State Recognized Lumbee Indians Cross Major Hurdle in Battle for Federal Recognition

The quest for federal recognition, a journey spanning over a century and countless trips to Washington D.C., saw the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina achieve a monumental victory recently. A significant hurdle was cleared as the U.S. House of Representatives, after extensive debate, voted overwhelmingly in favor of granting the Lumbee a status that could unlock substantial federal resources. This potential influx of funds could translate into hundreds of millions of dollars directed towards vital services like housing, education, and healthcare for the tribe.

A Landmark Vote, A Conditional Victory

The House vote, a resounding endorsement of the Lumbee cause, was not without compromise. A specific concession was made early in the legislative process by a House committee: the Lumbee tribe, upon receiving federal recognition, would be prohibited from establishing a casino. This stipulation, while potentially limiting the tribe’s future economic options, paved the way for broader support of the recognition bill.

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Proponents of the bill express optimism, citing the Democratic control of the Senate and the bipartisan efforts of Senator Elizabeth Dole, a Republican championing the cause. Senator Dole has actively engaged with both sides of the political spectrum to garner support for the legislation. However, opponents remain steadfast in their commitment to challenging the bill in the Senate, where the political climate is constantly shifting. The recent death of Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, a ranking Republican member of the Indian Affairs Committee and a vocal opponent of the Lumbee bill, has further complicated the situation. It remains unclear who will assume his position on the committee, where Senator Dole is pushing for a vote on the Lumbee bill. This article focuses on State recognized Lumbee Indians cross major hurdle in battle for federal recognition.

Celebrations and Hope Amidst Uncertainty

News of the House vote sparked celebrations among Lumbee tribal members. The vote represents a beacon of hope after decades of struggle. Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins expressed profound emotion, describing the moment as one filled with tears, hugs, and gratitude. He emphasized the significance of the vote, stating that it provided tremendous momentum as they move forward in the U.S. Senate.

Representative Mike McIntyre, a Democrat representing Lumberton, North Carolina, has been a long-standing advocate for the Lumbee cause during his eleven-year tenure in Congress. He personally retrieved the vote tally sheet from the House clerk and presented it to Chairman Goins. The document revealed a decisive 256-128 victory, a two-to-one margin of support that brought tears to Goins’ eyes.

The Lumbee: A Tribe of Significant Size and Potential Impact

The Lumbee tribe, boasting approximately 55,000 members, is the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River. Federal recognition would elevate them to the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the nation. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the tribe could receive nearly $500 million in benefits within the first five years of recognition. These resources would be transformative for a community grappling with significant challenges, including high dropout rates, elevated rates of diabetes, and some of the highest unemployment rates in North Carolina.

Chairman Goins emphasized that the House vote marked the culmination of a struggle that began over a century ago, when the Lumbee first petitioned Congress for recognition. However, the journey to this point was fraught with challenges, including internal divisions and opposition from other Native American tribes and political figures.

Internal Opposition and Contentious Debates

The Lumbee quest for federal recognition has been met with resistance from various factions, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Tuscarora Indians. The Eastern Cherokee, who operate a successful casino, have accused the Lumbee of appropriating Cherokee heritage to bolster their case for recognition. Within Robeson County, North Carolina, where the Lumbee are primarily located, a faction of Tuscarora Indians alleges that the Lumbee have stolen their heritage and are not genuine Native Americans but rather a group of mixed-race individuals with no legitimate tribal history.

Tuscarora Chairwoman Katherine Magnotta expressed skepticism about the Lumbee’s claims and predicted that the bill would ultimately be rejected in the Senate. She argued that strong arguments and unanswered questions remain regarding the Lumbee’s heritage and identity.

In addition to the Eastern Cherokee and the Tuscarora, three other North Carolina congressmen – Representatives Patrick McHenry, Heath Shuler, and Walter Jones – have voiced their opposition to the Lumbee bill.

Overcoming Past Legislation and Navigating Political Obstacles

The House floor became the site of intense debate as North Carolina lawmakers engaged in three hours of passionate discussion regarding the Lumbee tribe. The current bill aims to rectify the obstacles created by a 1957 act of Congress, which recognized the Lumbee as Indians but simultaneously prohibited them from seeking federal benefits or recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Representative McIntyre argued that the 1957 legislation relegated the Lumbee to a state of "Indian no man’s land." Representatives McHenry and Shuler, despite their differing political affiliations, co-sponsored an amendment that would have required the Lumbee to undergo the standard recognition process within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. However, the Democrat-controlled House Rules Committee prevented the amendment from being brought to a vote.

During the debate, Representative Shuler questioned the legitimacy of the Lumbee’s claim to Native American identity, asserting that there is no distinct Lumbee heritage or reservation.

The Senate Battleground and the Road Ahead

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has previously approved similar bills in the past two Congresses. Senator Richard Burr, a Republican from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a co-sponsor of Senator Dole’s bill and a member of the Indian Affairs Committee. He has pledged to work towards its passage in the Senate. State recognized Lumbee Indians cross major hurdle in battle for federal recognition.

The upcoming Senate vote represents a critical juncture in the Lumbee’s long and arduous journey towards federal recognition. The outcome will determine whether the tribe finally receives the federal support and recognition it has sought for over a century.