To the Editor,

The Lumbee Tribal Constitution requires a tribal member to “maintain contact with the Tribe.” For more than a decade, Lumbee Tribal Enrollment has administered a written test to individuals who demonstrate direct blood descent and Lumbee birthright.

This test consists of asking applicants to identify three to five Lumbee communities, churches, schools and or notable figures. For some time the Lumbee people have been frustrated with a written test overriding blood line. The practice, however, continues to be Lumbee custom.

A distinguished Lumbee elder told me about two cousins who live out of state. The first cousin has for some time participated in all things Lumbee. The second has never shown any interest.

The first takes the written test and fails as a result of his being a veteran who suffers from documented PTSD and test anxiety. The second allegedly carries a card into Tribal Enrollment with the signature of a local elected official on the back. The first cousin is demoralized, leaving with no card and being told if he appeals and loses, he can never be Lumbee. The second allegedly took no test and is carrying a card today.

Another Lumbee elder speaks to me later about her nephew from Florida whose Lumbee father died when the young man was 13. Now that he is an adult, this young man seeks to connect with his father’s ancestry. The young man comes to Pembroke, takes the Lumbee test and is told that he will be notified by mail. Months pass with no notification.

The aunt, living in Pembroke, then contacts Tribal Enrollment. Enrollment informs her about the written test and that the young man failed. The elder is astonished that there is a Lumbee test. She is even more appalled that her nephew has been left for months in limbo only seeking to love what is justly his.

I, like many Lumbee, think something is wrong here. Hurricane Matthew crippled Lumbee Land, yet it has also caused us to embrace our neighbors. Have we arrived at a day to begin a new Lumbee custom of “doing the right thing?” Can we celebrate kinship boldly honoring a fundamental of Indian Country?

Matthew has seen that we all rise up together in Robeson County. Is it time to offer all Lumbee this opportunity as well?

Eric R. Locklear

Fayetteville