On a crisp December morning in Pembroke, North Carolina, emotion filled the air as Lumbee Tribe Chairman John Lowery addressed the press and his community. The occasion was nothing short of historic: after 137 years of relentless advocacy, the Lumbee Tribe had finally secured full federal recognition, a milestone celebrated not just by tribal members but by supporters and allies across the nation.
The journey to this moment has been long and, at times, fraught with setbacks and heartbreak. As Lowery recounted during the December 19, 2025 news conference at the tribe’s headquarters, the Lumbee people have “come a long way.” His voice, often wavering with sentiment, reflected on the struggles and resilience of his ancestors. “I just know what our people’s done. I don't never want us to forget that,” Lowery said, his words resonating with the crowd gathered in Pembroke and those watching from afar, according to WPDE.
The decisive step came on December 17, 2025, when the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 77-20. Buried more than 3,000 pages deep in the NDAA was the Lumbee Fairness Act, which granted the Lumbee Tribe full federal recognition. The House of Representatives had already approved the measure the previous week. Now, all that remained was the president’s signature, a formality eagerly anticipated by the tribe and its advocates. According to NOTUS, dozens of Lumbee members watched from the Senate gallery, tears streaming as the chamber delivered a vote that would change the course of their history.
For more than a century, the Lumbee had been recognized only at the state level. The 1956 Lumbee Act acknowledged them as an American Indian Nation, but crucially denied them the federal services and benefits afforded to other tribes. This left generations of Lumbee without access to programs through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and other federal agencies. The new act reverses that legacy, opening doors to essential healthcare, education, and land protections.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is retiring in 2026, played a pivotal role in shepherding the legislation through Congress. “We’re literally repealing law that was passed by racist members of this institution in 1958 that made it impossible for [the Lumbee] to get recognized through the administration,” Tillis told NOTUS. He described the passage of the act as the most memorable part of his Senate career, adding, “We’re going further by saying they are federally recognized, and they deserve it, and God bless them for being so patient. I would not have been.”
The Lumbee Fairness Act, introduced by Tillis and co-sponsored by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and 18 others, recognizes the tribe’s more than 55,000 members—making the Lumbee the largest federally recognized tribe east of the Mississippi River. The act also designates Robeson, Scotland, Hoke, and Cumberland counties as being on or near an Indian reservation, solidifying the tribe’s connection to its ancestral homelands.
Getting here was anything but easy. The Lumbee’s quest for recognition began in 1880, a time when, as Lowery recounted, “members of the tribe didn't have the accommodations and conveniences of the modern-day world.” The fight spanned decades and political eras, with bills passing the House but repeatedly stalling in the Senate. At one point, the tribe fell just two votes short of breaking a Senate hold, a memory that still stings for many advocates.
Political winds shifted in 2020, when President Donald J. Trump visited Lumberton and vowed to sign the recognition bill if reelected. Though his executive memo in his subsequent term declared U.S. government policy in support of the Lumbee, the tribe needed congressional action for full recognition. Trump’s support, however, proved instrumental in rallying key allies. “Trump does what he says he's going to do. And if he's with you on something, he's with you. And thank God he's been with the Lumbee,” Lowery remarked, drawing applause from the crowd.
Senator Tillis, who once hesitated to support the tribe’s recognition, became one of its most committed champions after learning about the Lumbee’s history and struggles. He even blocked judicial nominations to pressure the Senate to act. “I was, I think, the first member of the Senate in modern times that refused to co-sponsor the Lumbee recognition bill in my first Congress because… I’ve got to be convinced you’ve got a case before I’m willing to do it,” Tillis admitted to NOTUS. “I spent the time, I understood what they were going through—embarrassed that I didn’t really know that history well—and then committed to them.”
The tribe also faced fierce opposition from some federally recognized tribes, who invested millions to prevent Lumbee recognition, fearing competition for federal resources. Yet, as Lowery put it, “The Eastern Band’s money ran into Trump. It finally ran into something that it can’t buy.”
Now, with recognition secured, the Lumbee Tribe looks ahead to a future filled with promise. Federal recognition brings access to Indian Health Services, a benefit that Lowery described as “a huge success for the Lumbee people.” He explained, “For our people who do not have health care insurance or our people who have high health care insurance, they will be able to work with Indian Health Services to get services provided to them.”
Education is another area where the impact will be felt. Former educator Doloris Jones expressed hope for a new generation of Lumbee scholars: “This opens a lot of opportunities, a lot of opportunities for the future students. Their parents can rest assured that they can go to higher education without the parents having to sacrifice money that is needed for the household.”
Still, the path forward will require patience and careful planning. As Lowery cautioned, “We will not receive BIA or HIS funding for at least three fiscal years. That was part of our negotiations, something we had to agree to.” He explained that such consultations with federal agencies typically take two to three years, so the delay was not unexpected.
As the tribe prepares to celebrate becoming the 575th federally recognized tribe in the United States, Lowery reflected on the seeds planted by his ancestors. “We never know what we're doing today. I mean, seeds were planted in the day and where those seeds will officially blossom, but he planted the seed right in 1888. And they sure blossomed, yesterday.”
Enrollment policies for the tribe remain unchanged, though they are currently closed due to an ongoing court case related to tribal elections. The Lumbee are building internal teams to work with federal agencies, ensuring a smooth transition into this new era of recognition and opportunity.
With nearly 60,000 members and a territory that spans four counties, the Lumbee Tribe’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and community spirit. As the celebrations begin, the tribe stands as a testament to what can be achieved when generations refuse to give up on justice and recognition.
