Lumbee tribe moves closer to federal recognition after President Trump signs memo

WASHINGTON (WTVD) — The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina received a significant boost Thursday in its fight to become a federally recognized tribe.

President Donald Trump, just days into his second term, advanced recognition of the tribe in a memorandum to the Secretary of the Interior.

Trump signed the memo Thursday afternoon that would encourage the Interior Department to promote and pursue federal recognition of the Lumbees.

WATCH | Trump signs directive advancing Lumbee cause

Raw video as President Trump signs memorandum moving Lumbees closer to federal recognition.

“I love the Lumbee tribe, so this is their first big step, right?” » Trump said. “They've been with me all the way, they've been great, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.”

The possibility of this becoming a reality has excited many. That includes James Locklear, 57, a Robeson County native who is editor and chef of Native Visions Magazine, a publication that highlights the accomplishments and accomplishments of the Lumbee Tribe.

“I was going to the gym and my wife was like, 'Hey, Trump just signed the Lumbee bill.' I'm like, whoa. I didn't expect to hear that,” said Locklear, a member of the Lumbee tribe. “Ecstatic. Lots of buzz here in the community. People are excited.”

It lets people know who we are. There are so many people who say that you are not real Indians, nor real Native Americans. Well, we are. We have been for a long time.

– James Locklear, member of the Lumbee tribe

In an official statement to ABC11, the Lumbee Tribe expressed its appreciation for this action.

“The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is pleased to learn that President Donald J. Trump has signed a memorandum that establishes the support of the United States of America for full federal recognition of the tribe,” a spokesperson wrote. word of the tribe. “The Tribal Administration expresses its deep gratitude to President Trump as he moves forward with this executive action. Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery says this action is a direct result of campaign promises made by President and shows his dedication to the people of Lumbee.”

Many North Carolina lawmakers introduced a bill last Thursday to officially recognize the Lumbee.

“I would like to thank President Trump for keeping his promise to the more than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina who have waited decades for federal recognition,” said U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R, N.C. . “Today’s action highlights the urgent need to pass the Lumbee Fairness Act, which Senator Tillis and I reintroduced earlier this month. We will continue to work with the President, the Department of the Interior, and my colleagues in Congress to pass this bill and sign it into law. “.

Read the full bill here

The legislation would provide what lawmakers called long-overdue federal recognition and protections for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

“I applaud President Donald J. Trump's executive order prioritizing the Lumbee Tribe's fight for full federal recognition and federal benefits that it has long been denied,” said U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R- NC. “In September 2024, President Trump promised the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to right the historic wrongs caused by the Indian Termination Era, and today's executive order is a major step in righting that wrong. I remain committed to working with President Trump and North Carolina's congressional delegation in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to ensure that federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe is secure and free of legal hurdles.

North Carolina officially recognized the Lumbee Tribe in 1885, and the tribe began seeking full federal recognition in 1888. The Lumbees have deep cultural roots in North Carolina.

“It lets people know who we are,” Locklear said. “There are so many people who say you're not real Indians, or real Native Americans. Well, we are. We have been for a long time. We knew who we were. We knew who our ancestors were. “

SEE ALSO | Lumbee Tribe Historical Marker Unveiled in Robeson County

The memo signed by Trump stated in part: “Given the historical and modern significance of the Lumbee Tribe, it is the policy of the United States to support full federal recognition, including the authority to receive all federal benefits, from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. “

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson took to social media to thank Trump “for taking action to right the historic harm done to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Congress must codify this federal recognition with the Lumbee Fairness Act” .

However, some resistance to Thursday's events emerged. Other Indian tribes in North Carolina have long opposed full recognition of the Lumbees or questioned the process.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which had previously expressed concerns about the Lumbees, reacted to the new developments.

We understand President Trump's desire to exercise due diligence in exploring federal recognition of the Lumbee. This instinct is correct: The facts of tribal history and the existence of Indian ancestry must be at the heart of any federal recognition decision,” said Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Recognition is a profound act with far-reaching consequences. , and it must be based on objective assessments of provable historical and genealogical evidence to protect the integrity of the tribal nation.

“Even though the President directs the Department of the Interior to develop a plan to explore pathways to recognition – through legislative, judicial, or administrative processes – he is not granting federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. Rather, the Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) process signals the need for a thoughtful and structured review of Lumbee's claims, which we believe must be conducted according to OFA's rigorous standards.

“The Lumbees have a history of shifting claims, including claiming ancestry from Cherokee and other historic tribes,” Hicks continued. “Experts have repeatedly found that their claims cannot be verified by historical or genealogical evidence. Any process for evaluating Lumbee's claims must be anchored in objective standards and careful, evidence-based review. L “Self-identification and sincere belief in Indian ancestry, while personally significant, cannot mean tribal nationhood and sovereignty.”

Hicks added that the Cherokee believe the OFA process must be followed to consider recognition of the Lumbee or any group claiming to be a tribe.

Trump's action Thursday gives the federal government 90 days to follow through on the order and present a plan to the president.

“We urge the Department of the Interior to ensure that due diligence and fact-based analysis guide its recommendations to President Trump,” Hicks said. “Protecting the integrity of federal recognition is essential, not only for the American people but also for the hundreds of tribal nations whose sovereignty must not be endangered.”

Copyright 2025 WTVD-TV. All rights reserved.

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