Last month, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe joined Tribal Nations across the country in celebrating a historic and long-overdue milestone for our relatives, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, as they received federal recognition from the United States Government.
For more than a century, the Lumbee people have pursued recognition of their inherent sovereignty, identity, and right to self-governance. Federal recognition affirms a government-to-government relationship with the United States and restores access to critical tools and resources necessary to serve Tribal citizens and protect future generations.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has been proud to stand alongside the Lumbee Tribe throughout this effort, including formally submitting letters of support urging Congress to advance Lumbee recognition. This advocacy reflects a shared understanding that recognition is fundamental to justice, self-determination, and the strengthening of Tribal Nations. The Tribe is equally grateful that the Lumbee Tribe and its leadership have long been steadfast supporters of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in our own efforts to protect our lands, rights, and sovereignty.
The Tribe extends sincere appreciation to Senator Thom Tillis, whose leadership and persistence were instrumental in moving the legislation forward. We also recognize the extraordinary legal advocacy that helped bring this effort to fruition, particularly Arlinda Locklear, whose decades of work as Special Counsel on Recognition for the Lumbee Tribe laid the foundation for this achievement, and Heather Sibbison of Dentons, whose commitment to Tribal sovereignty and personal work on Lumbee recognition over the past 15 years played a critical role in reaching this moment.
Chairman Brian Weeden of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe issued the following statement:
“The Lumbee people have waited for more than 100 years for the United States to formally recognize what they have always known — that they are a sovereign Tribal Nation with an inherent right to self-governance. Federal recognition is not symbolic; it affirms a government-to-government relationship and restores access to the tools every Tribe needs to care for its people and protect its future. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has been proud to support the Lumbee Tribe throughout this long journey, just as the Lumbee leadership has stood with us in our own struggles. Today, we celebrate the Lumbee Tribe as the 575th federally recognized Tribe, and we honor the perseverance, unity, and leadership that made this historic moment possible.”
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe congratulates Chairman John Lowery, the Lumbee Tribal Council, and the Lumbee people on this historic achievement. This moment is celebrated not only as a victory for the Lumbee Tribe, but as a reaffirmation of Tribal sovereignty and the enduring strength of Indian Country.
