Bob Shiles
Staff writer
PEMBROKE — The chairman of the Lumbee Tribe on Thursday denied allegations made by Tribal Council members that he has violated a tribal ordinance by filling several positions and raising salaries.
“I have not increased any salary on any position in the government, and therefore I am not in violation of any of the tribe’s ordinances,” Chairman Paul Brooks said in a statement. “There was one position vacant at the time of the budget’s adoption, a rehabilitation coordinator, and this position is still vacant at this time.”
According to The Fayetteville Observer, Tribal Speaker Pearlean Revels and Councilwoman Louise Mitchell said Wednesday that the chairman violated the council’s decision to freeze all vacant positions and all salaries.
The Lumbee Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed with the Tribal Council that it is within the legislative branch’s authority to freeze the tribe’s operating budget as long as it is done upon adopting the budget.
The hearing before the court resulted from a petition by Eric Locklear saying that freezing positions and salaries goes beyond the council’s authority. He argued that these are functions that are included in the tribe’s constitution, falling under the jurisdiction of the chairman.
Although Locklear pointed to an earlier court ruling from 2011 denying the council’s decision to freeze the budget, the five Supreme Court justices on Wednesday agreed with the Tribal Council.
The Observer reported that Chief Justice Gary Locklear said that the tribe’s constitution allows the council when it first adopts the budget to include limitations such as freezing line items. He also said that the tribal chairman has 30 days following the budget’s adoption to veto it.
Brooks said Thursday that he accepts the ruling.
“There is no appealing of a Supreme Court ruling, however, as tribal chairman, it is my intent to honor all of our court’s rulings,” he said.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 or bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
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I just wish they would have closed sessions to the media. We already have enough of critics out there just looking to make us look bad.
I've always said, it will be a honor to serve my native people. I myself wouldn't want any pay. I would donate it to needy families in the county. When I run of Tribal Council I will do it with honor and pride like our ancestor's would have done.
We do have successful Native Americans by your white standards. I for one don't need your government money. Many of us have done pretty well on our own. To the ones that have not, will benefit from "your money." Now, you can do all us a favor and go back to England at any time. When your own your way there, take your other friends you brought with you and make a pit stop by Africa. Then you will have no reason to complain, right?
Why does a Tribal Chairman concern you anyway? I don't care who is voted grand dragon in your group of people. The ones that accept " Your God" I'm sure they ask for special favors just like you. When you pray ask your "Your God" to deliver you from all evil and he be with you when you encounter me.
Look pal, indians lost, yall were too busy in-house fighting one another, like you are now (lumbee council,joke).'Ol Colonel Columbus sat back, waited, then swooped in and whooped the ones left...
And guess what? CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS A MINORITY, HE WAS AN ITALIAN! Boy that is so funny, an Italian... He aint white. ha ha, Now what you got to say, lummie? And another one for ya, I aint white either.. Now tell me something, and speak ENGLSH.
Again what does the Tribal Council concern you anyway? I don’t care what race you are. If you’re not Native American, then you are an illegal immigrant. I guess you’re scared of what the Lumbee Tribe is and has become. Does it bother you when Lumbee’s invade your space? Guess what? We are still here and we ain’t going nowhere anytime soon. So get use to it!!
Some of you people need to get over the fact that an Italian dude came over and whooped the occupiers and took over. It's over, lets move "forward". To the winner goes the prize. I'm not bitter, I wern't here when it happened, so I don't care. An Italian, this is the most amazing part of the Cristopher Columbus story and noooo one wants to mention it, Ha, I love it. I'm gonna make up some shirts and sell em at the lumbee powwow in Saddletree next week. The shirts will read: "My ancestors lost their land to a minority,an Italian. I'm sorry to the white people for being blamed all these years". Yep look for me at booth 6, at get em while they're hot. I'm also gonna sell shirts that say: "WHITE PRIDE" "POWER TO THE WHITE MAN", "THANK A WHITE MAN" "and my favorite, "YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT, A WHITE MAN DID".. I'll be in booth 6, and dare anybody to tell me I can't sell em there. I'm just a crayola indian tryin to make a dollar.