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H.R. 65, The Lumbee Recognition Act
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Visitor Comments
Tim
I don't know who the Lumbee tribe is, but why does this just sound like a dead tribe looking for federal recognition so they can get aid and build a casino?
Foxwoods anyone? The tribe that controls Foxwoods has like 12 members left and were declared a dead culture for more than a century until they lobbied for recognition so they could build a casino an hour outside of NYC.
Why should I pay for these people whose ancestors got screwed 200 years ago? It sucks what happened to them, but I just don't really get legislation like this coming out now rather than 100 years ago when this tribe probably could've actually needed some aid.
matthew
Just because we screwed up and gave a ridiculously sweet deal to all the earlier recognized tribes, doesn't mean we need to continue.
Denise
As a member of the Lumbee Tribe I am obviously for this. Most people dont know that a recent House Bill passed prohibiting the Lumbee to build a Casino as part of the deal for their recognition. They agreed. These are a people of pride who were given Federal Recognition in 1956 but denied the benefits that came with that acknowledgement. And as for Tim's comment, this is not a dead tribe, its the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River with over 50,000 members. Also, this legislation began over 100 years ago, so it isn't just popping up. And if you are questioning whether or not this tribe could use the aid.. take a trip to Robeson County N.C. and you'll see if the aid is necessary.
Janis Weber, Ph.D.
All national health surveillance data indicate that members of recognized tribes suffer disproportionately in all aspects of health when compared to other U.S. populations. Members of recognized tribes are less likely to have graduated from high school than any other population in the U.S. Recently the federal courts have held high ranking officials and Cabinet members in contempt due to the lack of oversight of billions of dollars that were to be held in trust for recognized tribes and tribal members with regard to oil and other mineral rights resulting in billions of dollars missing. All result from the "ridiculously sweet deal" that tribes received. As I Lumbee recognition, for me, signifies validation of us as indigenous people. It is not about casinos as evidenced by the tribe's acceptance of a clause in the bill prohibiting gaming.
Andrew
I dont know who Tim is, but why does he sound like an entitled Republican male? If you were informed before your ignorant statement, you would know that the Lumbee are the largest tribe in the Southeast and have agreed not to build a casino. Learn about things before you speak!
Patrick,
I fully support the passage of this bill. They may have no concrete land fee titles but thats because the BIA and federal government has not even statutorily recognized them as a tribe. They are recognized merely as Indians under the misguided policies of the Federal Indian Law of the 1950s. It would be extremely disappointing to ignore the past wrongs of our country. Additionally Tim, the Lumbee Tribe has promised in this legislation not to erect gaming centers. Tribal recognition has more to do with empowering Indians with self government than casinos.
Amy
I believe that the Lumbee tribe should be given the full recognition that they deserve. Many people feel that the recognition would only burden them with more taxes, but if it was not for these tribes, many of the immigrants would not have survived to "take over" the land and destroy the culture that surrounds many tribes. Many people argue that poor people are not worth our time or effort to help improve their situations, however, seeing the living conditions and the environment that some of these people live in, the money would vastly improve their lives, therefore increasing the opportunities for them to become more self reliant. History and society has played a huge part in keeping these minorites in their current living conditions. How would you like it if someone come to your home, run you out and forced you to live by their rules and gave you nothing in return?
Nathan
I also believe the lumbee should be given recognition. However is there any lumbee left. From what is a running joke around North Carolina a lot of African Americans claim to be lumbee. I believe it is just a ploy to get federal benefits.
William Locklear
Yea, I'm a Lumbee Indian from Robeson County, North Carolina. There are over 50,000 of us "left". We are not African Americans or white, we are Indian, Native American, American Indian, indigenous, whatever. We don't even want a casino, all we want is our injustice to be served after 122 years of wrongdoings. I don't want anyone to disgrace my people by calling us a dead tribe or whatever. We are the ninth largest tribe in America. Nothing dead about that.
neemo
yes the lumbee should be federal recognized but there is a difference of being native american or just someone that has native american ancestry since lumbee was never a nation to begin with but really a group of tri-racial isolates which exist all over the USA. yes alot of americans have some blood of natives but if my ancestor was one am i ? Their ancestor may have been a native person but the modern day person that identifies as lumbee is no longer native only the remnants or maybe some other race that got confused trying to identify with a heritage ,well dna test can answer that question if they are native but not what tribe they belong to ,only a good guess so good luck lumbee,cherokees of robeson,cheraw or whatever u are this decade all of us mixed race people will cheer for you because it will be true in part if u have native american DNA and a government card and a casino.
Bernard Thomas
The Lumbee are both present and historical people of the United States. The people should be granted recognition after the illegal actions of the USA government against it and other tribes. As a recognized tribe, I do not believe the tribal government newly recognized or not, should be forced to give up it's sovereignty in order to have it recognized. This should include later decisions by a self governing people to decide what kinds of economic development they wish to pursue related to any educational and other concerns of it's own people. It's the least the federal government can do to recognize centuries of illegal treatment of it's unique citizens.
Nicholas Locklear
My Tribe has been fighting for full recongnition for far to long, and i Nicholas Locklear (fancy dancer), is backing up the bill 100% we have fault and fault and fault i don't see why other tribes put us down we are indian just like the souix, navajo, cherokee, tuscarora,and etc. we are all of the same people and i don't see why they put us down. i know why it all about money thats's all. but if the other tribes would open their eye's and see we are all of one people and we all sould be recongnized as tribes. cause beening indian is not of skin color or eye color or hair texture it what is in your heart an i think we should be recongnized.
D.Ozzy
Many americans that have had ancestry in his country before 1900 will on average have some native ancestry i suspect look at the dna sites.The lumbees should go thru the BIA process since they are the authorities on that topic. Its like if you are sick go to a doctor not a lawyer go to the experts not the law makers if you really believe your native and prove it lets DNA lumbees or BIA and prove yourself Lumbees or cherokees of robeson county or whatever you are this year.Dont try to sway peoples emotions with vote put up scientific proof or Shut Up!!!!!!!
Steve
No one is attempting to put the LUMBEES DOWN OR BELITTLE THEIR EFFORTS it is simply a way to eliminate everyone claiming to be a tribe there is only a certain amount of money available and since many american have some american indian we have a process to eliminate those who didnt enroll on dawes or other official roll and the experts are the BIA not politicians but being politically correct .so lumbees be proud but you are not a true tribe you cannot even compare to Navajos or other you a simply TRI RACIAL isolates so lets not open up pandoras box.
Bill
many lost or confused people have ancestry that was actually from india or Turkey they were brought over as slaves and thrown in with blacks and the word indian confused many into thinking it was Indian native american but was actually east Indian from india area not the USA, check the history books and internet records some claimed later to be saponee or some other lost tribe from the USA minority came as slaves from all over the world but not in great numbers like africans did,so thats why we need positive proof from the BIA ,,think about it!!!
Mrs. Hunt
I live in Robeson county, am married to a Lumbee Indian.. and I believe all this to be stupid. I DO NOT support recognition. Lumbees are more mixed up than I am...and I am Dutch, Swedish, Irish & German.. What kind of recognition do I get...a 1/4 of a green beer on ST. Patty's day... To hell with using my tax money to pay for these mixed breeds to go to school & pay their rent...I'll vote for it when whit people get the same recognition. Btw, my LUMBEE Indian husband feels just as I do..that there's too much whining going on by lumbee's that are just p[lain lazy & looking for a handout.
Bobby
Good luck Lumbee or whatever cherokees of robeson, I do not support this because they are confused and are going by the proof before DNA ,maybe the government back then just wanted to appease them because Henry Lowry looks more like a plain white hillbilly than a Native american ,so get a job LUMBEE people you are just regular mixed black/white Mulattos like the rest.
That guy you know
Almost everyone in the United States is a mixed-breed, no matter how white, black, or Native you are. Only 20% of Cherokee are more than 1/4th blood quantum.
The Lumbee are nothing more than the victims of a genocidal onslaught. They are a mix of several tribes, white, and black. They formed together for survival. They deserve recognition from the government.
I am not Lumbee, I am not from their lands, but if you actually research them and see though the the lies thrown around, you will find they are bona fide native americans. All those natives in the Virgina/NC area didn't just disappear, they assimilated together and into the white culture. Now they are taking their heritage back.
Tara
I have seen some Lumbee people. I think they are more white than Native American. Besides most Americans are of mixted lineages.Really almost anyone can pick one race they want to be called and run with it. Most of the so called Lumbee culture is taken from the real intact Native American cultures out west.Get real and admit your just mulattos. Take a DNA test see what the results say.
angry
I don't think the lumbee should not be federal recognized. Because they are taking every thing from the Cheraw,Croatan,Siouan, Cherokee to use for there on benfit to get what they want for their self.If you would go to Robeson County in pembroke you would see how the money is sent which is on the on the people who works for the lumbee people. Most of it is taking trips on their self for fun not for the people who really needs it to help on their home.I'am not Lumbee and never will be so where do the money and everything go to the so call chief and his best frineds or what
Frustrated
Educate yourself a bit more on the Lumbee tribe before making ridiculous comments!!! The bloodline has to be proven there for ligitemacy is there. Many people of the Lumbee tribe use benefits for housing, school and so forth. Not all Native Americans want to build casinos or are gambler's. That is were discrimination and ignorance comes into play. I am 25% Lumbee and 75% White, but I dont believe just because I have more white blood it makes me less Lumbee. It is a stupid thing to say or imply. Like I said before educate yourself before speaking about something you have no idea about!!
alex
u people r stupid my people r lumbee. u crakers or n*****s need to go back where u came from
Lumbee Proud
The negative comments on this page are born of ignorance, racism or both. The fight for recognition has been going on for over 100 years among my people. I am Lumbee and could care less about the benefits,although Lord knows most of our people need them, but it is about the culture and heritage of our people that are at stake. The government has gone back on every promise they have made to us. We have been subjected to testing over the years to prove our "Indianess" and so far we have proved it at ever point. When do we say enough is enough? I don't live in Rob Co anymore, but our tribe is subject to the same problems that other tribes have while also having to battle our fellow Indian brothers and the racist South. I would really like this to pass so that my Mother can see our people finally recognized for what they have known all along, that they are NATIVE AMERICANS.
Atownaction
If they give federal aid to Lumbee Indians you might as well give Black people repriations for being slaves because Lumbees are 47% black people 12% Indian and 41% European.....do you understand the term "Free of Color" thats what they called themselves along with the black slaves read up on history LUMBEES.......
Steven
I lived in Robeson County for 10 years and I was around the "Lumbee" nation all that time. The Lumbees are NOT a tribe of Native Americans. They are a completely mixed race with a great deal of inbreeding as well. I have seen hispanic, white and Arican- American individual claiming to be Lumbee. They come in all different colors, shapes and sizes. There is no real defining feature about them. I think that they are just a mixture of people who came to rest in one area. The area there is so full of drugs and prostitution, that any large influx of money is just going o make it worse. The government and the people are some of the most uneducated I have ever met. It's like going back to the 1800s but having 21st century technology. Recognizing these people would be a huge mistake. By the way, my ex-wife, who is as white as Casper, is a registered Lumbee, and she registered our two children as well. So even though they would receive benefits, I am still against it. They are NOT a tribe.
little tweeker
why can we just not all get along
concerned lumbee indian
I am concerned,I am a taxpayer. The money alloted to my people by the HUD to help refurbish the homes of the lumbees on the roll is not being used as it was intended. To the other indians that read this,please look around you. Why are the people around Pembroke the ones buildind the big homes. Why are lumbees in other towns in Robeson County not part of this housing BOOM. Why are our elders and handicapped people, to whom were to be at the top of the list in this $14,ooo,ooo yearly allotment,being left out and we as indians let it go on? If there is an industry with high paying jobs in Pembroke we all want some of the pie.It needs to be brought to light,it is not right!
tired of it too
we lumbees have a voice. let us meet and find out what really is going in. next tribal meeting be there it is all our money.
Geoff Mangum
The Native American people of Robeson County NC have been in this one location since at least the 1730s according to written records in the State Archives. They are survivors of the European-sponsored decimation of Native American peoples that began with the smallpox epidemics of the 1500s, continued with the Anglo-Indian wars of the 1600s (Powhatan Revolt, 1622, and others), and the all-out wars of the early 1700s (Tuscarora War 1711-1715 in NC and Yemassee War 1715-1717 in SC), the French and Indian Wars in the mid-1700s -- all prior to the establishment of a "federal government" that "recognized" Native American tribes by conquering them after 1791 (e.g., the Removal era of the 1830s and other Eastern wars, Seminole, Cherokee, Chickamauga, ...). Unless you plan on UNrecognizing the Navaho or the Cherokee or Oneida and the other tribes, the federal government does not really have a righteous choice other than to recognize eastern tribes such as those in North Carolina.
Relative
I find some of the comments quite shocking and filled with ignorance, racism and a lack of factual awareness. I have only recently found out about my own family relations in North Carolina and live in London, England. After reading this page out of interest I had to add this comment.