PEMBROKE, N.C. — The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is eagerly awaiting a significant report from the Department of the Interior, expected as early as this week. This report may pave the way for the tribe to achieve federal recognition, a status that would affirm them as a tribal nation.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump ordered the department to devise a strategy to aid the Lumbee Tribe in securing full federal recognition. This directive pushed for the creation of a plan within 90 days, a deadline that is imminent, to support the Lumbee through legislation or any other feasible methods. Federal recognition would enable the tribe to access vital benefits, including health care provided by Indian Health Services and the establishment of a recognized land base, possibly reservations, via the land-to-trust process.
The Lumbee Tribe, which is currently recognized at the state level, has sought federal acknowledgment for decades. This pursuit has been a particularly pressing issue in the political landscape, with both President Trump and his 2024 presidential challenger, former Vice President Kamala Harris, promising to support the Lumbee’s quest for recognition. Their backing came as both candidates sought to win over voters in North Carolina, a crucial swing state where the Lumbee electorate played a significant role in President Trump’s victory.
Since the 1980s, the Lumbee Tribe has encountered hurdles in proving to the federal government and some recognized tribes that their claims to Native American ancestry are valid. Recognition can be attained through an application reviewed by the Office of Federal Acknowledgement or by Congressional legislation.
In a significant turn of events in 2016, the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor reconsidered a previous ban that had restricted the Lumbee from using the application process for federal recognition. Despite this, the Lumbee have consistently aimed for acknowledgment through Congressional action, which has garnered some legislative support. However, their efforts have met with opposition from various tribal groups, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina—who dispute the historical authenticity of the Lumbee’s claims.