NC Lumbee tribal members in D.C. to witness historic moment as it gains full federal recognition

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- There was raw emotion on Capitol Hill as the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina cleared its final hurdles before gaining full federal recognition. The historic moment brought dozens of tribal members to Washington, D.C., including James Locklear.

Senators Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, along with Representatives David Rouzer, Mark Harris, Richard Hudson, Tim Moore, Deborah Ross, Addison McDowell, Valerie Foushee, Greg Murphy, Don Davis, and Alma Adams, applauded the signing of the Lumbee Fairness Act into law.

"It's something I've thought about and dreamed about for a long time since I was a little boy," said Locklear. "It means validity as a tribe, which we didn't need anyone to tell us we were a native tribe. We've known all our lives."

Locklear spoke with ABC11 virtually from the nation's capital as he witnessed history and documented it every step of the way. He captured a heartfelt prayer of Lumbee men, women and children huddled together in front of the Washington D.C. Office of Senator Thom Tillis, who was a major proponent of the tribe gaining full federal recognition.

He even captured an emotional Lumbee tribal chairman, John Lowery.

"I'm a happy man. I'm thinking about everybody who helped us get here. Thank you all," said Lowery.

The Lumbee Tribe was first recognized by Congress in 1956, but the legislation didn't include federal benefits. Over the years, the tribe has made many attempts at gaining full federal recognition, but this is the first time the Lumbee Fairness Act was rolled into the defense spending bill.

"I told my children this isn't going to happen in my lifetime, so you have to keep pushing," said Betty Mangum. "Thank God for blessing our people and keeping us strong by allowing us to persevere all these years. It would have been so easy to give up."

Mangum, 87, is the daughter of the first Lumbee historian, Dr. Clifton Oxendine. She believes the main benefits associated with federal recognition are increased access to healthcare and education.

"I don't know how long it takes to process money with the bill, but I am so ready," she said.

The Lumbee Fairness Act grants long-overdue federal benefits to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina that every other federally recognized tribe receives. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American-Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which provided the Lumbee with federal recognition but included an unfair caveat that terminated their recognition.

The Lumbee Tribe received support from over 230 federally recognized tribes, President Trump, Vice President Vance, President Biden, Vice President Harris, the North Carolina General Assembly, and various Native American scholars and organizations.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians released the following statement:

"Every sovereign Tribal Nation in this country has been required to prove its identity, lineage, history and continuous governance. For decades, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Tribal leadership have worked, testified, litigated, and defeated the federal acknowledgement process not just for ourselves, but to ensure that every sovereign Nation is held to the same standard."