The BraveNation Powwow and Gather at UNC Pembroke recently brought together participants in Pembroke, N.C. on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Among the vibrant displays of cultural heritage, attendees danced and bowed their heads in prayer, highlighting the rich traditions of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Amidst the celebrations, the Lumbee Tribe is anticipating a significant development as the Department of the Interior prepares to release a report that could pave the way for their federal recognition. The report, expected as soon as this week, stems from a directive issued by President Donald Trump in January, which called for the creation of a plan to aid the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full federal recognition. This plan, to be developed within a 90-day timeframe, aims to explore avenues such as legislation or other mechanisms to ensure the tribe can receive full federal benefits.
The Lumbee Tribe, recognized at the state level, has been pursuing federal acknowledgment for several decades. Such recognition would grant them access to resources, including healthcare services through Indian Health Services and the potential to establish a land base via the land-to-trust process. The quest for federal recognition gained momentum during the 2024 presidential campaign, with Trump and his opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, both pledging support for the Lumbee’s cause. The tribe’s voters played a crucial role in delivering North Carolina to Trump during the election.
Since the 1980s, the Lumbee have faced challenges in convincing federal authorities, members of Congress, and other federally recognized tribes of their claims to Native ancestry. Federal recognition can be achieved through either an application process overseen by the Office of Federal Acknowledgement or through legislation passed by Congress. In 2016, the Office of the Solicitor at the Department of the Interior reversed a previous decision that barred the Lumbee from pursuing federal recognition via the application process. Nevertheless, the Lumbee have chosen to seek acknowledgment through congressional action, where they have garnered some support.
However, their efforts have faced opposition from several tribal nations, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina. These groups have cited discrepancies in the Lumbee’s historical claims as a basis for their resistance. As the Lumbee Tribe awaits the upcoming report, the potential for federal recognition remains a pivotal issue for the community and their future aspirations.