Chairman Brooks testifies before Senate Indian Affairs Committee Oversight hearing on broken administrative acknowledgement process Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Thursday, July 12, 2012. The oversight hearing was on federal recognition, focusing on the process of recognizing tribes through the administrative and Congressional processes. "The basis was to discuss the efficiencies, or lack thereof," said Chairman Brooks, "regarding the federal acknowledgement process at the Bureau of Indian Affairs".
Tribe of North Carolina.
Care System campus. “The purpose of the retreat was to share and hear ideas between the Executive and Legislative Branches,” said Tribal Chair Paul Brooks, “about how to move the Tribe to self sufficiency in 5 years,
and put more of our housing funds back into our tribal housing programs.”
Welcome to Lumbee Tribe
The Enrollment and Records Office
Will be Open
Saturday, July 6, 2013
from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm
for New and Updating Members
For more information, call (910) 521-2843.
Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks (left) during a recent meeting with U.S. Sen. Richard Hudson
Lumbee Recognition Bill introduced in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Lumbee Tribe is proud to announce that the Lumbee Recognition Act, a bill that would provide full federal recognition to our tribal members, was introduced in the U.S. Senate.
“I am elated that the senators have introduced this legislation,” said Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks, “because they understand the significance and importance of the Lumbee Bill to the tribal membership.”
“This matter is not only important to the Lumbee, but it is also important to all residents of Robeson and adjoining counties as well as the state of North Carolina,” said Brooks. “Full federal recognition will impact these areas economically in a positive way.”
The bill, S. 1132 was introduced by U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan on June 12, 2013.
“I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, continuing my efforts to ensure that the Lumbee Tribe receives long-overdue federal recognition,” Sen. Burr said. “I hope that the Senate will fulfill its commitment to achieve fairness and justice for the Lumbees.”
The Tribe would like to sincerely thank Sens. Burr and Hagan for their dedication, support and commitment to this effort.
Federal recognition would allow the Tribe to provide much-needed health care, economic development and educational opportunities for its members and the entire southeastern region of North Carolina.
The U.S. House version (H.R. 1803) of the Lumbee Bill was introduced in April by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and Mike McIntyre.
Our forefathers began this journey seeking federal recognition in 1888. Our bill has been introduced and voted on several times over the years in the House and Senate. In 1956, Congress passed legislation recognizing Lumbee as a tribe, however, language was included in the bill which denied tribal members from receiving benefits given to federally recognized tribes.
“We will continue this fight until justice prevails,” Chairman Brooks said.
2013 Senior Ms. Lumbee Pageant
CONTESTANTS
From LEFT to RIGHT: Angela Hunt, Mable Moses, Bonnie Locklear, Audrey Locklear and Peggy Locklear
Youth clean site of 1958 victory at Maxton Pond
MAXTON — Two dozen youth with the Lumbee Boys and Girls Club battled the mid-day heat picking up trash, cutting grass and pulling weeds at the site of a significant event in the tribe’s history.
None of the students are old enough to remember the infamous altercation between the Klu Klux Klan and 400 Lumbee tribal members in 1958.
The youth, along with several staff members, met at the Maxton Pond off N.C. 130 on June 1.
Before unloading the lawn mowers and weed eaters, club members were given a brief history lesson by Garth Locklear, who helped run off the Klan.
Locklear told them about a group of Klan members from South Carolina, led by James “Catfish” Cole, who were spreading hate toward minorities in the 1950s.
“This was a time when minorities began fighting for Civil Rights,” said Locklear, who is a former Tribal Council member and current Lumbee Supreme Court Justice.
“Lumbees were fighting back against the system and standing up for our rights.”
Cole led the Klan into Robeson County and burned crosses in the yards of Lumbee families.
Cole announced plans for a Klan rally on January 18, 1958 near Maxton. The word spread and hundreds of Lumbee tribal members, most of whom were armed, hitched a ride to what was then known as Hayes Pond.
“Me and Freddie Maynor went and bought brand new shotguns,” Locklear said. “Just about everyone there had a gun hiding in their coat.”
The altercation began just as Cole began speaking over a loud speaker. The Klan was outnumbered. Some reports say as many as 500 Lumbee tribal members were there.
“Someone shot out the only light in the field,” Locklear said. “There was a scuffle and fighting … and then all you could hear was gunshots. We had the Klan on the run.”
Four Klansmen suffered minor injuries, according to media reports. No tribal members were hurt.
“We ran the Klan out of Maxton that night. Some people say they ran all the way to South Carolina,” Locklear said laughing.
The Klan left behind the public address system, a cross, and a banner, which were collected by tribal members. The story made national headlines. Pictures of Charlie Warriax and Simeon Oxendine and their famous pose with the abandoned KKK banner appeared in Life Magazine.
There are also pictures of tribal members burning KKK regalia and dancing around a bonfire in Pembroke. James Cole served time in prison for inciting a riot and later died in a car accident.
The victory at Maxton Pond galvanized the Lumbee community, Garth Locklear said.
“That gave us a sense of empowerment,” he said. “The Tribe showed unity that night … all for a good cause.”
Tribe names new Tribal Administrator
PEMBROKE – Tony Hunt is the new Tribal Administrator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks nominated Hunt for the position, according to the Tribe's Constitution. On May 17, the Tribal Council approved Hunt’s appointment. Brooks said Hunt is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the tribe.
Hunt said he is excited about his new position.
“I look forward to the challenges that come along with this very important role with the tribe,” Hunt said. “I want to make sure our tribal members continue to receive exemplary customer service and to improve in the areas we need to improve in order to help this government continue to grow.”
Chairman Brooks nominated Hunt for the position in March.
Mr. Hunt expressed his desire to rid some of the misconceptions in the tribal community of the staff by implementing procedures to make staff more accountable to the membership. He also stressed the importance of communicating in a courteous manner to tribal members, and the Tribal Council.
“Tribal members seeking assistance should be treated with the utmost respect, their requests should be handled in a professional and expeditious manner, and telephone calls must be returned in a timely manner.”
Click on the categories below to view a complete listing of winners
from the 2013 "Dance of the Spring Moon" Lumbee Spring Powwow
Dance Competition Categories
2013 Business Calendar for Tribal Council Meetings (All meetings begin at 6:30 pm)
June 20 - Cape Fear Family Life Center - Fayetteville
July 18 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
August 15 - Pembroke Boys & Girls Club - Pembroke
September 19 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
October 17 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
November 21 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
December 19 - Tribal Housing Complex - Pembroke
