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Native America Calling: Lumbee Nation secures its sovereign status
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Lumbee Nation secures its sovereign status
With the stroke of a pen, the U.S. welcomes more than 50,000 new federally recognized citizens from the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina.
After numerous failed attempts, the Lumbee Nation is the 575th federally recognized tribe — the fourth-largest overall in terms of population and the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River. The recognition brings a host of potential changes, including new political power, economic development opportunities, and a sense of pride for Lumbee citizens who have worked for nearly 140 years to be counted among the country’s established sovereign nations.
Guests on Native America Calling
David E. Wilkins (Lumbee), professor at the University of Richmond
Malinda Maynor Lowery (Lumbee), professor at Emory University, historian and filmmaker
Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz (Lumbee), professor at the University of Iowa and director of the Native Policy Lab
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