This article relates to two
bills, H.R. 5042 and S. 2672, for true federal recognition
of the Lumbee. Hearings on the bills were held on August 12
and 13, 1988 [see The Lumbee Indians: An annotated bibliography,
items 1379 and 1380].
Savilla recalls the 1975 annual
convention of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI),
where the Lumbee presented a resolution asking for NCAI’s
support for the federal recognition bills then before Congress
(H.R. 12216 and S. 4045; see The Lumbee Indians: An annotated
bibliography, item 1368]. Savilla (who chaired the resolutions
portion of the convention) recalls that several tribes voted
nay to the resolution, some tried to limit the time given
the Lumbee to make their case for the resolution, and some
privately stated that they oppose Lumbee recognition because
the tribe is mixed blood.
Savilla supports Lumbee recognition,
citing the historical evidence of Lumbee existence as a tribe
that has been gathered by anthropologists and ethnologists;
the tribe’s educational accomplishments, including establishment
of Pembroke State University; and the notable achievements
of many Lumbee individuals, including Brantley Blue. He urges
readers to call or write in support of Lumbee recognition.
He concludes: “The objections based on mixed-blood are
not valid objections, because at this period in our history
which tribe can point to its full membership as being 4/4
Indian? The simple truth is that there is no longer a tribe
without mixed-blood members. One argument for tribes to support
federal recognition of the Lumbee is that politically we are
a very small minority. Politically, we need their numbers.
That is only one important practical reason to support them
in their bid. However, the most important reason is a moral
one: because it’s the right thing to do.”
