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H.R. 31, The Lumbee Recognition Act (32 comments ↓ | 12 wiki edits)
H.R. 31 would provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
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Visitor Comments 
JOE
February 16, 2009, 4:45pm (report abuse)My mother was LUMBEE.
WE ARE NOT A DEAD TRIBE WHO JUST WANT CASINO GAMBLING! I am not recognized by the Lumbee People as being in their number but I KNOW WHO I AM! We are a very inclusive CONFEDERATION of Native Americans and those who have chosen over the hundreds of years to throw their lot in with us. I would venture that the LUMBEE PEOPLE have been honoring diversity and putting to practice than most "whites" although there are certainly whites in my own ancestry. Lumbee have a distinct oral tradition (reading and writing aren't exactly Native American innovations.), culture, language and people. The idea of a PURE RACE belongs with Hitler and the Nazis. Lumbee are ONE people of many colors. One Big, Beautiful Native American FAMILY! As such, they should be recognized! I think they would LIKE THEIR RIGHTS as the largest Nation east of the Misssissippi!THEY ARE HISTORICALLY A PEOPLE ALWAYS IDENTIFIED AS NATIVE AMERICAN!
Sylvia Chavis
March 4, 2009, 4:19pm (report abuse)I am a member of the Lumbee Tribe. I am proud to be a native Americian. My Grandmother was part Cherokee. I wish everyone would just try to accept the facts. We are who we are. Nothing can change that. We won't stop until we are recognized who we are and to be treated fairly. We have earn our rights hundred of years ago. Our ancestors still live within us all and we won't give up until we have been recognized of who we are.
J. Locklear
May 8, 2009, 3:45am (report abuse)I am not a member of the tribe but I am a proud Native American of Lumbee ancestry. People will say we are not "real" natives because of our high mix of blood. I am a Lumbee that does not deny this. We have black, white, and native in most of us. But look at the Cherokees in Oklahoma. No blood quantum requirement (blood quantum can never go up, only down, so it was only introduced to try to completely destroy our race, and we fell for it). All you have to do to join the Cherokee Nation is prove your lineage to them. You'd be very hard pressed to find many "full blooded" Cherokees over there outside of the Keetoowah. Should you strip them of their recognition because of their high mixed blood?
It is a weak argument towards the Lumbee community. Only 20% of Native Americans have more than 1/4th blood in them. We are native because, despite the mixed blood, we all have native in us and it is always what we have historically identified ourselves as. Even when it was unpopular to be such.
S. Taylor
May 18, 2009, 10:50pm (report abuse)I am not a member of the tribe and I too have Lumbee lineage. I do not know why this tribe should not be recognized as they certainly date back to the earliest of settelments on the east coast of N. America. I think the government continues trying to dominate the Native American way of thinking, feeling,their very way of life and their spirituality. Stop playing politics with peoples lineage and identity and do the right thing. This tribes recognition is long overdue.
h harjo
June 17, 2009, 3:03pm (report abuse)i am creek and lumbee in ancestry, and i live in the cherokee nation of oklahoma. if the 300,000 or more cherokee nation of oklahoma citizens can be a tribe, by god the lumbees are damn sure one.19 out of 20 of the people i know here all have cherokee enrollment and 1/500th cdib cards in they pockets and 19 out of 20 CNO members i know have blond hair and blue eyes and pale skins and so do they wives and children. i live in the middle of one of the biggest nest of pharisees in the world i bet. CNO out to stop 'wannabes" whenas i said 19 out of 20 of the CNO members i know are the most whitebread folks youll ever meet. and most lumbees i know are 10 times the indians than 90 percent of these so called 300000 Cherokee nation of oklahoma so called indians. longlive keetowah.
Oszeola
June 19, 2009, 3:58pm (report abuse)r ,oh excuse me !! sorry now its Lumbee(made up name) or cherokee of robeson countybut atleast they are sincere they really want that casino$$$$$$ and will take away benefits from real natives that are really in need ,,go out west and see,the lumbee people have survived just fine as white but now they want that casino govt money their greed proves they are Europeans really,let the BIA prove them not some bought out politicians seeking their votes in NC,
bill smith
June 24, 2009, 3:13pm (report abuse)why are we subsidizing a group of people trying to form a tribe that we never had a treaty with and these people live like everyone else in the carolinas they are not and never were reservation or even tribal and have no culture they are just copying the plains Indians.This group is and allways has been completely assimilated into American society as whites so why has the US Govt been asked to seperate them now?? money! benefits! and how do we tell who really is a Lumbee when they dont even know themselves, they say we are Lumbee because we say we are!! well prove it to society then and if you cant just blend in and get a job. Stop asking politicians to make you Indian or Native American because Lumbees cant prove it with science or Historical records and by the way this Lumbee Hero Lowery fellow just looks like your average white appalachian hillbilly and no way native American.wannabee
Henry Berry Lowrie
June 25, 2009, 2:04pm (report abuse)The lumbee have been seeking this recognition since 1883 Then we were a people of color. The US Govt. labeled this group as Native American not white, since we were not hostile we didn't fit into the typical sterotype to be put on a reservation. Federal Recognition will give Lumbee Indians their rightful title as an American Indian and hopefully will finally stop being called native american wannabee's
stan Washington
June 29, 2009, 5:40pm (report abuse)The group known as Lumbee even with federal recognition will never be natives but only an assimilated group with some ancester from some unknown tribe ,its ashame these people cannot trace themselves to a native tribe of that area because that and that only is hat will make up Indian not politicians ,some white even managed to get themselves on Dawes rolls and such but the Trail of Tears affected all indians but not the Lumbee!! why !! Because they were and are not a native American tribe or anything other than anglos and mulattos looking for government approval of their invention,lets DNA anyone that cant prove a connection to a tribe ,we native suffered the trail of tears, not the Lumbee, they have no treatys and the US govt and Tax payers owe these people nothing that any other citizen gets especially without the BIA proving their ancestry this is just another way to rip the US taxpayers off with bought out politicians in robeson county.
Proud2beDine!
July 27, 2009, 12:35pm (report abuse)The "Lumbees" (which is a FAKE name) are NOT Indians! There have been scientific tests which proved them to be no more than 13 % Native by blood, not surprisingly they are 47 % African as well. IMHO these "Lumbees" should be classes as the African-Americans they really are. As a person of REAL Native descent (my mother is a full blooded Navajo from a REAL reservation, not this Robeson County type junk) I find it very offensive that these blacks, mulattos, and whatever else the Lumbees are should get any sort of federal benefits that real Natives deserve. The ancestors of the Lumbees were liars too though, they claimed all throughout the Colonial period and well into the 1900s to be Indian as a way of denying they are Black. They have changed their story on which tribe they're descended from like 5 different times as well. "Lumbees" need to get real and admit they are mulattos, stop pretending to be Indian, and GET A DAMN JOB!
Wendell White
July 28, 2009, 4:19pm (report abuse)The Question of why the Lumbee are fighting so hard for recognition they already lives as any other american does i,Maybe some of those Lumbees are really part Indian but that goes for most american that have had ancestry here since founding since the numbers are so large the Lumbee need to prove that they say they are because they keep changing identity,I at first believed them to be Croatan descendant the lost colony they are changing that to CHERAW well not all those 56,000 people can be Cheraw the cheraw were so small only a few hundred so this looks very fake, they are very strong about the subject emotions does not make one an Indian native they are a tribe organization but a tribe of WHAT???? their evidence doesnt merit being a federally recognized status like the Trail of tears Indians or creeks or navajo or any western tribes or dakotas, the Lumbee will cost the USA taxpayer close to more than a BILLION dollars and when their rolls re-open up more billions
CINDY1160
August 12, 2009, 4:44pm (report abuse)I DO NOT UNDER STAND WHY EVERY BODY IS SO AFRAID OF THE LUMBEE BEING RECONIZED AS A TRIBE OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE GAMBLING MONEY OR ANY THING LIKE THAT IT'S ABOUT YOUR BIRTH RIGHT.
Janie treig
August 14, 2009, 5:28pm (report abuse)It is not about anyone being afrai of the lumbee being recognized, Its just that they dont meet the minimum criterior with positive proof and if they are approved it opens the door to almost any group of people wanting minority status or federal recognition which means possibly people getting benefits that dont need them and that tribe swelling up the numbers to get money and benefits,if they so strongly believe Lumbee are Indian then leave it at that and let the indians whose ancesters were marched and shoved on reservations benefit because they need it and deserve it and the LUMBEE in all honestly dont and in apppearance the Lumbee are caucasian predominately ,I agree with the july 28th comment that all those folks cant be Indian native american in robeson.Therefore no benefits for them but the politicians sure up to get lumbee vote another reason why we shouldnt have the congress approve the lumbees its about Heritage not politics politics seem to be winning out over reality
walter r. johnson
August 20, 2009, 3:10pm (report abuse)How much black blood is not the issue here folks ,,thats irrelevent or how much white blood they may have lets not be racist ,be logical ,once they get recognized they will be able to buy land ,make laws like a sovereign nation hire police ,grab up land call it a reservation under the BIA land acquisitions act and do whatever they want in NC including putting anyone they want on their tribal rolls because the Bill they have in congress forbids the BIA from verifying that the enrolled members are Indians,,yes !!! they added that to the Bill !!!!!! they are keeping the BIA out of the membership selection process specifically!!!! what a Con, You must wonder why they added to the bill that the BIA dies not have to approve membership like they do for all other Indians because the tribe can issue Blood Quantum cards and make them selves full bloods if they choose with blood quantum cards they will ba allowed to make up their own blood quantum cards as a recognized tribe yes!!!!!!!!!
Free
September 23, 2009, 3:44pm (report abuse)As a Lumbee tribal member I am excited for possible recognition. However, after visting multiple other reservations out West I have mixed feelings on recognition. We do not need ther free money and land, this typically breeds lazy alcoholic diabetics. Free education would be wonderful...if more than a small handful would take advantage of it. I would love to be recognized and cary that banner for prides sake. I dont need anyones handouts...I work for a living and proudly support my family. Would love my kids to continue in such a manner. Would love to be regonized just like those blue eyed 1/8th Cherokees and get some school $. Dont need any help, but it sure is nice to have ;)
wendell
September 23, 2009, 5:58pm (report abuse)As for the Education benefit the poor already have it ,Its called a pell grant available to anyone with a certain income qualify for pell grants and state grants are totally FREE ALREADY. If you hace been to a RESERVATION then you may understand better out west why the BIA recognition is needed for already reconized tribes from the pass but these days it is unnecessary for 56,000 people to burden our depressed economy and take from real reservation Indians that really need it and live in remote reservations the Lumbee dont meet this need.
K. Richardson
October 3, 2009, 3:18pm (report abuse)I am a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe of North Carolina and I fully support the Lumbee in their recognition efforts. My own tribe has experienced circumstances very similar to that of the Lumbee and I feel that if the Lumbee are recognized it would give my own tribe a better chance toward gaining the recognition we as Native American people deserve. I also have to add that I find some of the comments on here to be racist and deeply offensive and I would advise those people to never come to North Carolina and if they do to be quiet about their opinions because they will not like what happens if they dare to publicly voice such hateful ideas.
wendall
October 5, 2009, 5:48pm (report abuse)the last comment sounded like it came from a whiteman threatning like you always do anyone who opposes your belief system so I know you are a white man for sure anyone else would realize this is a comment section and If north carolina people get upset when told thay are not Indian then they probably arent otherwise they would find a scientific way to proove that you are Indian HOW about DNA test!!! if you are so sure then post us your results only cost about $150 dollars to prove it buddy!!!
washington
October 6, 2009, 6:44pm (report abuse)if Lumbee were indian why weren't they included in the TRAIL OF TEARS !! when the army removed all large groups of indians from the east coast and south,Its because LUMBEE weren't native American but Mulattos or Turks or portuguese so dont try to change that fact by coming up with a slick answer !! Fact is LUMBEE not in TRAIL OF TEARS because not ever considered indian by the US Govt not even back then before mixing more.
Smith J
October 7, 2009, 5:56pm (report abuse)I AGREE.if Lumbee were indian why not included in the TRAIL OF TEARS !! when the army removed all large groups of indians from the east coast and south,Its because LUMBEE weren't native American but Mulattos or Turks or portuguese so dont try to change that fact by coming up with a slick answer !! Fact is LUMBEE not in TRAIL OF TEARS because not considered Native by the US Govt not even back then before mixing more.General Jackson who was in charge of indian removal and from the NC/SC area Im sure he knew about a whole County full Indians, these 56,000 indians called LUMPEE or LUMBER or CROATAN .Okay answer that logically?
tunnel rat
October 9, 2009, 4:25pm (report abuse)I studied indian history for 60 years there is no such thing as a lumbee indian.
Wendell
October 13, 2009, 5:49pm (report abuse)I have a degree in Anthropology and I took native studies and i agree there is no Lumbee tribe but only a large group of people in one county area where it was probably safer in the past if you were mixed mulatto to claim to be Indian so that u were less discriminated against! There Black heritage was replaced with a fake Indian tribe that couldnt figure out what tribe was available other than Cherokee so now they have latched on to the cheraw and are calling themselves cheraw without any positive proor or even remnant cultural remains or artifacts or historical records! Yes go to the LUMBEE website they now claim t be THE LUMBEE TRIBE OF CHERAW INDIANS.!!!!!! . The lumbee originally claimed Croatan, then cherokee for a while then tuscarora now they claim Cheraw, wow I cant believe that they got senators to buy that crap!!! well i guess votes!!! This bill will cost us Tax payers over 800 million every 4 years if passed by adding these LUMPEE people on the BIA recognized list.
Billie Realred
October 19, 2009, 8:31pm (report abuse)The Lumbee have not existed as a true tribe but only as a group of people that may or may not of had a distant native ancestor name one Lumbee custom not stolen from some other real tribe,Lets not judge by emotion and what you want to be but what you are,in Lumbees i see only white heritage thats what they are and they should celebrate that,geronimo would laugh at these modern whites searchin for indian ancestors,If Lumbees get federal recog it would undermine and make anyone a Native american.
Billie
October 20, 2009, 6:31pm (report abuse)I see Lumbee people writing poems and calling others haters or jealous and saying that they are proud and thats just fine if they believe that ,so dont put others down when they are asking what proof you people have that connects you to a real native American tribe,its just that tax dollars will be spent, we are talking possibly billions of dollars every four years here on your lumbee tribe so dont expect tax payers to fork over that kind of Money without allot of Proof or Questions,Try cashing a check and you will find even that positive ID is required for everything these days!!! Even native American heritage, I dont believe all those people calling themselves Lumbee are of native American Heritage!! over 60,000 members!
dan lee
October 27, 2009, 9:18pm (report abuse)The Lumbee are not cheraw descendants as they claim historical records do not indicate this at all,At the Close of the Yamasi war the Cheraw were dwelling on the upper Pedee near the line between the Carolinas, where their name is perpetuated in the town of Cheraw, S. C. Their number in 1715, according to Rivers, was 510, but this estimate probably included the Keyauwee. Being still subject to attack by the Iroquois, they finally-between 1726 and 1739 became incorporated with the Catawba, with whom at an earlier date they had been at enmity. They are mentioned as with the Catawba but speaking their own distinct dialect as late as 1743 (Adair). In 1759 a party of 45 "Charraws," some of whom were under their chief, "King Johnny," joined the English in the expedition against Ft Du Quesne. The last notice of them is in 1768, when their remnant, reduced by war and disease to 50 or 60, were still living with the Catawba.
Smith
November 2, 2009, 6:27pm (report abuse)In 1930, after the release of his movie The Silent Enemy, Buffalo Child Long Lance indian identity began to crumble. His real name was Sylvester Long. He was from Winston-Salem, N.C. He was African-American. And his father was not a chief
Margaret Jones is hardly the first person to have invented an Indian self her upbringing as a half-white, half-Indian child by a black family in South Central L.A. In fact, Jones’real name is Margaret Seltzer, she did not grow up in South Centralshe’s no more a Native American than Sylvester Long .By inventing a NativeAmerican heritage, Seltzer joins a long list of fake Indians. In addition to Buffalo Child Long Lance, and passed it off in not one but three books: and Grey Owl the persona of the Englishman Archibald Belaney, who wrote and toured on the strength of his Indian inspired conservationism between the World Wars).It’s easy enough to imagine what motivates.
Jerry
November 3, 2009, 6:52pm (report abuse)it is very hard to take urban mixed people who have no real native culture show them some plains indian powows and say u are indian native american and the Lumbee group hasnt understood that alot of americas have some possible ancestor of possible native origins but once that positive connection such as ,language,names,places,customs artifacts etc,, is lost and you also are extremely mixed out culturally and biologically with europeans(whites)too,,you are then completely assimilated totally JUST AMERICAN thats all LUMBEES . but with this hard economy many will try to find MONEY or Benefits anywhere they can ,Even formimg a TRIBE. This Lumbee H.B.31 will cost the tax payers almost a Billion dollars every 4 years if Lumbees are federally recognized. I believe only Trail Of Tears people on the East coast should benefit from such legislation and the LUMBEE werent considered even by pres,Andrew jackson back then for removal because they are not honest True native American tribe .Wado
T-LUMBEELADY
November 6, 2009, 4:02am (report abuse)WELL I'M Cherokee/LUMBEE MY FATHER IS FULL BLOODED Cherokee MY MOTHER IS LUMBEE AN I HAVE BEEN TOLDED ALL MY LIFE THAT I'AM A NATIVE AMERICAN NO MATTER WHAT TRIBE I'M FROM TO BE PROUD!! WE NATIVES NEED TO BE LEADERS!!!!AND TO STRONG !!!RIGHT NOW IN THESE HARD TIMES WE ALL NEED TO LOVE ALL PERSONS NO MATTER WHO!!!!AND WERE THEY ARE FROM!!! FROM THE HEART LUIMBEELADY-T
JamieCheLion
November 9, 2009, 4:19pm (report abuse)I have one request for all my people that the day will come when the four winds come together and we learn united we stand divided we fall recognized or un recognized dose not change the blood or the heart as long as we turn on our selves fall for the white mans quotas and refuse to accept each other we have lost what makes us Natives for we are no better than those that have oppressed us and tried to assimilate us spent years trying to strip us of what we are and deny we exist and feed on the hate we foster among are selves we are Native American Indians not ponns in a game of our own destruction
T-LUMBEELADY
November 13, 2009, 2:56am (report abuse)BUT PROUD IS A START INDIANS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER OR KILLING THEM SELFS HOW DRUGS ,GUNS ,KNIFES BEER. YOU NAME IT !! YES I UNDERSTAND THAT PROUD IS NOT ENOUGH BUT IF WE START RESPECT EACH OTHER THAN EVERY ONE ELSE WILL RESPECT THE Native American Indians AND WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE THAN YES WE WILL BE HEARD !!!!!!
Scotty
November 16, 2009, 9:07pm (report abuse)people killing each other drugs ,guns ,beer, is not an American Indian problem ,ITS an American problem and look at fort hood that was done by an Arabian killin people, respect the American in Us all we need to come together as a country not give me im a Lumbee, lumbee can prove they are american but not american native indian and thats all !!!
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