The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, desperate to end its decades-long pursuit of federal recognition, fired a consulting firm as an indication to federal officials it'll keep a promise to not pursue casino gambling rights. Tribal officials terminated the contract with Lewin International, an organization referred to as a gaming comnsultancy, to bypass resistance to tribal recognition from anti-gambling forces.North Carolina recognized the tribe within the 1880s, but an absence of federal acceptance denies tribal members access to funding for health care, schools, and economic assistance. Lumbee representatives was promising Congress the tribe wouldn't use recognition as a roadway to opening its own casinos, however the contract with Lewin gave the corporate a percentage of future tribe business, including gambling ventures.
The decision to distance the tribe from Lewin ends a period of conflict within tribal councils. Some saw no issue with Lewin, but others admit even the concept gambling can be a long-term objective of the Lumbee is harmful to its efforts.
"We all know that perception is reality up there in Washington," tribal chairman Purnell Swett said within the news release announcing that the deal was off. "Anything that might dispose of from our recognition work, whether real or imagined, needs to be dealt with."
Both US Senators from North Carolina and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are behind recognition efforts. Congressional accountants say the tribe would collect over $108 million annually if recognition is approved.
Published on June 8, 2010 by VirginiaMaddox
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