About
Welcome to the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. We are the People of the Dark Water. Our Lumbee Tribal Territory is located in Southeastern North Carolina in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland Counties.
The Lumbee People are known for their entrepreneurial spirit and their focus on education. We welcome you to visit our homeland.
In Southeastern North Carolina, on the winding, dark waters of the Lumbee River, you will find the heart and homeland of the Lumbee People. The ancestors of the Lumbee came together in the shelter of these lands hundreds of years ago; survivors of tribal nations from the Algonquian, Iroquoian and Siouan language families, including the Cheraw and other affected tribes. Years of war, disease and colonization made the Lumbee River lands a safe haven for survival and fostered a resilient and prosperous tribe. The ancestors of the Lumbee were recognized as a Tribal Nation in 1885 by the State of North Carolina. In 1956, Congress recognized the Lumbee as an Indian Tribe, while denying the People any federal benefits that are associated with such recognition; an action that the Lumbee continue to fight today.
The Lumbee Tribal Complex is located in Pembroke, North Carolina. The tribal territory and service area includes four counties: Robeson, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland. The tribal housing complex, also known as “The Turtle”, houses most tribal services. The Lumbee are a strong People with a dynamic history and promising future. These sequential banners below share some of the rich history of the Lumbee in both narrative and visual form.
