Tonight, there were standing ovations all around as the Lumbee Tribal Council welcomed in our Dixie and Diamond Youth World Series winners.

Tonight, there were standing ovations all around as the Lumbee Tribal Council welcomed in our Dixie and Diamond Youth World Series winners. Vice Speaker Bobby Emanuel and the council honored the West Robeson 6U Diamond Youth Baseball North Carolina State Champions. The team played in Lumberton, NC to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball North Carolina State Tournament from June 19-23. They competed against 12 other teams throughout the State and won the State Championship. They will be traveling to Laurel, Mississippi from July 28-Aug 3 to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball 6U World Series.

Also recognized was the West Robeson Minors Diamond Youth Baseball North Carolina State Champions Minors. The Minors team won their District Tournament in order to advance and play in Tabor City, NC to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball North Carolina State Tournament from July 4-9. They competed against 12 other teams throughout the State and won the State Championship. They will be traveling to Laurel, Mississippi from July 28-Aug 3 to compete in the Diamond Youth Baseball Minors World Series.

The council also recognized the West Robeson 13U Dixie Youth Boys North Carolina State Champions, but they are still competing in Sterling, Louisiana.

The final team recognized was the Pembroke Belles Allstars, who traveled to Kinston , NC to complete in the Dixie Softball North Carolina State Championship July 10-14. They competed against 7 other teams throughout the District and won the Championship. The Pembroke Belles Allstars will be traveling to Odessa, FL July 24-28 to compete in the Dixie Softball World Series.

Vice Speaker Bobby Emanuel presented each team with a Lumbee Federal Recognition Celebration shirt which showcases the warrior, the Woodpeck and honors them as warriors of the Lumbee People. They also received a sponsorship from the council. Congratulations to each team on winning and their games ahead.

Also tonight, the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Edward Brooks swore in Aaron Butler to fill the appointed seat of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs. He shall serve a 3-year term, representing Region 1: Tribal Council Districts 1, 2, 14, 16, 17, and 21, his term will expire on June 30, 2029. He assumes the seat of Larece Hunt, who formerly served that appointment on the NC Commission