Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

ncludes a letter of support from James H. Merrell, who spent ten years researching a book on the Catawbas and their neighbors. He asserts that 18th-century documentation “does indeed suggest that the Lumbees are descended from one or more towns of Cheraws, with the probable addition of remnants of other Eastern Siouan peoples …” (p. 222). His other letter (pp. 229-234) summarizes this documentation, while touching on other tribal origin theories. Jack Campisi discusses the 18th-century documentation the Petition presents. Patrick Hayes, of the BIA, feels the documentation does not support Cheraw origins. Ruth Locklear explains tribal membership criteria. Arlinda Locklear, tribal attorney, gives a legal history of the tribe’s attempts at federal recognition and discusses Congressional action on other tribes.