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The Lumbee Indians of North Carolina
Cheraw community was first observed on Drowning Creek (Lumber River)
in present day Robeson County, North Carolina, in 1724. Almost 300
years later, the Lumbees continue to live along the Lumber River. The
Lumbees have been recognized by the state of North Carolina as a tribe
since 1885. With this recognition, the state provided educational
assistance and other services.
In 1887, the state established an All American Indian training
school for the Lumbee. This institution grew into a college, which
today has an enrollment of approximately 3,000 and is known as the University of North
Carolina at Pembroke. It is one of the sixteen institutions that
make up the University of North Carolina system.
Chronological And Legislative History of the Lumbee
Pre 1700's - 1799
- Pre 1700 to 1703 Cheraws are documented as living on or
near the Dan River in two settlements near the state border of
- 1703-1737 Cheraws are documented as living on the Pee Dee
- 1711-1712 Cheraws participated in alliance of tribes
engaged in intertribal warfare against Tuscarora in war in northeastern
NC. Tuscaroras were defeated mostly by Indian allies of European
colonists. Thousands of Tuscaroras were killed or enslaved.
Cheraws participated in Cofitachiqui Indian alliance
in Yamasee War, which was targeted against traders and colonist around
Charleston, SC. Cofitachiquo alliance was defeated by alliance of
European colonists and their Indian allies.
- 1725 Herbert Map was completed that shows the Wacoma
(Waccamaw) tribe on Drowning Creek (Lumbee River), NC.
- 1753 NC Governor Rowan issued a Proclamation identifying
Drowning Creek as a frontier to Indians.
- 1771 Information on Cheraws on Drowning Creek was reported
in Charleston, SC Newspaper.
- 1790 Locklears, Chavises, Oxendines, Hammonds, Brooks,
Cumbos, Revels, Carters, and Kerseys (people with predominant Lumbee
surnames) are listed on the 1790 Census of Robeson County as "All other
1800 to 1899
- 1835 NC State Constitution was amended to disenfranchise
Indians along with Blacks; Indians lose important citizenship rights.
Henry Berry Lowrie, legendary Lumbee outlaw/folk
hero, led guerilla war against violent and oppressive Confederate
officials, and later, US Military officials.
- 1868 Following the Civil War, the NC State Constitution
was amended to enfranchise Indians along with Blacks (Indians get back
important citizenship rights).
- 1885 NC General Assembly recognized the Indians of Robeson
County as Croatan and established a separate school system for Indians.
- 1887 Indian leaders and NC General Assembly established a
Croatan Indian Normal School, which eventually grew to becomes the
University of NC at Pembroke.
- 1888 Leaders of the Croatan (Lumbee) petitioned the US
government for federal recognition and educational aid.
- 1890 NC Supreme Court ruled that Croatan School Committees
have authority to determine who tribal members are for purposes of
enrolling in Croatan Schools.
- 1895 Croatans (Lumbees) again petitioned Congress for an
appropriation of the Normal School for the Croatan Indians of Robeson
- 1895 NC General Assembly passed a resolution urging its US
Congressional delegation to support the Croatan (Lumbee) Indians.
- 1899 Congressman John D. Bellamy introduced a bill in US
Congress to provide educational assistance to the Croatan (Lumbee)
1900 to present
- 1900 Congressman Bellamy spoke before the US House
Committee on Indian Affairs and reported on origins, history, and needs
of the Croatan (Lumbee).
- 1900 US Government completed special Census of Indian
population of Robeson County and adjoining counties as part of Census
- 1909 NC General Assembly appropriated $3,000 to the
Croatan Indian of Robeson County for educational aid.
- 1910 US Government completed special Census of Indian
population of Robeson and adjoining counties as part of Census survey.
- 1911 NC General Assembly changed name of tribe to "Indians
of Robeson County" (Lumbee).
- 1913 US Congress held a hearing on status and concerns of
"Indians of Robeson County" (Lumbee)
- 1914 Delegation of Lumbee returned to Congress seeking
support for their educational system.
- 1919 O.M. McPherson, Special Indian agent with the US
Bureau of Indian Affairs, visits Robeson County to study Lumbee.
- 1921 NC General Assembly appropriated $75,000 to the
Indian Normal School.
- 1933 Bill introduced in Congress to recognize Indians of
Robeson County as "Cheraw".
- 1934 Lumbee leaders joined the National Congress of
- 1935 Bureau of Indian Affairs sent Special Indian agent to
Robeson County to study conditions of the tribe and recommend purchase
of land for the tribe.
- 1935 1936 - Researchers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs
of the US Department of the Interior came to Robeson County to conduct
studies among the Lumbee.
- 1952 Lumbee leaders held community referendum to get
approval of tribal members to change name of tribe to "Lumbee Tribe"
- 1953 NC General Assembly changed name of Indians of
Robeson County to "Lumbee".
- 1956 US Congress passed the Lumbee Act which provides
federal recognition of the tribe as "Lumbee", but denied federal Indian
services to members of the Lumbee tribe.
After the Klan
threatened Lumbee tribal members,
Lumbee Indians used force of arms to route Ku Klux Klan in
confrontation near Maxton, NC. The Lumbee tribe received national and
international news media attention for its defense of its community
against outside "hate groups."
- 1968 Lumbee Regional Development Association (LRDA)
organized to improve quality of life for Indian people in Robeson,
Hoke, and Scotland counties.
- 1971 Present - LRDA received federal funds to provide
services to low-income Indian people of Robeson and adjoining counties.
- 1971 - Present Leaders of LRDA joined and represented
the Lumbee tribe in the National Congress of American Indians, the
oldest, largest, and most respected Indian organization in the United
- 1972 - 1976 Lumbee groups worked to preserve
predominantly Indian schools and preserve and restore "Old Main" an
historic landmark building which is very important to Lumbee history
and culture, located on the UNCP campus.
- 1974 Bill introduced in US Congress to amend Lumbee Act of
1956 to provide full federal recognition to Lumbee Tribe.
- 1979 LRDA began efforts to develop petition through
Federal Acknowledgement Process of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior, for administrative recognition of the
- 1980 - 2001 LRDA prepared, updated, and maintains a list
of all enrolled members of the Lumbee tribe. (There are over 43,000
members to date.)
- 1984 Referendum approved by vote of the Lumbee Tribal
members authorized the Board of Directors of LRDA to act for the Lumbee
Tribe on federal recognition until a Lumbee Tribal Council is formed
and elected by Lumbee Tribal Enrolled members.
- 1987 LRDA and Lumbee River Legal Services submitted
petition for federal recognition of Lumbee tribe to Bureau of Indian
Affairs. This document was a product of the most extensive research
into the history and genealogy of the Lumbee and their ancestors to
- 1988 Bill introduced in US Senate and House of
Representatives for recognition of the Lumbee.
- 1988 The Lumbee Recognition Act advanced in Senate, but
died in House of Representatives.
- 1989 Leaders of LRDA obtained resolution from National
Congress of American Indians supporting efforts for federal recognition.
- 1989 The Solicitor for the Department of the Interior
ruled that the 1956 Lumbee Act denied the federal relationship to
Lumbee, the Lumbee are not eligible for the Federal Acknowledgement
Process of the BIA.
- 1991 Bill introduced in US Congress for recognition of the
Lumbee Tribe. Bill passed in House of Representatives, but died in
- 1993 Lumbee Recognition Bill passed in the US House of
- 1993 LRDA organized Lumbee Tribal Constitution Development
Project to help prepare a draft of a Lumbee tribal constitution and
explore options for tribal government.
- 1994 Lumbee Recognition Bill received strong bipartisan
support in the US Senate, endorsed by Senator Daniel Inouye (D) and
Senator Lauch Faircloth (R).
- 1994 Glen Maynor was elected Sheriff of Robeson County,
the first Lumbee in this very important position. Joanne Locklear was
elected Clerk of Court of Robeson County, the first Lumbee to hold this
very important position.
- 1998 April Whittemore crowned first ever Lumbee Miss
- 2000 Lorna McNeil crowned Miss North Carolina, first
American Indian woman to hold this position.
- 2001 Lumbee elect first Lumbee Tribal Council. For more
information about the Tribal Council, please visit their web page at
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