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Q&A
with Lumbee Tribal Council speaker
Reprint from February 5, 2006 Fayetteville Observer Title: Tribal speaker for the Lumbee Tribal Council
Home: Pembroke
In the news because: He was re-elected tribal speaker on Jan. 26.
Lawrence Locklear, who represents the North Pembroke and Raft Swamp
areas on the Lumbee Tribal Council, has been on the council since January
2005.
Q: Why did you decide to run for office?
A: Growing up in Pembroke, in the heart of the Lumbee tribe, I was
well aware of being American Indian. However, until I was taken out
of that environment, I did not fully appreciate my American Indian
heritage and culture. While at North Carolina State University, I developed
a thirst for everything that was Lumbee. When the current iteration
of the tribal government began in 2000, I decided what better way to
advance the Lumbee people than by serving on the Tribal Council.
Q: What are some of your goals as tribal speaker? Do they mirror that
of the Tribal Council?
A: Among my goals ... is to ensure that the Tribal
Council's actions are transparent, deliberate and accountable. Other
goals include
strengthening Tribal Council committees, facilitating more productive
debates and encouraging better communication between members of the
Tribal Council and branches of the government. During our upcoming
retreat, the Tribal Council plans to set short-term and long-term
goals.  Q: What are some of the challenges facing the tribe?
A: Tribal members are facing the same problems as other taxpayers
where their income is not meeting basic needs. For example, safe and
adequate housing, rising utility costs and increased prescription and
health-care costs. The tribal government must be more proactive in
its search for sources of income that will make the tribe, as a government
entity, more self-sufficient.
Q: There appears to be a power struggle between the executive branch
and the legislative branch. Is there, and what has been done to resolve
it?
A: There has never been a power struggle between the executive branch
and the legislative branch. The Tribal Council has always understood
its role as the lawmaking branch of the government. The executive branch's
constitutional obligations are to implement tribal laws and to administer
programs. The Tribal Council writes laws, from which policy is derived.
All other functions, people, agencies and officials receive their authority
and guidelines from the legislative body. The chairman represents the
tribe's interest only at the will of the lawmakers.
The will is expressed through tribal law.
In addition, the Tribal Council has fiduciary responsibility for tribal
funds.
Q: How have recent controversies, such as the lawsuits and the mortgage
payoff of a tribal council member, affected the image of the tribe?
A: These events have not helped the tribe's image.
The tribal government understands that it must adhere to the tribal
constitution, policies and procedures. To do so, the Tribal Council
recently enacted an ethics and conflict-of-interest ordinance and is
drafting a self-monitoring policy to monitor the spending of federal
funds used to provide services to tribal members.
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