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Lumbee history does not start or end with what white people or other Natives (especially ones who have not done research outside what their racist ass elders say) Just because Lumbees officially became a tribe to the government in 1956 does not mean we weren't Native before then
just as a clarifier, the former known Indians of Robeson county (where the main Lumbee territory resides) have been there for CENTERUIES. We literally have a museum with evidence of this and the rich histories of our people throughout generations. Our culture and traditions have-
existed as a coalescence of multiple tribal nations coming together in an area that was unchartered and maneuverable for settlers, to escape colonialism and attempt to find refuge from disease and other issues settlers brought to our displaced tribes.
Literally. Robeson county does not show up on ANY settler's maps till at LEAST around the 1880s. yt people didn't know how to traverse the swamp and didn't find value in it. Our people have always been here. Have always been Native. Have always existed, and persisted.
As a result of further industrialization and colonization eventually, the areas of the swamp were levied to drain swamps and allow settlers more access to where we are. This change eventually led to the intermingling and exchange of heritage amongst Black folks and yts.
there are many Black Natives within our tribe and white Natives alike, this does not invalidate anyone Indigeneity as claimed by certain anti-Black and anti-Indigenous colonizers and colonized Native folks as well. They always have and always will be Native folks.
Lumbee consists of the intermingling of many different tribal nations depending on their roots and timelines of migrating to Robeson county. There are many Cheraw, Tuscarora, Siouan, Saponi, and Catawban descended folks within our nation (P.S. there are Cherokee Lumbees too ;))
originally we were claimed by settlers to be the "croatan Indians" as a result of a white legislator named Hamilton McMillan who saw us as a political pawn and thought that tying our roots to the lost colony theory of Roanoke island, would increase our odds of recognition.
there is a historical pattern of settlers dictating the narrative of our identity as a political tool for their use, knowing that because of the material needs and conditions of our people and the resulting colonialism that impoverished them to begin would make them dependant
and would cause further issues down the line including the now tribal-crossed-feud with Cherokee and Lumbees. This was initiated by the local white area representative at the time named Angus W. McLean, who on behalf of the Indians of Robeson county, claimed ties to the Cherokee
a lot of which were unfounded and non-representative of actual relations and ancestry of Cherokee and Lumbee peoples. This led to LEGISLATORS changing our legally referred to name as the Cherokee Indians of Robeson Couty from 1913-1952.
so this COLONIAL intervention that has been perpetrated against us to continue feuding, has also led to the anti-Black and anti-Indigenous rhetoric spewed by Eastern Band of Cherokee chief Sneed and is referenced by the terrible take @nolanblakeyboy shared about our recognition
it wasn't until later after the result of the Indian Reorganization Act that Lumbees were given the opportunity to choose a name and develop a governing entity for themselves up under the banner of "Lumbee" and were able to choose their own determined sovereign status
in 1956 our bill was up for federal recognition in which we received it...but because of the legalese of that resolution, have federal recognition with no benefits. yup. full federal recognition just without the benefits. Shocking I know.
Lumbee history, like that of many other southeastern tribal nations that were ravaged by earlier colonization and Jim Crow era policies, has much nuance and dynamics that aren't that easy to generalize. This is why continued gatekeeping from federal benefits is racist & colonial
there is no reason for tribal nations to continue this cognitive dissonance on the material conditions and nuanced histories of other unrecognized nations. This goes the same for the current Lumbee government denying Tuscaroras recognition and rightful access to resources as well
there is much history that I have not touched on and discussed. This is a general overview for folks who aren't well aware of or hold colonial perspectives of our people. I am not the best scholar of our history but have studied it well in college.
@malindalowery is a great scholar of our people who has a published book with documentation and fuller more nuanced histories of our people. Link here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BB5GWWF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 10/10 worth the buy. Good overview on social/political dynamics for South Eastern tribes too
