The Lumbee Tribe: Fighting for their Rights!
This video contains a documentation regarding the Lumbee Indians and their fight for Federal Recognition. It gives an overview of the many steps they have taken throughout the years.
Lumbee Indians have fought for recognition by the Federal government for more than one hundred years. The tribe was recognized as Native Americans in 1885 by North Carolina; however, the Federal government has not taken their recognition as lightly. In 1888, the Lumbee Indians petitioned for the first time to the Congress for recognition. According to, (Federal Recognition, 2009) this petition was directed towards the education of young children, yet it was the first of many rejections. Other denied bills were introduced to Congress in 1924 and 1932, which were identical and focused on the recognition of Lumbee Indians as a tribe. The next bill in 1933 was extremely similar to the last two, yet stated that the Indians, “shall hereafter be designated Cheraw Indians and shall be recognized and enrolled as such…” (Federal Recognition, 2009). This bill was, yet again, denied by the Congress. The first sign of hope was in 1956 when Congress passed the Lumbee Act. Next, the Lumbee Act with be described in order to understand the Act in full detail.
The Lumbee Act...
After many failed attempts at Federal recognition, the Lumbee Indians still kept fighting for their rights and benefits. They proposed the Lumbee Act to the Congress in 1956. Some statements in this bill include Lumbee Indians becoming eligible for all services and benefits, the tribe must not conduct gaming activities, and the Secretary may take land into trust for the tribe states (Lumbee Recognition Act, 2010). The bill was first passed without amendments by the House of Representatives and was sent straight to the Senate. The Senate passed the act, yet stated that, “Nothing in this Act shall make such Indians eligible for any services performed by the United States for Indians because of their status as Indians, and none of the statutes of the United States which affect Indians because of their status as Indian shall be applicable to the Lumbee Indians" (Federal Recognition, 2009). The Senate passed the bill, yet did not give the Lumbee Indians any of their requested legal rights. Once again, the Lumbee Indians were
right back where they started from.
right back where they started from.
Benefits/Rights...
If finally federally recognized as a Native American tribe, the Lumbee Indians could receive several different benefits and rights. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is in charge of the benefits and rights given to each federally recognized Indian tribe. The benefits that are given by the Bureau of Indians Affairs are provided by grants, contracts or compacts, which mean that Indian Affairs deals directly with the government states (U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs, 2011). Also, according to (U.S. Department of
Interior Indian Affairs, 2011), once accepted as a federally recognized Indian tribe, the benefits given include an education system, social services, natural resources management on trust lands, economic development programs, law enforcement and detention services, administration for tribal courts, implementation of land and water claim settlements, housing improvement, disaster relief, replaces and repair of schools, etc. Overall, the tribe will be given services and benefits to improve the surrounding towns and build for the future. The towns that consist of Lumbee Indians in Robeson County are in extreme poverty and need as much help as they can get.
Interior Indian Affairs, 2011), once accepted as a federally recognized Indian tribe, the benefits given include an education system, social services, natural resources management on trust lands, economic development programs, law enforcement and detention services, administration for tribal courts, implementation of land and water claim settlements, housing improvement, disaster relief, replaces and repair of schools, etc. Overall, the tribe will be given services and benefits to improve the surrounding towns and build for the future. The towns that consist of Lumbee Indians in Robeson County are in extreme poverty and need as much help as they can get.
What does it take to be a Federally recognized Tribe?
(Native american tribes of north carolina, 2011)
The picture to the left are all of the tribes in North Carolina that are Federally recognized and where they are located. What did these Native American tribes have that allowed them to become Federally recognized?
According to (U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs, 2011), a federally recognized tribe is defined as, “an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal entity that is recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the responsibilities, powers, limitations, and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs”.
(Procedures for Establishing.., 2011) states that there are seven criteria’s in order to be Federal acknowledged which are:
1. The petitioner must be identified as an American Indian entity on a continuous basis since 1900,
2. Most of the petitioning group must have a distinct community and has existed as a community from historical times until
now,
3. The petitioner has had a political influence or authority over its members,
4. A copy of the group’s governing document and its membership criteria,
5. The petitioner’s membership consists of individuals who descend from an Indian tribe,
6. The membership of the group is composed of people who are not members of any other acknowledged North American Indian tribe, and
7. No one are the subject of congressional legislation that have been terminated or forbidden of Federal relationship.
Out of the seven criteria’s mentioned, which one of them do the Lumbee Indians not meet the requirements? Through my observation, none of the following criteria’s are a problem for the Lumbee Indians.
1. The petitioner must be identified as an American Indian entity on a continuous basis since 1900,
2. Most of the petitioning group must have a distinct community and has existed as a community from historical times until
now,
3. The petitioner has had a political influence or authority over its members,
4. A copy of the group’s governing document and its membership criteria,
5. The petitioner’s membership consists of individuals who descend from an Indian tribe,
6. The membership of the group is composed of people who are not members of any other acknowledged North American Indian tribe, and
7. No one are the subject of congressional legislation that have been terminated or forbidden of Federal relationship.
Out of the seven criteria’s mentioned, which one of them do the Lumbee Indians not meet the requirements? Through my observation, none of the following criteria’s are a problem for the Lumbee Indians.
An Analysis of Receiving Full Federal Benefits...
Of all these criterias, the government argues that Lumbee Indians are not able to receive the full benefits due to their mix-variety of ancestors and they do not have a native language, which must be other than English. Native Americans can still federally be recognized as a native tribe if they do not have a native language according to the criteria above. Also, (Lumbee History and Culture, 2009) claims that several native tribes lost their language or do not speak their native language and have still become federally
recognized. So, that argument does not apply here. The only true argument that the Federal government has is that Lumbees are of mix of descendants. Even though Lumbee Indians are a tribe of many different ancestors, the tribe is fully aware of where they came from. So, why does it matter exactly where their ancestors came from in the past? This tribe was here in North Carolina when the first colonists stepped foot in America, yet the government is not giving them full benefits and rights? Once you truly think about it, colonists first took away all of their land without any consideration. So, for the amount of struggle and hardships these individuals have endured, the last thing that should be taken away from this is their benefits to become a federally recognized tribe.
recognized. So, that argument does not apply here. The only true argument that the Federal government has is that Lumbees are of mix of descendants. Even though Lumbee Indians are a tribe of many different ancestors, the tribe is fully aware of where they came from. So, why does it matter exactly where their ancestors came from in the past? This tribe was here in North Carolina when the first colonists stepped foot in America, yet the government is not giving them full benefits and rights? Once you truly think about it, colonists first took away all of their land without any consideration. So, for the amount of struggle and hardships these individuals have endured, the last thing that should be taken away from this is their benefits to become a federally recognized tribe.