Tribal Council OKs resolution to oppose ‘offensive’ mascots

PEMBROKE — The Lumbee Tribal Council approved Thursday a resolution in opposition to American Indian mascots at educational institutions.

The unanimous vote was taken during a virtual Zoom meeting to oppose the act. The resolution opposes “any and all derogatory and offensive and or inflammatory Native American mascots for any and all educational institutions.”

The ordinance, read by Education Committee Chairman Frank Cooper, cited the National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Commission of Indian Affairs, The American Psychological Association, and the NCAA, who warn of the negative stereotypes connected to Native American mascots.

“The Lumbee Tribal Council recognizes certain educational institutions were founded for Native Americans and have a deep historical connection to Native American communities, such as The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and who do have a right, as a historically Native American School, to immolate that heritage,” Cooper read from the ordinance.

In other business, the board approved a resolution establishing a tribal producer directory to “promote and enhance” the Lumbee Tribal government’s agricultural efforts.

The Native American Agricultural Fund has established a Native American producer directory template that the Lumbee Tribal Council will use.

“The Lumbee Tribe will be the first tribe in the United States to utilize the tribal directory services of the Native American Agricultural Fund,” said Wendy Moore-Graham, chair of the Agricultural/Natural Resources Committee.

The Lumbee Tribal Council is seeking the support of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs for its recently adopted ordinance calling for federal and state organizations to consult with the tribe on construction projects that affect their communities.

The NCCIA was created by the N.C. General Assembly to advocate for local, regional and national Native American concerns, Moore-Graham said.

The ordinance, titled “Tribal Consultation Mandate,” was approved unanimously during the September business meeting after council members expressed concerns that historical evidence and artifacts, that could have strengthened the tribe’s fight for federal recognition, may have been destroyed by crews building a liquefied natural gas facility on N.C. 71 between Maxton and Red Springs. Piedmont Natural Gas is building the facility.

Before the September meeting, the Tribal Council also voted to oppose construction of the project and voted to stand by District 5 landowners, who oppose the the facility.

“There exists a lack of a true and meaningful government-to-government consultation when construction projects pose serious risk to the environmental and cultural resources of these (state recognized) tribal nations, and mitigate their ability to support their cultural heritage or provide safe livable, traditional lands for their members and residents,” Moore-Graham read from the ordinance.

The resolution calls upon the United States government and all federal, state and local government agencies to deny or suspend any permits or process approvals of certifications unless and until consultations have been made with the Lumbee Tribal Council and tribal administrators. Violation of the ordinance will be the basis for the initiation of legal and administrative action.