase has passed, you may still submit updates • Phases help manage the number of requests and avoid delays Phase 3 (March 2 – March 20, 2026) - Ages 26 – 54 + Out-of-Territory Citizens: 3 weeks Open Update Period: Ongoing after all phases (begins March 23) Timeline may adjust based on volume and processing needs.

Join the Nation of Lifesavers! Our families are the heartbeat of our community. February is American Heart Month, a nationwide observance by the American Heart Association (AHA) and partners like the CDC and NIH, encouraging Americans to focus on cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes, awareness, and learning CPR to combat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Join us at the Lumbee Tribe as we participate in key events including National Wear Red Day, which is today and promotes women's heart health. #lumbeetribe   #lumbee575   #WearRedDay   #americanheartassociation

Thank you to Tonya Plummer, the Director of HUD's (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) Office of Loan Guarantee, members of her team and Darkfeather Hunt from 1st Tribal Lending, who recently visited with Lumbee Tribe Administration and members of the Lumbee Tribe Housing Team to discuss ways to expand access for Lumbee families to the Section 184 Home Loan Guarantee Program. This program offers low-interest, low–down–payment home loans designed to help Native American families achieve the dream of homeownership. To learn more about the 184 Loan Program visit: https://www.hud.gov/section184

Join the Nation of Lifesavers! February is American Heart Month, a nationwide observance by the American Heart Association (AHA) and partners like the CDC and NIH, encouraging Americans to focus on cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes, awareness, and learning CPR to combat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Did you know that Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women and American Indians? American Heart Month runs throughout February. Parter with the Lumbee Tribe as we participate in key events including National Wear Red Day, which is this Friday, February 6th, which promotes women's heart health. First proclaimed in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, American Heart Month began as a national call to take charge of your heart health,a mission that continues today. Join the Nation of Lifesavers and learn CPR today. Wear red this Friday on National Wear Red Day to show support for women's heart health. To learn more visit: https://www.heart.org/en/american-heart-month

The Moore County Board of Commissioners recently honored the Lumbee Tribe with a resolution recognizing our historic achievement of federal recognition. They also presented Chairman Lowery with a plaque in appreciation of his leadership and longstanding contributions to the Lumbee people and the surrounding communities. Chairman Lowery expressed, “I am truly humbled by this honor and sincerely grateful for the continued support our neighbors in Moore County have shown the Lumbee people.” He also invited the commissioners and staff to visit and tour tribal facilities and communities in the near future.

Hello everyone, I am pleased to announce that today, January 30, 2026, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina officially appears on the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ published list of Federally Recognized Tribes. This moment marks history for our people. I encourage everyone to pause and reflect on what this means, not just for us today, but for our ancestors who fought so long and so hard to bring us to this point. Their perseverance, faith, and determination carried us forward, and we honor them in this moment. This milestone represents the first phase of implementing the Lumbee Fairness Act. While there is still important work ahead, I want to assure you that our team is moving forward diligently and deliberately as we take these next steps. I know many of you tuned in last night as Lydia Locklear Canty and Amber Holland, co-founders of the Current Tribal Law and Policy firm, held a “Beyond Recognition” panel. During this panel, discussions focused on tribal health care programs, protection and promotion of our sovereignty, and the economic development opportunities that we will have with our federal recognition. The many future opportunities for our tribe are significant, and I am thrilled that Amber and Lydia put this event on for our community. Recently, we met with the Department of the Interior and developed a clear plan to ensure we are fully complying with the enrollment requirements outlined in our Constitution. Our Federal Recognition Transition Team continues to work tirelessly to provide the BIA with the information needed to move us into the next phase of implementation. I also want to share an important update regarding our children. As of December 18, 2025, the Indian Child Welfare Act became immediately effective for Lumbee children. This has become a significant part of our administration’s daily work. Dr. Cherry Beasley, our Director of Health, has been designated as the Tribe’s ICWA contact, and I want to sincerely thank her for her leadership and service. Along with other members of the Federal Recognition Transition Team, she has been working closely with counties, attorneys, and courts to ensure ICWA is implemented properly. We are grateful for the many partners who have stepped forward to support this effort. Finally, we have officially launched our year-long celebration of Lumbee Federal Recognition. With a wide and diverse lineup of events planned throughout the year, we hope to see every Lumbee citizen join us, whether at one event or many, as we celebrate this historic achievement together. Thank you all for your continued support, your patience, and your pride in who we are as Lumbee people. This is our moment, and we move forward together in this Era of Possibility and Prosperity. Click here to see video https://youtu.be/Aq5Y7P-9R5Y

Date: January 29, 2026 Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov Lumbee Tribe Added to Official List of Federally Recognized Tribes President Trump delivers on promise to tribal nation. WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today affirmed its commitment to tribal sovereignty by adding the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to the official list of federally recognized tribes, formalizing the tribe’s government-to-government relationship with the United States and carrying out federal recognition enacted into law in December 2025. The Department of the Interior Indian Affairs published the updated list in the Federal Register following President Donald J. Trump’s signing of legislation in December 2025 granting full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. The action affirms the tribe’s government-to-government relationship with the United States and fulfills a promise President Trump made to the Lumbee people. “Federal recognition is about respect, accountability and self-determination,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By formally recognizing the Lumbee Tribe, President Trump and the Department of the Interior are acknowledging a long and well-documented history of tribal governance and ensuring the tribe has a direct, sovereign relationship with the federal government. This action reflects our responsibility to listen to tribes, honor commitments and support strong tribal governments.” During the first week of his second term, President Trump issued a memorandum, declaring that, “considering the Lumbee Tribe’s historical and modern significance, it is the policy of the United States to support the full Federal recognition, including the authority to receive full Federal benefits, of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.” “Recognition of the Lumbee Tribe demonstrates that President Trump is keeping his promises to Indian Country,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland. “This list documents the tribes that have a government-to-government relationship with the United States, supporting tribal sovereignty and underscoring our commitment to upholding the nation’s obligations to tribes.” The list of federally recognized tribes is published in the Federal Register annually. The list comprises 575 American Indian and Alaska Native tribal entities, including nations, tribes, bands, communities, Pueblos and villages, that are acknowledged to have: The immunities and privileges available to federally recognized tribes by virtue of their government-to-government relationship with the United States, and The responsibilities, powers, limitations and obligations of such tribes. The list is maintained, updated and published by the Bureau of Indian Affair’s Office of Indian Services, Division of Tribal Government Services. ###

The Lumbee Tribe Portal Site is temporarily down for maintenance. We will put out a notification when the site maintenance is complete.