- Details
- By Neely Bardwell
North Carolina lawmakers introduced new legislation on Thursday to federally recognize the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, which currently has state recognition only.
The bipartisan Lumbee Fairness Act (H.R. 474), authored by Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) was co-sponsored by four Republican and three Democratic representatives from North Carolina. The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In the upper chamber, North Carolina Sens. Thomas Tillis and Ted Budd, both Republicans, co-sponsored a bill to amend the Lumbee Act of 1956 (S. 107), which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The Lumbee tribe received state recognition in 1885 and has sought full federal recognition since then. The tribe includes more than 55,000 citizens, making it the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and the ninth-largest tribe in the nation.
“We must right this historic wrong done to the Lumbee Tribe and give them the full federal recognition they deserve," House bill co-sponsor Rep. Richard Hudson said in a statement.
Since 1988, Congress has introduced federal legislation to recognize the Lumbee Tribe more than 30 times, including bills by Rep. Hudson. Bipartisan legislation has passed the House six times, most recently in December 2024. However, none of these bills have become law.
In 1956, Congress introduced legislation to recognize the Lumbee as an Indian Tribe through the Lumbee Act, but the bill denied the tribe access to federal services and benefits associated with federal recognition.
“The House of Representatives passed the Lumbee Fairness Act (last month), and I am pleased to learn Congressmen David Rouzer and Mark Harris are reintroducing the bill once again,” Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery said. “We have so much momentum for our bill, and I look forward to working with them to get this passed in the House during the 119th Congress.”
The Eastern Band of Cherokee, which is federally recognized, has opposed federal recognition of the Lumbee. In 2020, when a similar recognition bill passed in the House, Cherokee and Choctaw tribal representatives wrote to Congress opposing the measure, citing “doubt and uncertainty” about the Lumbees’ lineage and genealogy.
In October 2024, controversy arose over the Lumbee recognition effort when unauthorized cards opposing the tribe's federal recognition were distributed at the National Congress of American Indians' annual convention in Las Vegas. The materials, which bore the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma's logo, prompted NCAI to issue an apology to the Lumbee Tribe and disavow the distribution of what it called "inflammatory materials" that violated the organization's code of conduct.
President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Monday, Jan. 20, previously voiced his support in recognizing the Lumbee Tribe, making federal recognition after nearly 140 years of efforts possible.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Seattle Seahawks Tackle Preservation Projects at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center for Annual Day of Service
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
