Lumbee leaders press Senate for full tribal status amid opposition

Leaders of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to grant full federal recognition, according to ICT. The proposal, known as the Lumbee Fairness Act, would amend the 1956 Lumbee Act and allow the state-recognized tribe to access federal services and place land into trust. Lumbee Chairman John Lowery said more than 200 tribes and major Native organizations support recognition.

Opponents, including Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Mitchell Hicks, questioned the Lumbee’s lineage and process. Department of the Interior officials submitted a written statement supporting the legislation, saying it would resolve ambiguities in the 1956 law. Lumbee attorney Arlinda Locklear told the committee the tribe meets federal standards for recognition.