Lumbee Tribe almost literally rolls the dice in a gamble for federal recognition

Wow.  This story is just a little mind-boggling to those who practice in the Native American law field.  (And thanks to our colleagues on the TurtleTalk blog for the pointer to the story, too).

For years, the Lumbee Tribe has been seeking federal recognition.  For years, our colleague and attorney Arlinda Locklear has worked the problem for free.  This year, it looked like it might finally happen, making it almost all the way through the US Congress.  Recognition would mean a lot of money for the tribe in federal assistance.

But now, the Tribal Council had dropped Ms. Locklear, and hired a Nevada GAMING consultant firm to take her place....which MAY indicate that the tribe's pledge to NOT build and develop a casino as part of the recognition process is off the table.

What effect will this have on the process?  No one can be sure at this point - but "here's the rub".....the contract with the consultant firm calls for penalties of $35 million against the tribe if the tribe doesn't agree with gambling once recognition is in place.  This is somewhere near the sum total of the tribe's current assets.

THAT'S rolling the dice, as far as we can tell.  Wow.

You can read the full story HERE in the Fayette Observer.

twp