"It's been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over with an expectation for a different outcome. But Lumbees yearning for federal recognition and the benefits it would deliver argue otherwise, saying their repetitious behavior indicates a refusal to accept anything short of what is rightfully theirs.

On Wednesday, Lumbee officials and other advocates of federal recognition - and their opponents - were there again, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The players - and their arguments - were largely the same as appeared before the same Senate panel in 2003 and before a House panel in 2004; neither effort produced a vote before a full chamber.

The Lumbees continue to reject the more traditional path through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, saying the process takes forever, and they wouldn't get a fair hearing anyway, so their strategy remains to go all in with Congress."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Lumbees unwavering (The Robesonian 7/17)

Hearing Info:
LEGISLATIVE HEARING on S. 660, the Lumbee Recognition Act (July 12, 2006)

Lumbee Recognition Bills:
S.660 | H.R.21 | H.R.4171

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

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