Trumps Favorite Native Tribe Nears Victory

After 137 Years, the Lumbee Tribe Is About to Get What Congress Promise

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has been asking the federal government for recognition since 1888. That year, they petitioned Congress for help with education.

Congress said no. For the next 137 years, the answer stayed the same.

But on December 17, 2025, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on a defense bill that includes the Lumbee Fairness Act, and this time, the answer might finally be yes.

The tribe has a powerful ally they did not have before, and the story of how they got here involves a Klan rally, a 2020 campaign promise, and a president who says he loves them.

Senate Vote Could End 137-Year Fight

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on December 17, with the final version including the Lumbee Fairness Act.

If the Senate approves the bill, the only remaining step would be President Trump’s signature, and the White House has indicated Trump is expected to sign it.

The House passed the bill on December 10 by a vote of 312 to 112.

If recognition passes, the Lumbee would become the 575th federally recognized Indian tribe in the United States.

Trump Championed Lumbee Since 2020

In October 2020, Trump held a campaign rally at the Robeson County Fairgrounds in Lumberton, telling the crowd he would sign the Lumbee Recognition Act if re-elected.

Just days before the rally, Trump declared his support for federal recognition, saying the Lumbee had been wrongfully denied for more than a century.

During the rally, Trump stated that the Lumbee Nation is forgotten no more.

Robeson County voters responded, giving Trump 59% of the vote in 2020 after he had won just 51% there in 2016.

The Lumbee Are 55,000 Strong

The Lumbee Tribe has more than 55,000 members, making it the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River.

The tribe’s homeland lies along the winding, dark waters of the Lumbee River in southeastern North Carolina, with tribal headquarters located in Pembroke.

The ancestors of the Lumbee were survivors of tribal nations from the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language families, including the Cheraw and other affected tribes.

War, disease, and colonization made the Lumbee River lands a safe haven for survival.

First Petition Came in 1888

The Lumbee first petitioned the federal government for recognition in 1888 but were rejected due to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ lack of funding.

North Carolina had recognized the Lumbee as a tribal nation in 1885.

In 1887, the state established the Croatan Normal Indian School, which today is the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

From 1910 to 1924, at least five separate bills were introduced in Congress seeking federal recognition, all failing.

1956 Act Gave Recognition Without Benefits

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Lumbee Act, which recognized the Lumbee as American Indians but denied them the benefits of a federally recognized tribe.

The act came during the era of Indian Termination, when the federal government often sought to distance itself from Native American tribes.

Only congressional action can overturn that legislation, according to Lumbee Chairman John Lowery. The tribe has introduced recognition bills more than 30 times since 1956.

Lumbee Routed the KKK in 1958

On January 18, 1958, Ku Klux Klan leader James “Catfish” Cole gathered about 50 Klansmen in a field near Hayes Pond to hold a rally targeting the Lumbee.

Several hundred Lumbees, many armed, surrounded the group, and after someone shot out the single light bulb illuminating the field, the Lumbee began firing their weapons.

Most Klansmen fled, while Cole hid in a swamp and the Lumbee seized Klan regalia and carried them to Pembroke to celebrate. After that night, the Klan never held another public gathering in Robeson County.

Trump Signed Executive Order in January

On January 23, 2025, just three days after taking office, Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Secretary of the Interior to submit a plan to advance full federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe.

Trump told reporters he loves the Lumbee Tribe, adding that they were with him all the way.

The memorandum established that it is the policy of the United States to support federal recognition and full tribal benefits for the Lumbee.

Recognition Tucked Into Defense Bill

Lawmakers tucked the Lumbee recognition language into the 3,086-page National Defense Authorization Act, making it the only tribal provision in the entire bill.

The Lumbee provision has nothing to do with defense issues, but lawmakers routinely add unrelated provisions to this must-pass annual bill for quick passage.

Trump singled out the Lumbee tribe as a key priority in the defense bill through the White House’s official Statement of Administration Policy.

Cherokee Tribe Opposes the Move

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opposes the act, arguing there are too many gaps in the Lumbee’s genealogy and history.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks said the bill would establish a dangerous precedent for federal recognition by abandoning the requirement of historical, genealogical, and cultural evidence.

Roughly 235 federally recognized tribes back the Lumbee bid, while more than 100 oppose it. The Eastern Band maintains recognition should go through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process, not Congress.

Recognition Means Billions in Federal Aid

If approved, the Lumbee could receive roughly $2 billion in federal resources.

Full federal recognition would bring funding, access to resources like the Indian Health Service, and the ability to take land into trust.

The tribe would gain access to programs through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and other federal agencies.

For a tribe based in one of North Carolina’s poorest counties, these resources could transform education, health care, and housing.

Lumbee Votes Helped Trump Win North Carolina

In 2024, Trump won 63. % of the vote in Robeson County, increasing his margin by more than 4 points compared to 2020.

Robeson County moved the most toward Trump of any county in North Carolina between 2016 and 2020. The county had previously favored Obama by 14 points in 2008 and 18 points in 2012.

Trump has credited the Lumbee with helping him win North Carolina, and now he is positioned to deliver on his promise.

Visiting Lumber River State Park, North Carolina

The Lumbee take their name from this blackwater river that winds through southeastern North Carolina.

Lumber River State Park covers 115 miles of the river across four counties and is the only blackwater river in North Carolina designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

The park has 24 canoe access points at road intersections, with trips ranging from one hour to several days. Admission is free and the park is open year-round.

The Princess Ann Access is located at 2819 Princess Ann Road in Orrum, about 22 miles from Lumberton.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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