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Thank you to the Appalachian State University Office of Diversity and the A.S. U. Student American Indian Movement as well as Chancellor Sheri Everts and the university Administration for hosting a Lumbee Flag Ceremony this week to place the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. flag in the International Hall of Plemmonds Student Union on the university campus. The ceremony on Monday was in honor of the contributions of Lumbee students, faculty and staff to the campus. The Lumbee Tribal Council, Tribal Administrator Ricky Harris and several members of the Lumbee Tribal staff attended the ceremony. The Council Members also presented a special gift to Cierra Bell for her hard work and extraordinary representation of "Her People", the Lumbee Tribe. From the kindness of everyone on campus to our Lumbee Tribal Council and staff to the collard sandwiches at the reception, it was beautiful. We say thank you for honoring the Lumbee Tribe, but also for your welcoming kindness and showing love to our Lumbee young people on the Appalachian State University Campus.

Thank you to the Appalachian State University Office of Diversity and the A.S. U. Student American Indian Movement as well as Chancellor Sheri Everts and the university Administration for hosting a Lumbee Flag Ceremony this week to place the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. flag in the International Hall of Plemmonds Student Union on the university campus. The ceremony on Monday was in honor of the contributions of Lumbee students, faculty and staff to the campus. The Lumbee Tribal Council, Tribal Administrator Ricky Harris and several members of the Lumbee Tribal staff attended the ceremony. The Council Members also presented a special gift to Cierra Bell for her hard work and extraordinary representation of "Her People", the Lumbee Tribe. From the kindness of everyone on campus to our Lumbee Tribal Council and staff to the collard sandwiches at the reception, it was beautiful. We say thank you for honoring the Lumbee Tribe, but also for your welcoming kindness and showing love to our Lumbee young people on the Appalachian State University Campus.

Saturday was the last time Coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars will play in Greenville, N.C. because Houston is going to the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma and Texas are leaving the Big 12, but the University of Houston is among the 4 teams invited to join this conference. Here are additional photos from the ECU vs. Houston game on Saturday. Thank you to Kelvin Sampson for taking the time after such a busy season to meet and visit with the more than 100 Lumbee Tribal Members, friends and kin that turned out from across the state on Saturday to cheer you and the Houston Cougars on! Kelvin Sampson is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of N.C.

Happy Founders' Day and 136th Birthday to UNC Pembroke! It was a beautiful day today to celebrate the founders of this historic campus and the 100th Anniversary of Old Main. It is always wonderful to hear the extraordinary stories and path that led to those humble beginnings in 1887. Croatan Normal School, as the institution was originally called began with one teacher, W.L. Moore, and 15 students in one building. The building was constructed by our ancestors at a site about one mile west of the present location, and the school opened in the fall of 1887. For many years the instruction was at the elementary and secondary level, and the first diploma was awarded in 1905. The ceremony was extra special today as several families of the original founders were in attendance, as well as some of the graduates from the 1950's.

An effort is underway to save the historic "One Room Schoolhouse". Sherry Watson and Vernena Oxendine, great grandchildren of Lawrence Maynor who was the last known teacher in the one room schoolhouse, are working to protect this important history. This schoolhouse was moved from the Union Chapel Community in 1972 to its present location in Lumberton off of Exit 19/I95. Since it is located in a flood zone, community members have joined in an effort to relocate it to the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. Brick pavers are being sold to support the preservation project. One-room schools, or schoolhouses, were commonplace throughout rural portions of Robeson County. A single teacher would typically have students in the first through eighth grades, and she taught them all. The number of students varied from six to 40 or more. The youngest children sat in the front, while the oldest students sat in the back. The teacher usually taught reading, writing, arithmetic, history, and geography. Students memorized and recited their lessons. This one-room schoolhouse would have a teacher on a platform in the front of the room. A wood heater for heat. The bathroom would have been outside in an outhouse. The water source would have been a hand pump located also outside. The bell shown would have been rung to alert the students that school has started. Students would have walked to school early in the morning. Many would not have shoes to wear. However, thousands of students would have sat in this building learning to read and write. Many, I am sure, grew up together, possibly married, and started families of their own. This would be the beginning of lifelong friendships and learning. For more information visit https://donate.brickmarkers.com/los...

On Tuesday, Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery helped to kick off Read Across America as he read to students at two schools in the Public Schools of Robeson County. Chairman Lowery read two Dr. Seuss books to students at Deep Branch and Union Elementary Schools. He encouraged the students to read, while also sharing his love of reading. Chairman Lowery is a former school teacher from the Public Schools of Robeson County. Thursday is Dr. Seuss's Birthday. Our schools across the county have done an amazing job to decorate for this reading extravaganza! Look for Chairman Lowery throughout the week as he reads to students and rhymes a bit too!

See attached photos and full press release For Immediate Release Lumbee River EMC Gives Donation to Lumbee Tribe of N.C. and Makes Commitment as Community Partner Pembroke, NC (February 22, 2023) - On Wednesday, Rory Eddings, Lumbee River Electric Membership Cooperation Chairman of the Board, presented a $40,000 check to Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery for upgrades at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. The presentation is the first installment as LREMC commits $200,000 to the Lumbee Tribe over the next five years. Eddings said the co-op is glad to partner with the Lumbee Tribe to do things that will benefit our community. "Rebuilding the Cultural Center is important, because it is an asset to our communities and it is going to make a difference,” said Eddings. “We are looking forward to the future, working together and we are excited about this relationship with the tribe.” Lumbee Tribal Chairman Lowery thanked Eddings and the administration for the gift. Lowery said the Lumbee Tribe is glad to partner with LREMC. "They are a good partner to us and I’m very happy that they have decided to invest in the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center and invest in our people,” said Lowery. “I look forward to future collaborative efforts.” For Jon T. Locklear, President and CEO of LREMC, the presentation was very significant and personal because he worked his first job at 14-years-old at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. Locklear cut grass, did odd jobs and was a part of a clean-up crew at the Strike at the Wind! Outdoor Drama. "It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of renovating something that means so much to our communities and has for so many years,” said Locklear. “We hope this collaboration will continue and we will be able to invest and bring something to our communities that is well needed, and that will last for generations.” The Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center welcomed more than 25,000 guests in 2022. The center began undergoing a facelift and renovations in 2016. The first phase updated the pool, renovated restrooms, and began the amphitheater upgrades. The next phase will include amphitheater stadium seats, arbor upgrades, volleyball and full-court basketball courts, amphitheater stage upgrades, concession upgrades and much more. Photo - L-R- Sharon Hunt - Speaker, Lumbee Tribal Council, John L. Lowery - Lumbee Tribal Chairman, Rory Eddings - Lumbee River EMC Chairman of the Board, Tony Hunt - LREMC Board Member and Jon T. Locklear, LREMC President and CEO.

The Lumbee Tribe's Tribal Support Services will host Recovery Group every Tuesday night beginning at 6 pm on March 7th at the Tribal Support Service Center located at 204 West 3rd Street Pembroke, NC 28372. Our Peer Support Specialist & addiction coaches will share their experiences in hopes to provide the encouragement and strength needed for your journey to recovery living a life free from the chains of addictions. We aim to help you achieve and maintain sobriety.

For Immediate Release Lawmakers Take a New Direction with Lumbee Legislation as Lumbee Fairness Act is Introduced in Congress Washington, DC (February 17, 2023) - Today, Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC-07) led members of the North Carolina delegation to introduce the Lumbee Fairness Act. The legislation would provide full recognition and associated federal protections to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery spoke with pride as he commended the congressional delegation for their support of the Lumbee People at the Lumbee Tribal Council on Thursday night as he informed the council of the impending legislation. "We are grateful to Congressman Rouzer, Senator Tillis and the co-sponsors of the Lumbee Fairness Act," said Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery. "It has been almost 70 years since the 1956 Act was passed. It is clearly time for Congress to provide the Lumbee People with the benefits that are inherent to federally recognized tribes." Rouzer is joined by Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC-09), Congressman Greg Murphy (R- NC-03), Congressman Dan Bishop (R-NC-08), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Congresswoman Kathy Manning (D-NC-06), and Congressman Don Davis (D-NC-01). "For generations, the Lumbee have fought for full federal recognition and tribal sovereignty that is long overdue," said Rep. Rouzer. "I’m proud to champion the Lumbee Fairness Act in the 118th Congress and will continue working to help the Tribe receive the federal protections they are due, including access to the same resources as every other federally recognized tribe." Members of the Lumbee Tribe reside primarily in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland Counties. The Lumbee People are known for their entrepreneurial spirit and their focus on education. Tribal Chairman Lowery visited with the North Carolina delegation this week in Washington as preparations were underway to introduce the new legislation. See attached Full Press Release

Congratulations to the Prospect Elementary School Beta Club for their accomplishments at the North Carolina Beta Conference in Greensboro in January. The Prospect Beta Club members were recognized tonight by the Lumbee Tribal Council at the February Business Meeting for participating and their success at the state conference. Prospect Beta Club has been invited to the National Beta Conference in Kentucky this summer. Tonight the Beta club members were able to showcase their talent and share what place they won. The former and current secretary and president spoke as well. Former Little Miss Lumbee Riley Dial is the Junior Secretary. The reigning Junior Miss Lumbee Keely Deal is the new North Carolina Junior Beta Club President Elect. Each Beta club member and their family received a blanket tonight from the Lumbee Tribe. Their coordinator Jamie Burney is also the Junior State Sponsor. Each school that participated in the Beta Club conference within the Lumbee Tribal Territories will be recognized by the Lumbee Tribal Council.

Applications are now available for the Senior Ms. Lumbee Pageant. The pageant will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 6:30 pm at Givens Performing Arts Center. Interested applicants may pick up applications at the front desk at the Lumbee Tribe Housing Complex on Highway 711 or at the Vocational Rehab Department behind the Housing Complex. For more information call 910.521.4220.

The Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Housing Complex and all tribal offices will be closed Monday, February 20th for Presidents' Day. Our offices will re-open on Tuesday, February 21st.