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History is made
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The new 22,000-square-foot Tribal Housing Complex is located just outside Pembroke on N.C. 711 | Staff photo by Bob Shiles
The 22,000-square-foot Tribal Housing Complex, located just outside Pembroke on N.C. 711, will serve as the home for the tribe’s housing program and provide meeting space for the tribal government. Other tribal departments also will have offices in the building. The facility also is capable of providing temporary shelter in emergency situations, said tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins.
The $4 million complex, paid for with a loan from BB&T, is long overdue, Goins said. It was in the development stage for about five years.
“This is something the people have wanted for years. Every Lumbee can say this is my own,” the chairman said. “This will give individual tribe members a new sense of deep pride.”
The tribe rents the office space currently used by the tribal government.
“I am thrilled. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Tribal Speaker Ricky Burnett said. “This is something that will touch every Lumbee’s heart. It goes to show that if we stick together and stay positive, anything can happen.”
About 150 attended Saturday’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tribal officials and others spoke about the importance of the day’s event as it pertained to Lumbee heritage and culture.
The building’s turtle design was inspired by a dream former tribal administrator Leon Jacobs had in 2004. In American Indian culture the turtle, represents wisdom, according to Burnett.
“I had a dream that we should construct a building emphasizing our culture and history,” Jacobs said after the ceremony. “One of my first brainstorms as administrator was that we needed a good building.”
Purnell Swett, who in January will replace Goins as tribal chairman, used the occasion to make tribe members aware that one of his top priorities as the tribe’s new leader will be to work toward tribal recognition.
“This is a very historic day for the Lumbee people, a day some said they would never see,” he said. “It is an important day for the present generation and for future generations to come.”
State Sen. Michael Walters described the new building as an opportunity for American Indians in Robeson County to display their heritage and culture.
Greg Richardson, the executive director of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs agreed
“This is a great tribute to the Lumbee people,” Richardson said. “It will meet the needs of present and future generations.”
After the ceremony, Rosa Lewis, who works as a receptionist for the tribe, said she is certain members of the tribe are going to be pleased with the way the new facility makes it easier for them to receive services.
“I think it is going to be a lot better for people when they can come into one building and receive all tribal services,” she said.
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I think better management of fundings should be conducted and Mr. Swett alot of people voted you in because they believe you are an upright, God fearing individual, and trustworthy. I employ you not to be a discrease to our people like our prior sheiff Glenn Maynor. DO THE RIGHT THING. I KNOW YOU BELIEVE IN EDUCATION. I WILL NOT FOLD.
You know nothing about the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. I challenge you to spend one day at the Tribe. See first hand what goes on inside those walls. All of the small departments that are housed in this building work as a team and teamwork is a must when trying to provide services. Why is, these services been under one roof, such a crime? One large head quarters makes it easier for those seeking services. It stops people from having to travel from place to place when in need. That is the problem with our people. They comment on something they have no idea about. People think bad about the tribe people they don't educate themselves about the organization.
Please don't get me wrong, there are problems within the tribe, but that's with any organization!
First let me say Welcome to America....I don't know were you have been your whole life but in America race has always been a factor. I don't know why God made different races but he did and we can't change it. This is the way of the world!!!! Deal with it!!!! You should educate yourself before posting comments because some of the tribe's services are for all races (for example:the apartments in Maxton and Reaford).
And to answer your question, who really knows what will happen when we get to Heaven. You shouldn't worry about what will happen when you get there, just focus on Getting There. Personally I do not think race will matter. On Earth we may be different and that's not a bad thing, but in Heaven we will be as One.
God Bless You!
If you were a Christian, you would know that you can't compare Heaven to Earth. On earth we are all sinners, but in Heaven, the saved will be sin free.
Has for the question about "Jesus being served?" Let me remind all, that what we sew we shall also reap. Those people in the Lumbee Tribal Government are going to have to answer to a higher poer than the Tribal Administrator.I WOULD NOT BE IN SOME OF THEIR SHOES FOR THEIR SOCK!
We need to start a movement tounseat all of those who are getting their pockets greased by this housing money.
Yes, theLumbee Tribe should have BEEN had it's own Housing Authority..then the other departments could raise their own funding and quit living off the housing funds. I mean, they have about 5 nonprofit corporations operating out of that building. That in it's elf should be against the LAW...Just go to NC Secretary of Stste and type in the towd "Limbee." Even the Lumbee Recreation Center is still in existance on the same land the North Carolina Indian Cultural Center is operatig on!
Last time for this question: "IN HEAVEN, ARE THERE SEPERATE AREAS FOR DIFFERENT RACES TO RECIEVE THEIR REWARDS, GIFTS, OR SERVICES? And if GOD has jobs to do will he give them out based on RACE or ABILITY?
All I can say is that I hope you turn your life to JESUS and be born again so you can be a "Native" of the Heaven in the future.
Looks like the Tuscaroras and other tribes around here will be getting PAID. Because the LUMBEES have never had a treaty with the Federal Ogvernment (the great white father). They are even paying the Indians in the Black Hills of South Dakota too.
And there are not 55.000 enroolled memebrs. The LTG just wishes that there were! LOL
You are looking at it all wrong. Native Americans are a very small population. If heritage is not maintained, then the entire race will get lost in translation. It is the same with endangered species, because when an animal is endangered, they are protected.
Also, if you do not go to church or believe in GOD then you have bigger things to worry about than us Natives.
“The 55,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina reside primarily in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest tribe in North Carolina, the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and the ninth largest in the nation”.
And only “about 150 people” attended the “grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony” of this $ 4,000,000.00 “(4 MILLION)” dollar complex!
WOW, only 150 people attended out of the 55,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe!!!
This was either a lack of support by tribal members or poor advertisement by the tribe.
What do you think?