Lumbee tribe makes history
runningwolf
2 days 12 hrs ago
History was made Saturday when the first building to be wholly owned
by the Lumbee tribe opened to the public.
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 and around 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.