RALEIGH, N.C. – Governor Stein celebrated the U.S. Congress’ passage and President Trump’s signing of the Lumbee Fairness Act, extending federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.
“The history of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina long predates the history of the State of North Carolina itself,” said Governor Josh Stein.
More than 130,000 American Indians live in North Carolina; more than 40% of those are Lumbee. With more than 56,000 members, the Lumbee is the largest tribe in the state and the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River.
Since 1974, some form of legislation to provide federal recognition to the Lumbee passed the House of Representatives nine times but never succeeded in the Senate.
This year, Governor Stein sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging the Senate to pass legislation to confer the benefits of full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.
The NC Commission of Indian Affairs has advocated for federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe since the advisory body was legally established more than 50 years ago.
Federal recognition will enable the Lumbee Tribe to apply directly to the federal government for grants and receive services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service.
These programs and services include disaster assistance, education, natural resource management, housing, health care, transportation, and broadband internet access. Access will in turn benefit the state as a whole.
