- “North Carolina deserves a governor for all people, not just those who are able to write large campaign checks,” said Lowery, “Our Native communities have persevered through countless challenges, and we will continue to contribute to the strength and vitality of our state. It is imperative that the voices of all tribes are respected.”
NC House Rep. Jarrod Lowery, R-Robeson, released a letter Monday to Governor-elect Josh Stein expressing concerns over the appointment of Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) as chairman of the transition team for the Department of Administration. Lowery, a member of the state recognized Lumbee tribe, highlights the critical role of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs in representing the state’s eight recognized tribes and raises questions about Chief Hicks’s history of what Lowery calls “hate and division” in his leadership and a history of racially inflammatory remarks. Lowery said Stein’s appointment could have an adverse impact on the broader Native American community in North Carolina.
“Our state is home to over 130,000 Native Americans — more than North and South Dakota combined,” said Lowery, “The Commission of Indian Affairs has long served as the bridge between state government and tribal communities. Chief Hicks’s appointment raises serious concerns about whether this vital institution will remain a space of collaboration for all tribes.”
The Lumbee, a Native American tribe given partial recognition by the federal government in 1956, do not share the full federal benefits that other federally recognized tribes do. Their fight for full federal recognition has been ongoing for quite some time, extending back to the 1880s.
As a voting block, focused mostly in Robeson County, the Lumbee represent one of the most significant political swings to the right over recent presidential election cycles. Nearly 60% of the county went for President Barack Obama in 2012; in 2016, Republican Donald Trump bested Democrat Hillary Clinton in the county by more than 4%; Trump again bested the Democratic candidate Joe Biden in 2020 by 18%; and, in 2024 the county went for Trump, over Democrat Kamala Harris, by nearly 30%.
President-elect Trump is reportedly supportive of granting full federal recognition to the Lumbee full federal recognition in 2025.
When reached for comment, Lowery told Carolina Journal that he and many Native American groups in North Carolina view Hicks as a “conquistador” based on his rhetoric and actions to block recognition of Native American tribes beyond the Eastern Band of Cherokee.
“I give Governor-elect Stein the benefit of the doubt,” said Lowery in reference to Stein’s forming of a new administration. Even so, he wanted to express his concerns such that the incoming executive would be cognizant of the history and practical implications of the Hicks appointment on North Carolina’s tribal policies such as sovereignty issues.
In the letter, he also raised concerns about the significant financial contributions made by the EBCI to Stein’s campaign and their potential influence on policy decisions, a concern he reiterated to Carolina Journal.
“North Carolina deserves a governor for all people, not just those who are able to write large campaign checks,” said Lowery, “Our Native communities have persevered through countless challenges, and we will continue to contribute to the strength and vitality of our state. It is imperative that the voices of all tribes are respected.”
Lowery called for a meeting with Governor-elect Stein to address these concerns and chart a path forward that ensures the fair representation of all Native communities in North Carolina.
“Together, we have the opportunity to maintain our status as the best state in the union,” Lowery concludes in the letter.