The House Resources Committee will hold a hearing today on a bill to recognize the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Tribal members have asked for federal status since the late 1800s. They thought they gained recognition through Congress in 1956 but later found out the law actually terminated their status as Indians.

As a result, the tribe cannot go through the Bureau of Indian Affairs federal acknowledgment process. So lawmakers from North Carolina are sponsoring a bill to outright recognize the tribe.

The tribe faces opposition from the Eastern Band of Cherokees, also of North Carolina. The tribe's principal chief will testify to lift the BIA prohibition and require the tribe to go through that process. Tim Martin of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), some of whose membership received recognition through Congress, will also call for the tribe to go through the BIA.

The hearing starts at 10 a.m. An audio-only link can be found at http://resourcesaudio.house.gov/1324.

Get the Story:
Lumbees to present case for recognition (The Fayetteville Observer 4/1)

Get Lumbee Bills:
Dole: S.420 | McIntyre: H.R.898 | Taylor: H.R.1408

Relevant Links:
Official Lumbee Tribe website - http://www.lumbeetribe.com
Lumbee Regional Development Association - http://www.lumbee.org

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