Tuscaroras plan to appeal recognition rejection

Record Number: 
BIGE005
Citation: 

Bigelow, Scott. "Tuscaroras plan to appeal recognition rejection." Robesonian [Lumberton, NC]. October 2, 2019.

Annotation: 

This article announces that the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs has rejected the application of the Tuscarora groups of Robeson County, North Carolina for state recognition. North Carolina currently has 11 state-recognized Indian tribes. The three Tuscarora groups jointly submitted a 50-page petition, later enhancing it by submitting additional genealogical and historical informtion. The 21-member commission held a hearing on the Tuscaroras' application on September 14, 2019.

The article adds that the Tuscaroras and their lawyers plan to submit an appeal before their 30-day deadline of October 14, 2019.

In February, the Lumbee Tribal Councial passed a resolution opposing state recognition of the Tuscarora groups. The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs has three Lumbee members, but the Tuscaroras were told that the Lumbee members would abstain from voting on the Tuscarora petition.

Tamra Lowry, a spokesperson for the Tuscarora groups, said that state recognition by North Carolina might lead to the Tuscaroras in New York recognizing the Robeson County Tuscaroras, giving them legal standing to build a casino in Robeson County. The article adds, "Realistically, that is not part of the tribe's thinking."

The article further states that state recognition would give the Tuscaroras of Robeson County "standing for grants and other programs that other tribes appear not to be willing to share."

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