Bob Shiles
Staff writer
PEMBROKE — After again hearing complaints that tribal members are not receiving the housing services they need in a timely manner, the Lumbee Tribal Council on Thursday amended its proposed fiscal budget for 2012-13 to include more money for repairs and construction.
At the recommendation of Councilman McDuffie Cummings, the council amended the proposed budget to bring it up to a total of about $23.2 million, and addition of about $10 million. Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks had recommended a budget for the upcoming fiscal year of about $13 million.
Almost $17.2 million of the proposed budget is unspent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds that have accumulated since 2006, Cummings said. The other $6 million is part of HUD’s $13 million allocation to the tribe for fiscal year 2012-13.
Saying that they are committed to boosting housing services to tribal members, especially seniors and the disabled, council members on Thursday also passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a committee to study the feasibility of creating a contracting company to be run by the tribe. Council members are banking on a tribe-run contracting company being able to provide tribal members faster and more efficient housing services than are now being provided.
Council members said the idea of forming a contracting company has been under consideration for some time. Several voiced their concerns that so many tribal members have been denied housing and utility aid, many often waiting years for service.
Under the structure of Lumbee government, individual housing cases are the responsibility of the tribe’s administration, council members said.
“We need to find another way,” said Cummings, who argued that he does not believe housing repairs and construction should be functions overseen by the tribe’s administration. He said the hiring of a consulting firm to oversee the tribe’s housing department would be more efficient.
Councilman Steve Sampson assured several contractors present at the meeting that the creation of a tribal contracting company would not take work from them.
“No one is going to be removed from our list of contractors if they are doing good work,” Sampson said. ” … One contracting company can’t handle all of the work we have to do.
“Yes, this council wants to start a contracting company. We want to get out of the political realm and start doing what is best for the future of our kids and grandchildren.”
The tribe’s housing committee will study the proposal and bring information back to the full council.
In other business, a resolution was passed opposing a recent policy approved by the U.S. Justice Department that makes it a crime for members of non-federally recognized tribes, including the Lumbees, to carry or use an eagle feather. Many American Indian tribes consider carrying an eagle feather a high honor that is an important part of their culture.
“This hurts my heart that we have to tell our kids that they can’t hold an eagle feather,” said Jimmy Goins, a former tribal chairman. “… We’ve always used eagle feathers. This is taking away from our culture.”
The policy covers all federally protected birds, bird feathers and bird parts, according to a statement from the Justice Department.
“It (policy) clarifies and expands on longstanding department practice, consistent with the Department of Interior’s 35-year old Morton Policy, of not prosecuting tribal members for possessing or using eagle feathers and other protected bird parts,” the statement says.
The council also met in closed session to receive a report on a proposed solar energy project. No action was taken.
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If any Indian is given Golden or Bald Eagle feathers it is one of the most rewarding items they can ever be handed. The Indians believe that eagles have a special connection with the heavens since they fly so close. Many Indians believe that if they are given this feather, it is a symbol from above. They believe that the eagle is the leader of all birds, because it flies as high as it does and sees better than all the birds.
Once an Indian receives a feather he must take care of it, and many will hang it up in their homes. It is disrespectful to hide it away in a drawer or a closet. An Indian will be given a feather to hold on to or to wear, and if they hold it they must put it out for everyone to see. This will be a constant reminder of how to behave. An eagle feather is a lot like the American flag, it must be handled with care and can never be dropped on the ground.
The only way an Indian can actually get one of these feathers is by doing a brave deed, like fighting off a bear or going up against the enemy. They were never allowed to wear the feather until they went in front of their tribal court and retold the story of their victory. It was at this time that they were allowed to put it in their headpiece. Only chieftains, warriors, and braves have ever been awarded this special gift.
hope this helps
And the other way to get a feather is to "go up against an enemy"? Well my goodness, they ought to be handin them out evertime the tribe has a meeting.... Sure is a lot of enemies there....
Feathers.... I ain't never......
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!
On a lighter note, did anyone see the Facebook posting by Councilman Charles Bullard (aka Humpty Dumpty)? He untactfully took a mobile picture with his cellphone of a tribal member speaking at the podium and uploaded it to Facebook while implying "people are mad here tonight". While the gentleman may have been upset, it was a tacky move on Humpty Dumpty to Facebook it. However, what else would you expect from some of these goobers?