LUMBERTON, North Carolina — LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) — The leader of a tribe in southeastern North Carolina is set to join the state Legislature to succeed his brother as Lumbee's efforts to full recognition by the US government have gained momentum recently but still face obstacles.
Robeson County GOP committee members voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend John Lowery to fill the state House seat held since 2023 by Jarrod Lowery, who resigned this week to take a job in Washington with the U.S. Department of the Interior. State law directs Governor Josh Stein to formally nominate John Lowery to serve out his brother's term representing the 47th House District until the end of 2026.
John Lowry was chairman of the 55,000-member organization. Lambee Tribe North Carolina starting in early 2022. He previously worked as a public school civics teacher and for the USDA and state Department of Commerce. His work included efforts to expand federal programs for Native American farmers and rural communities and to develop the region's workforce.
“His years of experience serving in tribal, state and federal government and serving the people of Robeson County make him an exceptionally qualified choice,” Robeson County Republican Party Chairman Philip Stevens said in a news release.
John Lowery intends to serve out the remainder of his three-year term as chairman — he was re-elected to the post in 2024 — and intends to run next year for his two-year term in the House, spokeswoman Rachel Capen said Wednesday. According to Capen, Jarrod Lowery is now taking a job as senior adviser to the assistant secretary of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.
The brothers are former members of the Lumbee Tribal Council who advocated for full federal recognition, which if approved could give the Lumbees access to health care and some federal grants, as well as the ability to create a land base such as reservations.
The Lumbee Tribe, which is already recognized by the state, applied for federal recognition in 1987. An act of Congress in 1956 recognized the existence of the Lumbees but denied them access to federal resources. The Office of Federal Recognition determined that the tribe was not eligible for recognition, but that decision was reversed in 2016. However, legislation is considered a faster way to achieve recognition.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Interior Department to develop an action plan. Lambie Confession. Although the department presented the plan to the White House in April, it appears that seeking congressional approval remains a likely path.
The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a defense authorization bill that included full federal recognition of Lumbee. Some other tribes remain opposed to Lumbee's recognition efforts, which comes at a time when Trump and Republican lawmakers are also pushing for federal spending cuts.
