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Defend Native Cultures

Expert Analysis of Lumbee Genealogy & History 

Claims to Native ancestry rely on speculation, not historically or genealogically verifiable information. Lumbee would be the only group to receive recognition without identifying any specific tribe from which they descend. 

The Impact of State Recognized Groups on Federal Funding 

Hundreds of millions of dollars intended to help legitimate tribal nations are being diverted to state corporations posing as Native tribes. These allocations result in fewer funds for services and programs that support the federal government’s trust obligations to federally recognized tribes. 

“…recognition of groups claiming to be tribal nations with uncertain status as to historical tribes and without a close review of claims to Native ancestry imperils the government-to-government relationship between the United States and federally recognized tribal nations.”

Excerpt from Resolution of North Eastern Oklahoma Tribes, August 17, 2022. 

List of Resolutions 

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians- 2022 Winter Convention 

•    September 18, 2022

o   “Opposition to Federal or State Recognition of the groups claiming to be a tribal nations that seek to circumvent the Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement Process”

Inter-Tribal Council of Northeastern Oklahoma

•    August 17, 2022

o   Opposition to federal or state recognition of the “Lumbee Tribe,” “Mowa Band of Choctaw,” or any other group claiming to be a tribal nation that seeks to circumvent of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement (OFA) Process

COLT: Coalition of Large Tribes

•    August 16, 2022

o   "Now therefore be it resolved, that the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) calls on Congressional Delegations to oppose the "Lumbee Recognition Act" (S.1364/H.R. 2758), the "MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act" (S.3443), and other federal and state actions that would circumvent the Department of Interior's Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) process."
 

The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes

•    July 15, 2022

o   A Resolution opposing Federal or State Recognition of Groups to be Tribal Nations by Circumventing the Office of Federal Acknowledgment

Tri- Council of The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians The Eastern Band of Cherokees Indians and Cherokee Nations   

•    June 23, 2022

o   A resolution opposing federal or state recognition of groups that claim to be tribal nations and seek to avoid or circumvent the Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement Process

Letter on behalf of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Shawnee Tribe, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Fort Still Apache Tribe, Delaware Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, and United Indian Nations of Oklahoma Kansas, and Texas  

•    March 10, 2022

o   “On behalf of the Tribal Nations and Organizations listed below, we respectfully request you defer consideration of groups seeking federal acknowledgment to the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement (OFA).”

Letter from Muscogee Creek Nation  

•    March 7, 2022

o   “On behalf of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, I respectfully request that you defer consideration of groups seeking federal acknowledgment to the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement.”  

Letter from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

•    November 13, 2020

o   Opposition to the “Lumbee Recognition Act”

Defend Native Cultures

Groups with no Native history are calling themselves Tribes and appropriating the culture, language, and history of Tribes with treaty and trust relationships with the United States. It is time that we stand together to Defend Native Cultures! 

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