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Home > Issues
Why am I running for a second term on the Lumbee Tribal Council?
To fully understand my platform and why I am seeking a second term
on the Lumbee Tribal Council as the District 6 (North Pembroke and
Raft Swamp) representative, I must first answer a few questions. They
are:
WHY AM I THE BEST CANDIDATE AND WHAT DO I BRING TO THE POSITION?
It Is About Us. A Lumbee elder recently shared some words of wisdom
with me. While talking about the Tribal government, he said “It
is not about you. It is not about me. It is about us (the Lumbee people).” I
have fought during the past three years to ensure that the Tribal government
remains dedicated to serving the people and not itself.
Personal Qualities. Educated,
proven leadership, honest, intelligent, creative, enthusiastic, straightforward,
genuine, extroverted, people
person, proud to be Lumbee and not a “yes man." I bring
these and other qualities to the Tribal Council.
Proven Leadership. During
my first term, I served in various leadership positions, including
speaker of the Tribal Council from July 2005 to
January 2007. I also served on each of the Tribal Council’s standing
committees, including former chair of the Public Relations
Committee, former co-chair of the Education Committee and former vice-chair
of the Constitution Committee.
Legislator. The Tribal
Council is the legislative branch of the Tribal government, not a board
with a chairman. The primary responsibility
of the Tribal Council is to enact Tribal laws. The administration,
led by the Tribal chairman, carries out Tribal laws. I have served
on the Tribal Council’s Constitution and Ordinance Committee
for three years, including one year as vice-chair. I have become familiar
with and even revised Tribal policies and procedures. In addition,
I have drafted and sponsored many pieces of legislation enacted by
the Tribal Council. This includes strengthening and improving
the Tribal Council’s committee structure, housing policies, administrative
court and ethics and conflict of interest ordinance, along with updating
the Tribal seal, establishment of procedures for codification of Tribal
laws and soon-to-be revised travel policy.
Continue To Ask Tough Questions. As
a representative on the Tribal Council, I have never backed away
from asking the tough questions. Doing
the right thing can some times be the toughest thing to do. I have
proven to NOT BE a “yes man." With your vote, I will continue
to ask the tough questions AND get answers.
Let The Sun Shine In. I
have always believed that the Lumbee government should be transparent
and accountable to the Lumbee people. Job
34:22 reads “There is no darkness...where the workers of iniquity
may hide themselves.”
Communication Network. To better communicate with my constituents
and members and friends of the Lumbee Tribe and continue my belief
in a transparent and accountable government, I began an email list-serv
during my first term to share Tribal news and events, particularly
Tribal Council meeting dates and agendas, with Tribal members. The
list-serv has been every effective and has grown to include thousands
of constituents. To join the list-serv, send an email to lawrence@lawrencelocklear.com.
Be Of Service. During my sophomore year at NC State University, I
pledged Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a national service
fraternity. APO’s three cardinal principles are leadership, friendship
and service. As a brother in APO, each semester we participated in
various service projects on campus and in the community. I bring the
same commitment to leadership, friendship and service to the Tribal
Council and the Lumbee people. I have served out of a desire to “be
of service” to my people.
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WHAT DID I ACCOMPLISH DURING MY FIRST TERM ON TRIBAL COUNCIL
AND WHAT ARE MY GOALS FOR A SECOND TERM?
Full Federal Recognition. Lumbees
have been federally recognized since Congress enacted the Lumbee Act
of 1956. However, language in the law
prohibited Lumbees from receiving certain benefits available to federally
recognized tribes. It is time for FULL federal recognition of the Lumbee.
H.R. 65, a bill to provide full federal recognition to the Lumbee,
passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 256-128 in June
2007. The bill currently awaits action in the U.S. Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs. During my first term, I have attended two committee
hearings on Lumbee recognition, one in the U.S. Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs (2006) and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources
(2007) (view photos). I have never been so proud to represent my family,
my community and my Tribe. To bring attention to Lumbee efforts to
garner full federal recognition, I suggested the Tribe sponsor a “50
Day Celebration of Lumbee” in June 2006. The events held during
the celebration garnered much positive news coverage for the Tribe
and our fight for full federal recognition. I have also served on the
Tribal Council’s Federal Recognition Committee. If re-elected,
I will continue to make full federal recognition a priority.
Diversify Tribal Services. Most
of the Tribe’s services relate directly to housing. I would
like to strengthen and expand these services beyond just housing to
areas such as drop-out
and drug abuse prevention and economic development. I have and will
continue to push to strengthen housing and other Tribal policies to
ensure a commitment to customer service and meeting the needs of the
Lumbee.
Commitment To Elders, Veterans and
Youth. Among the Lumbee, elders and veterans are
viewed with respect and honor; the youth are the future leaders
of the Tribe. I am very proud of the commitment the Tribe's warriors
have made to protecting our country. The Tribe
currently provides various services to our elders, veterans
and
youth. However,
these
programs
are understaffed and the services therefore limited. During my
second term, I will make a commitment to expanding and enhancing
these services.
Cultural Empowerment. The
1835 North Carolina State Constitution, Henry Berry Lowry, 1885, March
7, 1887, 1953, 1956, January 18, 1958
and 2001: Do you know the historical significance of these events?
The Lumbee Tribe has a rich and colorful cultural heritage. However,
as time progresses, much of what makes Lumbees distinct fades with
each passing generation. Our people, our children do not know the stories
told to our grandparents by their grandparents. Why does it have to
be this way? Like the old proverb says, “you don’t know
where you are going if you don’t know from where you came.” Providing
our people with cultural empowerment will ensure that our values and
beliefs, our culture and our way of life endures.
To better educate myself on Lumbee history, I have recently taken
several undergraduate courses in American Indian Studies at UNC Pembroke.
These classes are AIS 2010: American Indian Cultures; AIS 3600: History
and Culture of the Lumbee; and AISS 4220: Lumbee Oral Traditions. Our
people have a wonderful story to tell.
During my first term, I initiated several events to highlight Lumbee
culture. Once such event, previously mentioned, was the “50 Day
Celebration of the Lumbee.” As part of the celebration, a “Walk
of Remembrance” was held in June 2006 (view
photos). Tribal members
marched from Old Main, on the campus of UNC Pembroke, to the North
Carolina Indian Culture Center, four miles away. Before the walk began,
I reminded the participants to think of the sacrifices our ancestors
made for us to be standing on the steps of Old Main. I reminded the
walkers that, though four miles may seem like a long distance, it was
nothing compared to
the sacrifices made by our ancestors. I have also proposed that the
Lumbee Tribe hold a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
Lumbees rout of the Ku Klux Klan in January 1958 in Maxton, NC. The
ceremony is in the planning stages.
I have served on the Tribal Council’s Education, Culture and
Public Relations Committee for three years. As one who has extensively
studied and researched Lumbee history and family genealogy, I have
and will continue to make cultural empowerment a priority.
Education Is The Key To Success. As
a former teacher at Pembroke Middle School who now works at UNC Pembroke,
I am constantly reminded of the
importance of education. I have a
Bachelor of Arts in History from NC State University and a Master of
Public Administration from UNC Pembroke. Each time I walk by Old Main,
I think of the blood, sweat and hard work that went into establishing
this premier institution of higher education in Southeastern North
Carolina. If the Lumbee people can lay the groundwork for UNCP, why
can’t
we do the same for our children’s educational needs? What are
we as a people and a Tribe doing to curb the astonishingly high American
Indian dropout rate? What are we doing to support local educators and
the public school systems in Robeson, Cumberland Hoke and Scotland
counties? As a member of the Tribal Council, I have made education
a priority. I have served on the Education, Culture and Public Relations
Committee
each of the three years during my first term. If elected, I plan to
continue to serve on the Committee and make education a priority.
Strengthen
The Tribe’s Relationship
With Other Governments. I have served as
an ambassador for the Lumbee Tribe, including recently as the Tribe’s
representative on the United Tribes of North Carolina. I have also
networked with leaders and officials from other tribes and local, state
and federal government. During a second term, I will strive to develop
these and other relationships to better position the Lumbee Tribe for
future success. Together, with your support, we will continue to make a
difference.
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To join the team or
receive emails about
Tribal Council news and
events, send an email to
lawrence@
lawrencelocklear.com.
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