Rep. Kissell reviews study affecting Lumbees

You have a lot of nerve to talk about the Lumbee changing their name. My grandfather, who was born in 1906, refused to call himself a Lumbee. He was cherokee. Not eastern cherokee, just cherokee. They were told they could no longer use the name cherokee, because the group of eastern band of cherokee wanted it stopped. We don't need to go into the rolls, and how that came to be, with the eastern band hanging out to dry, so many cherokee, that it is disgusting. How the eastern band felt, didn't change the FACT that the other's were cherokee, with the same blood. Even Oklahoma had said it is the blood that matters. But not to the eastern band it didn't. So they were forced to change their name. They are still indian. My grandfather's race was listed as indian. What else could he put? No matter what the others said or felt or outlawed, THEY STILL WERE. You can't change your blood!! They are now called Lumbee. The blood is still there. I have relatives in the tribe, and no matter what name you ever call them, we are, always have been, always will be, by blood, natives. For you to STILL, after all this time, STILL, try to steal our heritage from us, to try to STILL take it away, is just unbelievably evil at it's very root! Over and over again, it is eastern band of cherokee, and some of their descendants that always put down, marginalize,and disdain the Lumbee's, by saying that lumbee's are black indians, a mix, but NOT REAL indians. Who the hell do you think you are? YOU forced the name change, and you will use THAT against the tribe? Yes TRIBE! Still a tribe! Never gave it up! Have always been a tribe, same blood, no matter what EVILS were forced on the tribe. There is a special place in hell for evil people like you, and for the evil deeds you've done to the innocent. Especially during the times when being native was a REAL hardship, and you were separated. You should be ashamed! But you would have to have a heart to feel remorse, and from the ongoing history, I don't believe you do. Much love to my Hunt, Chavis, Brigman, Locklear, and all the rest of my family. Don't worry, I've read the book, good prevails in the end.

Indians were not called Indians until 1492+- but it did not change who we were. Whether Lumbee's go by the name Lumbee or use the name Eastern Cherokee, a name the Gov. put on many Eastern Amerindians, it does not change who they really are. They are still a tribe,a culture,
a community of Amerindian people.

To state that the Lumbee "chose" to call themselves "Cherokee" reveals how misinformed one is regarding the actual historical events. The designation of "Cherokee" was applied by well meaning politicians and amateur white historians and it was specifically mentioned in the minutes of the debate over the NC Bill that the Indians of Robeson did not call themselves "Cherokee" nor did they claim descendancy from that tribe. This application of a name that the people themselves did not recognize was simply a repeat if earlier application of another erroneous tribal designation of "Croatan". Composite tribal groups are no less eligible for federal recognition as many if the larger tribes are historically composites ( the Creeks and the Cherokee of Oklahoma are good examples). If simply what "name" a tribal group is labeled is a means to bar recognition then wouldn't the majority of federal tribes have to be terminated as they carry titles not of their own making? ( mvskoki recognized as Creek, Tsalagi recognized as Cherokee, hundreds of "rancheras" in cslifornia not historically known by those names etc etc)

One,this says that all state recognized tribes would be denied Federally recognition! Two, the Lumbee was a government name given to these people. As with all tribes the government took away our languages, traditions, land, and everything else. Right is right and wrong is wrong. PERIOD!