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For Immediate Release Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Doubles the Available Down Payment Assistance Amount to Offset Increasing Cost for First - Time Home Buyers Pembroke, NC (March 17, 2023) - On Thursday, Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery amended the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Down Payment Assistance Policy. The change will increase the down payment assistance amount to first-time home buyers. Previously, recipients received a range between $5,000 to $12,000 through the Down Payment Assistance program. Now if approved, Lumbee Tribal members may receive from $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000. Chairman Lowery said he is proud to announce the change because inflation is contributing to higher interest rates and rising cost of construction. "We are increasing access to the American Dream of owning a home,” said Lowery. "By providing a higher benefit of down payment assistance, we are helping Lumbee families not only overcome the hurdle of paying their closing costs, but also gaining positive equity on their home before they ever move in.” The first family to benefit from the change is Stephanie Stewart and her 8-year-old son Jakoby. While holding back the tears, Stewart described her surprise as she found out the amount she would receive was increased by double. “To me it means a first chance for me and my son to finally have something to call our own,” said Stewart. “I’m 37 years old and I have lived paycheck to paycheck for most of my life, like a lot of individuals in Robeson County, but to receive a gift like this down payment assistance from the Lumbee Tribe is life-changing”. Stewart hopes to move into a new home in the Clyborn Pines community with the next month. She said the difference in money will cover the closing cost and a portion of the down payment. See attached full Press Release, photo and video of amendment signing with first family click here https://youtu.be/40us-igyBms The Down Payment Assistance Program requirements remain the same. Interested applicants may apply at the Lumbee Tribe Housing Complex from 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Congratulations to all of our Lumbee dancers and drummers who participated in the United Tribes Unity Conference Powwow this weekend. We had a number of Lumbee winners during the competition. Senior Ms. Lumbee Sharon McNeill-Burnette was also in the Grand Entry and participated throughout the evening along with the Lumbee Ambassadors and Miss NCNAYO. Miss Indian N.C. Jayla Locklear (Lumbee) was the Head Female Dancer.

Congratulations to our Lumbee children and staff who participated in the United Tribes Unity Conference Amateur Art Contestant. 8-year-old Brynlee McNeill, took 1st place in the Beadwork youth competition. She is a 3rd grader with Pembroke Boys & Girls Club. 9-year-old Kassidy Brewer took 1st place in beadwork category. She is a 4th grader and member of the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club. 11-year-old Avery Locklear won 1st place in the basket weaving category. She is in the 5th grade and a member of the Scotland County Boys & Girls Club. 14-years-old Latisha Bell won 2nd place in the basket weaving contest. She is in the 8th grade and member at First Nations Boys & Girls Club. In the Adult Division, our Lumbee Tribal Staff member Shareka Wilkins Locklear took 1st place for painting. Staff member Reggie Brewer also took 1st place in Beadwork and "Best in Show" for his "Gourd rattle.

You are invited to the District 3 Community Meeting on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm at Antioch Baptist Church at 1237 Rozier Siding Road, in St. Pauls, NC 28384. The meeting is hosted by Tribal Council members Pam Hunt & Harold Smith. The community event will include • Tribal Services Information • Community Information • Door Prizes Dinner Will Be Served

Congratulations to Cheer Xcel Junior Dynasty, who are now National Champions! On Sunday, the cheer leading team walked away as the 2023 UCA Allstar National Champions and your 2023 Triple Crown Champions! Triple Crown required them to win 3 national titles in one season. They won Cheer Sport Nationals, NCA Nationals, and UCA International All-Star Championship. Cheer Xcel Purple Reign won Cheersport NCA and earned silver at UCA. The teams have competed in Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh, Tennessee, Florida and Texas this season. The members of Cheer Xcel are based in Robeson County, with their headquarters in Lumberton. The 16 elite athletes' range in ages from 11 to 19-years-old. The Cheer Gym is owned by Darlene Bell Scott and her daughters, Coach Chyna Tramel and Coach Harlie Scott. The team members include Junior Dynasty: Coach - Chyna Tramel - Skylar Jones Jayliah Biddick Chloe Chavis Alyssa Oxendine Shelby Roach KayleeAnah Deal Javeanah Deal Janna Oxendine Breana Leland Helena Fuller Peyton Hunt Aniston Lowery Purple Reign: Coach - Chyna Tramel - Harlie Scott -Darlene Scott KayleeAnah Deal Adrianne Chavis Peyton Hunt Vanna Fuller Skylar Jones Jordyn Cross Javeanah Deal Madelyn Wilkins Breana Leland #xl4e #ucanationals #triplecrownchampions

You are invited to the District 5 Community Meeting on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 3 pm at Smithtown Church of God at 3832 McGirt Rd., Maxton, NC. The event is hosted by Council members Wendy Moore and Carrington Locklear. The event will include information about Potential Land Purchase, Homeownership and Elder sites.

Congratulations to Lumbee Tribe Supreme Court Justice Eric Freeman, who was sworn in at the March 2023 Lumbee Tribal Council Business Meeting. Freeman was sworn in by Chief Judge Mark Brooks. Justice Freeman is from the Prospect Community.

Congratulations to the Purnell Swett High School students who recently participated in the NC Beta Club State Convention. The students were recognized and received a standing ovation at the March Lumbee Tribal Council Business Meeting. A number of the students won awards at the state competition. 25 students went to the convention. Amaya Bullard - Jewelry and Photography Karina Oxendine - Photography Benjamin Brewington - Black and White Drawing Jori Jones - Painting Chloe Hammends - Digital Art Grace Oxendine - Photography Alexis Lowry - Recyclable Art, Mixed Media and Riley Miller - Mixed Media Kabrina Oxendine, De'Avalon Jacobs, and Summer Locklear - 2D Design Dahlia- Locklear, Sierra Oxendine and Chloe Hammonds - 3D Design Samuel Hunt, Brayden Bryant and Brice Chavis - Engineering Anna Hunt - Performing Arts, Vocalist Lekiah Freeman, Madison Epps, Jori Jones, Alexis Lowry, Christian Lowery, Christiana Hammonds and Camree Cummings- Living Literature Student volunteers - Emma Brewington, Timothy Brewington, and Jalyn Locklear The following students also placed and earned a chance to compete at the National Beta Convention in June: Alexis Lowry - Mixed Media/ 4t place and Recyclable Art/5th place Amaya Bullard - Jewelry / 1st place - Champion Anna Hunt - Performing Arts, Solo, Duo Trio Vocalists / 1st place - Champion. Anna also earned a Golden Ticket meaning she will be a part of the Premier Performers at the National Convention. Anna is also Teen Miss Lumbee Ms. Olivia Bird-Deese introduced the students.

Thank you to N.C. Department of Administration Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell for visiting and sharing important information for our tribal communities at the March Lumbee Tribal Council Business meeting. Secretary Cashwell is Lumbee and Coharie. She discussed the area of the state government which her office of the Department of Administration oversees. She talked jobs, certifications and how her office could help with information to assist our tribal members to seek state contracts. She also discussed the digital divide in our communities, the importance of Native families for the foster care system and much more. Secretary Cashwell also heard from Tribal council members and Chairman Lowery about the impact of MMIW - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women or MMIP - Murdered, Missing, Indigenous People on our communities. Greg Richardson and his staff and board members of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs joined Secretary Cashwell at the Lumbee Tribal Council Meeting.

The Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center staff is busy this week getting the gardens ready for spring. On Monday, our staff planted potatoes, onions and cabbage in the Lumbee Tribe Spring Moon Garden Patch. They will be harvested in the spring and used to provide vegetables for the elders living in the Lumbee Tribe Elder sites. The potatoes should be ready in April and May. Our tribal staff also has plans to can or preserve some Chow Chow in jars from the cabbage to go along with the vegetables. Once these vegetables are harvested, the staff plans to plant corn, butterbeans, peas, squash, okra, cucumbers and watermelons for the summer for our elders.