Editorial: Lumbee Tribe back to square one on federal recognition

Thursday, January 6, 2011  

"The Lumbee Tribal Council's ill-conceived dalliance with the gaming industry has cost the tribe government recognition it has sought for more than a century and deserves.

In 2009, the bill cleared the House by 61 votes. Then, despite support from Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr and President Obama, it died under pressure from senators representing states with tribal gambling interests. Rep. Mike McIntyre, a Pembroke Democrat, will reintroduce the bill this session, but the outlook is uncertain. Two GOP committee chairmen in the new Congress, who would play key roles, voted against the last bill. Any chance of passage fell victim to the council's double-dealing, and the setback moves the struggle back to an iffy square one.

The hard-learned lesson is that tribe members must demand more accountability and fewer back-room shenanigans from their leaders. And those leaders, going forward, should agree to speak with one voice."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Lumbees' pursuit of gambling killed tribal recognition effort (The Greenboro News-Record 1/5)

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