ROBESON COUNTY N.C. (WPDE) — Tribal members of the Lumbee Tribe have voted no on the proposal that would have amended the tribe’s constitution to allow gaming.
This measure, supporters said, could have brought major economic opportunities and new revenue for tribal programs and services.
The vote followed the tribe gaining full federal recognition in December.
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With that recognition, the tribe was asked to decide whether to allow gaming operations on tribal lands, with supporters arguing it could help shape the tribe’s future and generate significant funding for tribal members and the region.
Tribal Chairman John Lowery called the outcome “historic.â€
“Tonight, a majority of the Lumbee people have spoken, and they have said no to progress and have decided to stay with the status quo or simply staying with the way things are. As a federally recognized Indian tribe, we had the opportunity, like so many of our brother and sister tribes, to exercise our sovereign rights to the fullest and generate billions of dollars to assist our tribal members and lift this entire region. This decision by the majority of Lumbee voters is historic and ensures we will not move forward with gaming. I will honor the wishes of the majority, and I will not bring this issue forward again over the remaining 18 months of my tenure.†Lowery said.
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Opponents of the proposal had argued that changing the constitution to allow gaming was the wrong move for the Lumbee Tribe.
