"It's hard to understand why a tribe that works so hard to achieve federal recognition also works so hard to discredit itself.

But Lumbee leadership has done it once again, paying a consultant more than $30,000 to write a 10-page handbook for the Lumbee Tribe Boys and Girls Club.

The consultant - Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend - was later hired as tribal administrator. That led to another squabble between Lumbee Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett, who hired her, and the Tribal Council. Lowry-Townsend's one-year contract ended May 7 and was not renewed, following a ruling by the Lumbee Supreme Court that Swett couldn't renew it without council consent."

Get the Story:
Big Bucks: A $30,000 handbook can only hurt tribe's prospects. (The Fayetteville Observer 5/15)

Also Today:
Swett resigning as Lumbee Tribe leader (The Fayetteville Observer 5/14)
Swett quits chairmanship (The Robesonian 5/14)

Related Stories:
Consultant for Lumbee Tribe was paid $30K for handbook (5/13)
Lumbee Tribe ordered to pay $115K for misusing HUD funds (5/10)
Chairman of Lumbee Tribe wants HUD to audit housing funds (3/29)
Council at Lumbee Tribe fires administrator hired by chairman (3/25)
Lumbee Tribe moving toward shutdown in dispute with chairman (3/10)