Lumbee Tribe react to bill that inches them closer to federal recognition: 'The closest we've been'

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe is closer to gaining full federal recognition. Over the years, tribal members have called it a hard-fought battle as other tribes have opposed recognition.

"The fight that we've gone through in my lifetime started long before I got here," said Ryan Dial.

Dial's passion for Native American communities started when he was a boy, and it has carried over into his adulthood. He currently works at the UNC American Indian Center as a health program manager.

"I grew up having to defend my identity to my nonnative peers. Something I wasn't prepared for is having to do the same with my other native peers," he said.

The Lumbee Tribe was first recognized by Congress in 1956, but the legislation didn't include federal benefits.

"I love the Lumbee tribe. So, this is their first big step, right? They were with me all the way. They were great," said President Trump in January of this year.

Just days into President Trump's second term, he signed a memorandum for the Secretary of the Department of Interior to pursue federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe. The Lumbee Fairness Act is attached to the National Defense Authorization Act. It passed the House chamber and has drawn out a lot of emotion from tribal members.

"This is the closest that we've been. We're within a couple of steps of that actually coming to fruition. There are people who have been in this fight for decades," said UNC School of Pharmacy Professor Dr. Ronnie Bell.

He is the younger brother of Dr. Joey Bell, who was the state's first American Indian pediatrician. He believes federal recognition could help address health disparities within the tribe.

"This act would help bring in resources where there are more healthcare facilities that are more accessible to people in the community," he said.

The Lumbee Tribe released the following statement on behalf of Chairman John Lowery to Eyewitness News:

"First, I want to thank God for his blessings on our people," said Lowery. "I would also like to thank Speaker Johnson and House leadership, along with Congressman Rouzer, and Congressman Harris, and the rest of the bipartisan North Carolina House Delegation that supported our bill. I want to thank President Trump and his White House Team for ensuring that our bill stayed a priority during the NDAA negotiations. We now look forward to the next step, which is passage in the United States Senate."

Chairman Lowery said he will continue to work with Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Ted Budd to get this bill across the finish line.