President Donald Trump’s decision to pursue federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina marks a significant moment in Native American relations, fulfilling a promise he made during his campaign. However, this initiative has raised concerns among other Native American tribes regarding the implications of using a different process for recognition. In the early days of his second term, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to devise a plan that would outline a pathway for granting federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.
To gain federal recognition, tribes must satisfy a specific set of criteria. This includes demonstrating that the nation existed prior to the founding of the United States, has been acknowledged as Native since 1900 or earlier, functions as an "autonomous entity," and that its members have genealogies reflecting both Native heritage and distinct ancestry from already recognized tribes. The Lumbee Tribe asserts its lineage as an amalgamation of various Siouan, Algonquian, and Iroquoian-speaking tribes, claiming a documented existence since 1725. Presently, the Lumbee Tribe has more than 55,000 members spread across multiple counties in North Carolina.
Although the Lumbee Tribe received state recognition over a century ago, they have not achieved federal recognition as a sovereign tribe. Lumbee Chairman John L. Lowery expressed pride in the tribe's endurance, stating, “The fact that we are still here centuries after colonial expansion, centuries after war and disease … should be celebrated.” Lowery did not provide an interview to NBC News but indicated his eagerness for the White House to formalize the recognition process and relay it to congressional leaders.
The Lumbee Tribe was denied full benefits of recognition under the Lumbee Act of 1956, a law that prevents the U.S. from establishing a federal relationship with the tribe. This limitation restricts the tribe’s access to government funding for essential services, including health care, education, and economic development. Senator Ted Budd from North Carolina emphasized the need for federal recognition, stating, “The more than 60,000 North Carolina members of the Lumbee Tribe have waited decades for federal recognition. They deserve the same rights, privileges, and respect granted to other Native American tribes throughout our country.”
The Lumbee Tribe has historically sought other avenues for recognition, including numerous bills in Congress that often faced opposition from established Native tribes. Currently, Trump’s Interior Department is exploring alternative methods that bypass the traditional process established in 1978 by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA), which has recognized over 500 tribes nationwide. This deviation raises concerns among various Native groups and tribal leaders about potentially setting a troubling precedent for future tribal recognition.
Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voiced concerns regarding the integrity of the recognition process, stating that a “diligent process” is crucial. He expressed worries about how this executive order could undermine the established methods of recognition. “We’ve always known who we were and where we came from, and the difficulty with the Lumbee group is they’ve attempted to attach to a number of historical tribal and nontribal names,” Hicks explained. “I think part of it is just the clarity around who they are and whether they are truly a sovereign nation or remnants of something else.”
Chief Brad KillsCrow of the Delaware Tribe of Indians echoed these sentiments, stressing that the recognition process is crucial for maintaining the legitimacy of Native tribes. “There’s a process that has been put in place, a process that we all have gone through, and each of the 574 recognized tribes was able to prove who they were and their existence,” he stated. “Don’t try to take a backdoor and not do what everybody else has done to gain federal recognition.”
For KillsCrow, the Lumbee Tribe’s potential recognition through a bypass of established OFA standards poses broader issues. He noted that he has encountered numerous groups claiming Delaware ancestry without substantiating their historical roots. If the Lumbee successfully circumvent the OFA standards, it could encourage other organizations lacking the necessary documentation to seek similar recognition. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that recognizing the Lumbee Tribe could cost over $350 million, raising concerns about financial implications for smaller tribes like KillsCrow's.
Both Hicks and KillsCrow believe that the push for Lumbee recognition by the executive branch is influenced by the politicization of Native issues. During his campaign, Trump consistently promised the Lumbee Tribe recognition. Notably, in Robeson County, where the Lumbee Tribe is headquartered, 63.3% of the population voted Republican in the last election, reflecting a significant political base. However, making tribal recognition a political issue risks marginalizing Native voices, depending on the outcomes of elections, as both KillsCrow and Hicks cautioned.
Hicks advised President Trump to allow the recognition process to proceed through the OFA, advocating for expert evaluation. “Let the experts do their job. Whatever that answer is, it is,” he concluded. This sentiment encapsulates the tension between seeking recognition and adhering to established protocols that respect the sovereignty and history of Native American tribes.
