- NDAA provision could finally grant full federal recognition to Lumbee.
- Recognition may allow a fourth North Carolina tribal casino project.
- Cherokee leaders oppose Lumbee bill, citing lineage doubts and competition.
North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe is edging toward federal recognition, a status that would allow it to build a casino in the southeastern part of the state.
A provision that would grant the tribe recognition has been tagged onto a must-pass defense spending bill (NDAA), unveiled by US lawmakers on Sunday. Federal recognition means that a tribe is recognized as a sovereign government, granting it access to federal programs, legal status, and rights such as the ability to place land in trust and operate casinos.
Long Wait
The Lumbee have pursued this status for 130 years, and the tribe’s supporters – among them President Donald Trump – believe the end may be in sight. However, it’s not a done deal. The $901 billion NDAA is currently being debated in Congress, leaving room for provisions to be amended or cut. A vote on the bill is expected later this month.
For decades, the Lumbee people have sought full federal recognition — and today, we are closer than ever to making it a reality,” US Rep. Mark Harris (R-Robeson County) wrote on social media Monday. “We have used every tool at our disposal to secure recognition in this year’s NDAA.”
The Lumbee has shown some interest in a casino, not least in 2023 when a bill that would have licensed four new commercial gaming venues in North Carolina – including one reserved for the Lumbee – was introduced but failed to get enough votes to pass.
For now, though, in statements the tribe is emphasizing the importance of recognition and full sovereignty rights rather than commenting on potential gaming projects.
Currently, there are three casinos in the state – two owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and the third by the Catawba Indian Nation.
Cherokee Opposition
The EBCI is among the greatest opponents of Lumbee recognition. The tribe, and others, has argued that the Lumbee have not sufficiently demonstrated a verifiable, continuous descent from a specific historic tribe – a key standard used for federal recognition.
They also contend that over time the Lumbee have claimed ancestry from various tribes. In their view, this undermines the credibility of a clear lineage.
“We are deeply disappointed and alarmed to see the inclusion of Lumbee recognition language in the National Defense Authorization Act,” EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks said in a statement. “A national defense bill is not the appropriate place to consider federal recognition, particularly for a group that has not met the historical and legal standards required of sovereign tribal nations.”
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