Search Site Results

Chairman’s Monthly Report August 2025 Dear Lumbee Citizens, During the month of August, we came together to host our 3rd Annual Lumbee Gala, raising money to support and promote the Lumbee Fairness Act. I am always thankful for the support that the community shows for this event. Your generosity allows us to go to Washington, DC and advocate on behalf of our people. We do not have the millions of dollars of casino money that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have, so we depend on the Lumbee Gala to help us combat the propaganda machine of our opponents. I would like to thank Speaker Alex Baker, Treasurer Pam Hunt, Councilman Harold Smith, Councilwoman Chocajuna Oxendine, and our tribal staff who served on the planning committee. They all worked tirelessly to ensure a successful and fantastic night of fun. Thank you to all our sponsors and attendees. It was a pleasure to unveil the site of the future Elder Housing Village in the Jonesville community near Maxton, NC. As a former council member for that district, I made it a priority to find land in the area to build a community village for our elders. The 71 acres will allow us to build many homes for our elders and create a safe neighborhood in an area that has not seen a lot of community development over the years. We did consult with community members and made sure they were happy with an elder's site and the overall multi-million dollar long-term investment in District 18. Working with the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, we hosted a Back-to-School bash on August 9th. This partnership included free sports physicals, back-to-school supplies, health screenings, haircuts, food, and much more. I am grateful for the many partners who came together to make this a great event. We had over 600 parents and children attend the event and we saw many smiles throughout the day. The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina works with numerous partners each year to put on events that provide services or educational opportunities for our citizens. Our employees, from all departments, are engaged with each event to ensure space, funding, or employee time is available to ensure a good outcome. These events do not happen without employees at every level working with our partners in some way, large and small. I am grateful for the time they put in as they work on "other duties as assigned". I love you all, and I am honored to serve as Chairman of our great Tribal Nation! Sincerely, John L. Lowery Chairman

Press Release Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow Relocates to UNCP Due to Weather Forecast Pembroke, NC (September 24, 2025) – The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina announces a location change for the upcoming Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow, scheduled for September 26–28, 2025. Due to the possibility of inclement weather, the powwow will now be held at the Jones Athletic Center at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), 1 University Drive, Pembroke, NC 28372, rather than the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. All scheduled times and events for the powwow will remain the same. The decision was made to ensure the safety and comfort of dancers, vendors, and guests, while allowing the community to continue its celebration without disruption. We look forward to welcoming everyone to UNCP as we gather to honor our Lumbee culture, dance, and traditions. This adjustment ensures that the powwow will continue in a safe and enjoyable environment for all. The Lumbee Tribe encourages community members and guests to share this update widely so that everyone is aware of the new location. For more information, please contact the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina at (910) 521-7861 or visit www.lumbeetribe.com

The Lumbee Tribe's Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow Student Day will be held at UNC Pembroke's JONES CENTER MAIN GYM (1 University Dr, Pembroke, NC) on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 10 am to 2 pm.  Join us for a Native Student Showcase, featuring powwow dancing exhibitions & culture demonstration sessions. Food & Art Vendors will be on-site.

The Lumbee Tribe of NC Housing Complex and all tribal offices will be closed on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for staff development. Our offices will REOPEN at 2 pm. The Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Housing Complex and all tribal offices will be CEOSED Friday, September 26, 2025 and Monday, September 29, 2025 in preparation for Powwow setup and breakdown

We are excited to see our friends, family, and community on October 4, 2025, for the Lumbee Tribe Fall Festival & Fish Fry at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. It will be a day of fun for everyone. The day starts with the annual 5-K Fun Run/Walk at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. Registration is from 6:45 am to 8 am. The run begins at 8 am. The festival continues at 11:00 am with a FREE Fish Lunch (while supplies last), gospel singing, and Lumbee Cultural demonstrations by Lumbee Artisans. The Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center is on Terry Sanford Drive in Maxton, NC.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Night on November 1rst. Enjoy performances by a North Carolina native singing the National Anthem and other Native artists during the halftime show.For ticket pricing, use the links provided. Get your tickets before they get gone. Each ticket will receive an official Native American Heritage Night T shirt For group or suite sales, contact Hank Snyder at 1-704-688-9062 or hsnyder@hornets.com . https://hornets.spinzo.com/charlotte-hornets-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-2025-11-01-JJTZP?group=native-american-heritage-night-t7th   https://hornets.spinzo.com/NAHN

Mark your calendar for a very special performance as the Lumbee Community welcomes the Gather Hear Tour for an extraordinary evening! Bring your family out on Friday, October 24th at 7 pm for a world class performance with Miki Sawada and Chris Thompson. The event will be in the Prospect Community at the Two Streams Community Building. It is free to the public. The show is unlike any other, combining classical piano music with spoken word and rap, audience participation, plus an original composition by Chris. Through music, Gather Hear seeks to connect with the people who call this land home, and find what we have in common as humans across the divides in this nation. At the Two Streams concert, UNCP professors Mark Tollefsen and Lindsay Jacob will join the stage for a performance of a newly written composition inspired by "Chicora and the Little People: The Legend of the Indian Corn." Visit www.gatherhear.com  for more information about the tour and the project. About Miki: As the founder of Gather Hear, pianist MIki has organized and performed 100 concerts across 7 states. She is based in Boston and performs internationally in places such as Carnegie Hall, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater NYC, and Helsinki Music Center. www.mikisawada.com About Chris: Multi-talented musician Chris is a composer, percussionist, and spoken word/rap artist. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition at Peabody Institute and is a proud alum of NC A&T's internationally acclaimed Gold Steel Drumline, having served as Drum Captain. www.masterchristopher.com

You are invited to the 3rd Annual Lumbee Cultural Health Fair "Honoring Resilience, Heritage and Indigenous Well-being, on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. Come out for a day of fun for the whole family. The event, which is sponsored by WellCare and the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. will also have representatives from area businesses offering a variety of services for your health, family and much more.   The services will include: a Health Screening, Blood drive, Sacred Healing Circle and distribution of Healthy Food boxes. Enjoy local vendors and artisans, music, a cultural ceremony by the Dark Water Society, a sacred healing circle, wellness resources and much more. The Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center is located on 824 Terry Sanford Dr., in Maxton, NC 28364. The event is in celebration of American Indian Heritage Month. For more information contact Melissa Hunt at 910.775.2204.

Mark your calendar to join us on Wednesday, September 24th at 3 pm for a Prescribed Burning and Longleaf Pine Restoration Webinar. The event is hosted collaboratively with the Lumbee Tribe Ag Department, the Nature Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association (SPBA). (SPBA) is dedicated to assisting landowners in restoring the biologically diverse landscapes of the Southeastern U.S. It focuses on educating and supporting private landowners in using prescribed fire techniques, also known as Prescribed Fire. The Lumbee Tribe Agriculture and Natural Resources Department have joined these efforts in education and connecting our community with resources to help manage their lands and restore them to their natural beauty. For more information call 910.522.2209.

You are invited to the Lumbee Tribe Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow September 26-28. This annual gathering is a vibrant celebration of Native traditions, featuring competitive dancing, drum contests, cultural demonstrations, and a powerful display of unity and pride among Indigenous people. Dancers and drum groups from across the nation will take part, making the event one of the largest cultural showcases in the region. This year, the Lumbee Tribe is honored to introduce a new Women’s Eastern Woodland Category for participants ages 18 to 49. This addition reflects the Tribe’s deep commitment to honoring the matrilineal foundations of its people and celebrating the vital role of women as life-givers, leaders, and wisdom-keepers within the community. Grand Entries will begin on Friday at 7:00 PM, continue on Saturday at 12:00 Noon and 7:00 PM, and conclude on Sunday at 1:00 PM. Each entry is a highlight of the weekend, as dancers enter the arena in full regalia accompanied by powerful drumbeats, creating a moving display of tradition. The event will feature specials including the Women’s Fancy Spotlight Special, the Grant Dial Men’s Northern Traditional, the Chairman’s Special Women’s Southern Traditional, as well as Fancy, Jingle, Traditional, Grass Dance, and more. The 2025 Powwow will be guided by a dedicated head staff. Head Male Dancer Ryan Dial and Head Female Dancer Raven Dial-Stanley will lead the arena alongside Head Drum Judge Chris Conner and Head Dance Judge Kevin Chavis. Arena Director Patrick Green will coordinate the flow of events, ensuring the powwow runs smoothly. The featured Host Northern Drum will be The Boyz (Minnesota), and the Host Southern Drum will be Southern Boyz (Oklahoma). Guests will also enjoy the energy and insight of Emcees Marty Thurman (Sac and Fox, Comanche, Absentee Shawnee and Delaware nation) and Sandon Jacobs (Waccamaw-Siouan) throughout the weekend. Marty Thurman shared, “If ”Dance of the Harvest Moon’” is not on your powwow calendar, make sure you add it and plan to attend! I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to once again serve as one of the Emcees for this year’s celebration. Coming from Shawnee, Oklahoma, my family and I look forward to a wonderful weekend of song and dance with the great Lumbee Nation.” Admission is $10 for adults, while seniors ages 55 and older, military personnel with valid ID, and youth under 18 may attend for $5. Children age five and under will be admitted free of charge. A Sunday-only ticket is available for $5, and weekend passes can be purchased for $20, allowing guests to enjoy all three days of the celebration. For more information visit, https://www.lumbeetribe.com/fallpowwow

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is proud to announce that the official Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow T-shirts are now available for purchase through the Tribe’s online store. This year’s design was created by Raven Dial-Stanley, Indigenous artist, educator, and entrepreneur — who will also serve as the Female Head Dancer for the 2025 Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow alongside her brother, Ryan Dial, the Male Head Dancer. When asked about the inspiration behind the design, Raven shared: "When envisioning the design, I wanted to tell a story of the harvest moon—one that highlights the medicines and elements that make up who we are as Lumbee people. This is my interpretation of a medicine wheel, each layer represents something and is placed in a downward view almost as if you are looking at it through the Creator's perspective. The outermost border represents tobacco leaves—plants that bring us medicine. Inside that is a woven pine needle border, followed by a pattern meant to represent the Lumbee River, as water is another powerful source of medicine. Within that are shapes symbolizing the ceremonial mounds built by our ancestors, which we still use in practice today. At the very center are the four directions, symbolizing the heart and core of the medicine wheel." The Tribe is honored to feature Raven’s work, which beautifully ties together cultural symbolism, tradition, and the story of the Lumbee people through art. Her leadership as Female Head Dancer, together with her brother Ryan’s role as Male Head Dancer, will highlight the strength of family, culture, and community at this year’s powwow. Powwow T-shirts are available in Youth ($15), Adult 50/50 Blend ($20), and Adult Dri-Fit ($25) styles. Colors include Black, Chocolate, Maroon, and Turquoise. T-shirts can be purchased now through the Lumbee Tribe’s online store at: https://lumbee-tribe-of-nc.square.site/s/shop . For more information about the 2025 Dance of the Harvest Moon Powwow, please visit our website or contact the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina at (910) 521-7861.