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Lumbee Tribe finalizes contract

Written by Administrator

Saturday, 22 May 2010

Lumbee Tribe finalizes contract May 21, 2010 By Drew Brooks LUMBERTON - Opponents of a controversial contract between the Lumbees and a Las Vegas gaming consultant failed in their attempts to have the Lumbee Tribal Council reconsider the agreement. The council met Thursday evening at the Southern Spirit Community Center on Black Swamp Road in Lumberton, but the contract was not included on the meeting's agenda. The council did, however, approve meeting minutes from March which, according to tribal protocol, finalized the binding agreement. Opponents of the contract between the tribe and Lewin International said they were unable to add an agenda item on the topic, but they were able to address the council during a period reserved for community comment. Jeremiah Swett, the great nephew of Tribe Chairman Purnell Swett, drove from Washington, D.C., to speak against the contract, which gives Lewin International the exclusive right to lobby for federal recognition and guarantees the firm a stake in future Lumbee economic ventures, including casinos. Swett works for a policy firm in the nation's capital, where he focuses on issues involving the recognition of American Indian tribes. Swett told council members that he believes the agreement was improperly adopted per Lumbee tribal laws and based on federal rules. "The contract might not be worth the paper it is written on," he said. According to Swett, the National Indian Gaming Commission has the final word on contracts involving gaming. The Lewin contract not only mentions gaming, but refers to itself as a gaming management agreement, Swett said. Based on federal law, the contract would likely be voided by the commission if the tribe was to receive recognition, Swett said. "The tribe does not control this process," he said. Swett said that not only was the contract "worthless," but it was damaging the tribe's efforts to be recognized in the first place. "It's a bad deal for Mr. Lewin, and it's a bad deal for the tribe," he said. "Both parties should amicably separate, cut your losses and get our federal recognition efforts back on track under a unified Lumbee effort." A bill that would grant federal recognition to the 50,000-member tribe is currently awaiting a final vote on the Senate floor. But that bill specifically denies the tribe authority to open casinos - a concession by tribal leaders made three years ago to help get the bill through the House. Federal recognition would bring millions of dollars to the tribe for education, health care and child welfare. Swett's speech was met with applause from most of the approximately 50 to 60 Lumbees in attendance, but no council member addressed his comments. Before Swett spoke, the council also heard from Henry Chavis, a representative from Bear Swamp Baptist Church. Chavis gave the council copies of a resolution from the church which expressed concern over the Lewin contract and its effects on federal recognition. In other business, the council approved a salary within the range of $96,000 and $106,000 for the tribe's new administrator. The Lumbee government has hired a tribal administrator after leaving the position vacant the past three years. Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend was hired earlier this month to take over day-to-day operations at the tribal headquarters. http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/05/21/1000802

 

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