The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is on the brink of achieving federal recognition after more than a century of effort, a milestone that would grant the 60,000‑member tribe full sovereignty, access to federal programs, and the ability to place land into trust — a prerequisite for tribal gaming.
A provision granting the Lumbee federal recognition was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act, which Congress approved on Wednesday. The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will sign the $901 billion package into law. Trump has previously voiced support for Lumbee recognition, a politically meaningful stance in a state where the tribe represents a sizable voting bloc.
A Historic Step Toward Sovereignty
The Lumbee have sought federal recognition for 130 years. Achieving it would formally acknowledge the tribe as a sovereign government, opening the door to federal funding, expanded legal authority, and the potential to develop a tribally operated casino.
For now, tribal leaders are emphasizing the cultural and governmental significance of recognition rather than gaming prospects.
“It’s going to be a very emotional time for us — a time to rejoice and be happy,” Lumbee member Charles Graham told the Associated Press. “We’ll be able to stand on our principles in terms of who we are, where we’ve been, our sovereignty, and speak to that with pride.”
Will a Lumbee Casino Happen?
The tribe has not publicly committed to pursuing a casino, though interest has surfaced in recent years. In 2023, state lawmakers introduced a bill that would have authorized four new commercial casinos in North Carolina, including one for the Lumbee, but the measure ultimately failed.
North Carolina currently has three casinos: two operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and one run by the Catawba Indian Nation. A Lumbee casino would likely be located in southeastern North Carolina, near tribal population centers in Robeson County.
A site along the Interstate 95 corridor would be particularly strategic — it would become the only casino on I‑95 between New Jersey and Florida, positioning it to capture both regional patrons and heavy through‑traffic.
Opposition and Historical Disputes
Federal recognition for the Lumbee has long faced resistance, including from other tribes. The EBCI has argued that the Lumbee have not demonstrated continuous descent from a single historic tribe, a key criterion in the federal acknowledgment process. Critics also point to the Lumbee’s historical use of different names, such as the “Cherokee Indians of Robeson County.”
The Lumbee counter that their ancestry traces to multiple Indigenous groups — including Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan peoples — and note that North Carolina has recognized them as a tribe since 1885.
