The vote is Tuesday, June 23, 2026 — four days before Homecoming begins. ⚠️ Absentee ballots must be RECEIVED at PO Box 1799 Pembroke NC 28372 by June 22 at 5PM
Section 07
Take Action
Every tribal member has a role to play — public or behind the scenes. The vote is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Here is everything you can do before then.
The vote
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Vote NO. Demand Better!!
01 — Vote NO on June 23
The most important thing you can do is show up and vote. The vote is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Watch for official announcements from the tribe on exact times and polling locations in your area.
Bring your tribal enrollment card. Make sure your tribal enrollment is current. Contact the Lumbee Tribe Enrollment Office at the main tribal office: (910) 521-7861.
02 — Share this website
Send https://votenodemandbetter.com to every Lumbee tribal member you know. Post it on Facebook. Share it on Instagram. Text it to your family. The vote is June 23 — four days before Homecoming begins. Every tribal member deserves to know the facts before they vote.
Share on Facebook
Copy and paste this message to your Facebook page or in Lumbee community groups:
"Fellow Lumbee members — the gaming amendment vote is June 23, four days before Homecoming begins. Lumbees United for Accountability is NOT anti-gaming. But this amendment gives one man the power to negotiate all gaming contracts, nominate the gaming board AND the oversight board — confirmed by a council that voted 17-2 in his favor. That is not real oversight. That is concentration of power.
Vote NO! Demand Better!! We need a referendum or a better amendment — one with truly independent oversight, transparent revenue reporting, and revenues directed to tribal services for members. Not to outsiders, insiders or Wyoming shell companies.
Voting NO does not stop gaming. It forces a referendum or a better amendment. The Lumbee people deserve better. VoteNoDemandBetter.com
⚠️ ABSENTEE BALLOT REMINDER: If you requested an absentee ballot, it must be RECEIVED at PO Box 1799, Pembroke, NC 28372 by June 22 at 5PM — the day before the vote."
Share by text message
Send this to family members and friends who are enrolled tribal members:
"Hey — Lumbee gaming amendment vote is June 23, before Homecoming. We're not anti-gaming but this amendment has NO real independent oversight — one man controls contracts, the gaming board AND the oversight board. Vote NO! Demand Better!! We need a referendum or a better amendment with independent oversight and revenues directed to tribal services for members — not outsiders or insiders. https://votenodemandbetter.com — led by Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery and Arlinda Locklear. ⚠️ ABSENTEE BALLOT: If you requested a ballot it must be RECEIVED at PO Box 1799, Pembroke NC 28372 by June 22 at 5PM."
Share on Instagram
Post this caption with a photo — a photo of you, the flyer, or anything that shows you are Lumbee and care about this vote. Tag @LumbeesUnited so we can share it.
🗳️ Lumbee tribal members — the gaming amendment vote is June 23, BEFORE Homecoming starts.
This amendment gives one man control of all gaming contracts AND the oversight board — confirmed by a council that just voted 17-2 in his favor. That is not real oversight. That is concentration of power.
Vote NO. Demand Better!! We need a referendum or a better amendment with independent oversight and revenues directed to tribal services for members — not outsiders, insiders or Wyoming shell companies.
Led by Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery and Arlinda Locklear.
⚠️ ABSENTEE BALLOT REMINDER: If you requested an absentee ballot, it must be RECEIVED at PO Box 1799, Pembroke, NC 28372 by June 22 at 5PM — the day before the vote.
🌐 https://votenodemandbetter.com
📲 Tag a Lumbee member who needs to see this
#Lumbee #LumbeeNation #VoteNO #DemandBetter #LumbeesUnitedForAccountability #NativeVote #IndigenousRights #LumbeeHomecoming
03 — Request a yard sign
A yard sign in your yard — or your neighbor's yard, your cousin's yard — keeps the message visible every day before June 23. Request signs for yourself and for any friends, family or neighbors willing to put one up.
Request yard signs
Every sign that goes in a yard is a conversation starter — and a reminder to every Lumbee driving by that June 23 is coming. Request signs for yourself and for any friends, family or neighbors willing to put one up.
Where to put them: Your front yard · a family member's yard · a neighbor willing to display one · anywhere visible along roads in Robeson, Hoke, Scotland and Cumberland Counties.
04 — Print and hand out the flyer
Print flyers and hand them out to neighbors, at church, at community events, at Homecoming — anywhere Lumbee people gather. Every flyer you hand to someone is a conversation you start about what is at stake on June 23.
Color flyer — 8.5 × 11
Full color — great for printing at home or a print shop.
05 — Contact your tribal chairman and council member
The most powerful thing you can do right now — beyond voting NO on June 23 — is contact your tribal chairman and your council member directly and demand answers about the concerning $6.8M land flip deal. This is your tribal government. You pay for it. You have every right to answers. Ask them to call for a full independent investigation. Learn why this investigation is needed →
Keep your message respectful and factual — stick only to documented public records. Do not make accusations. Ask questions and demand a response before the June 23 vote.
The ground rule: Every word you write or say should be something you can back up with a deed record or published article. Be firm. Be respectful. Be factual. A respectful, documented question is far more powerful than an angry accusation — and it protects you legally.
Tribal Chairman John Lowery
Chairman Lowery is the primary decision-maker on the gaming amendment and the land purchase. He is the person who must answer the key questions about the $3.6 million.
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Main office: (910) 521-7861
Address: 105 School Road, Pembroke, NC 28372
Website: lumbeetribe.com/government - Go to the Government tab and click the Legislative link
Your tribal council member
Find your district's tribal council member on the Lumbee Tribe website. Your council member represents you directly — they voted on this amendment and they answer to you.
Note the two council members who voted NO on the amendment — Billy Oxendine and Eric Chavis — have already shown they share your concerns. Consider thanking them as well.
Choose the letter that best reflects your concern — or send both. Replace [YOUR NAME], [YOUR DISTRICT] and [YOUR CONTACT INFO] with your own information. Every word sticks strictly to documented public facts.
Use this letter to ask the chairman to publicly answer questions about the December 2025 land transaction before tribal members vote on June 23.
Chairman Lowery,
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe from [YOUR DISTRICT]. I am writing respectfully but urgently — as a tribal member who loves this tribe and believes our people deserve the truth before casting their vote on June 23.
I am writing about the $6.8M land flip deal and a deeply troubling new development.
According to Robeson County public deed records, our tribe paid $6.8 million in December 2025 for two tracts of land near Interstate 95, Exit 10. Those same tracts had been purchased just days earlier by a Wyoming company called Western Agricultural Holdings for $3.2 million. That company - that no tribal member had ever heard of - pocketed $3.6 million from our tribal funds in less than a week. No public council vote. No member notification. No explanation. Business NC publicly documented this transaction on February 18, 2026 - nearly three months ago.
Now I have learned something even more troubling.
Multiple credible sources have confirmed that some Tribal Council members signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement - an NDA - preventing them from discussing this transaction. If this is true, it would explain three months of silence on a publicly documented $6.8M land flip transaction involving our tribal funds. It means our own elected representatives may be legally prevented from telling us the truth about what happened to our money.
I am demanding answers to the following questions before June 23:
1. Who owns Western Agricultural Holdings?
2. Who authorized the $6.8M purchase and under what authority?
3. Why did our tribe pay $3.6 million more than the land had just sold for?
4. Did some Tribal Council members sign an NDA regarding this transaction?
5. If so - who asked them to sign it? Who drafted it? Who benefits from their silence?
6. Will you call for the immediate public release of that NDA?
I am calling on you to:
- Order a full independent investigation into this transaction immediately - conducted by an independent party with no ties to tribal leadership.
- Release any NDA related to this transaction publicly and immediately.
- Provide a full public accounting of this transaction before tribal members vote on June 23.
Chairman Lowery - you are asking tribal members to trust you with a billion-dollar gaming enterprise. That trust must be earned. It begins with answering these questions honestly, openly, and now.
I am not making accusations. Every question above is based on public deed records and credible reporting. Our people deserve the truth.
About the need for a better amendment with real oversight
Use this letter to ask the chairman to support a better gaming amendment — one with genuine independent oversight rather than concentrated power in one office.
Chairman Lowery,
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe from [YOUR DISTRICT]. I am writing respectfully to share my concerns about the gaming amendment that will be voted on June 23.
I am not opposed to gaming. I believe a casino on I-95 could bring long-overdue prosperity to our elders, our children and our families across Lumbee territories. But I cannot support this amendment as written — because it does not provide real, independent oversight.
Under this amendment, the Tribal Chairperson would negotiate all gaming contracts, nominate all members of the gaming board, and nominate all members of the gaming oversight board. Those nominations would be confirmed by a Tribal Council that voted 17-2 in your favor. That is not independent oversight. That is one person overseeing himself — confirmed by a body aligned with him.
Real oversight means the people who oversee gaming have no financial stake in it and are not chosen by the person they are overseeing. I am respectfully asking you to support a better amendment — one that includes:
1. An independent gaming oversight board whose members are elected by tribal members, not nominated by the chairman.
2. Constitutional protection ensuring gaming profits flow to healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure and elder care across Lumbee territories — not to outsiders or insiders.
3. Full transparency on all gaming compacts before they take effect.
Voting NO on June 23 does not stop gaming. It gives our tribe the opportunity to get this right. I am asking you to support a better amendment that the Lumbee people can truly be proud of.
To email your Tribal Council member or the Chairman, click the link below, go to the Government tab and click the Legislative link to find their email address. Your council member represents you directly — they voted on this amendment and they answer to you.
Ask your council member to demand a full public accounting of the land transaction before the June 23 vote.
Dear [COUNCIL MEMBER NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe from [YOUR DISTRICT] - the district you were elected to represent. I am writing to you respectfully but urgently, and I am asking you to read this letter carefully.
You are my elected representative. I trust you to speak for me, to protect tribal funds, and to provide real oversight of our tribal leadership. I need to know if you are able to do that right now.
According to Robeson County public deed records, our tribe paid $6.8 million in December 2025 for two tracts of land near Interstate 95. Those same tracts had been purchased just days earlier by a Wyoming company called Western Agricultural Holdings for $3.2 million. That company - that no tribal member had ever heard of - pocketed $3.6 million from our tribal funds in less than a week. No public council vote. No member notification. No explanation. Business NC documented this publicly on February 18, 2026 - nearly three months ago.
Now I have learned something that I need you to address directly.
Multiple credible sources have confirmed that some Tribal Council members signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement - an NDA - regarding this $6.8M land flip transaction. If this is true, it means some of our elected representatives may be legally prevented from telling us the truth about what happened to our tribal funds.
I need to ask you directly:
1. Did you sign an NDA regarding the $6.8M land flip transaction?
2. If so - who asked you to sign it? Who drafted it? What does it prevent you from saying?
3. Will you call for the immediate public release of any NDA related to this transaction?
4. Will you call for a full independent investigation - conducted by an independent party with no ties to tribal leadership?
5. Will you demand that Chairman Lowery publicly answer who owns Western Agricultural Holdings, who authorized the purchase, and why our tribe paid $3.6 million more than the market price?
You were elected to represent us. If you signed an NDA that prevents you from telling your own constituents the truth about our tribal funds - we need to know. And if you did not sign one - we need you to stand up now and demand a full independent investigation before June 23.
Three months of silence on a publicly documented $6.8M land flip transaction is not oversight. It is a failure of accountability. Our people deserve better - and they deserve better before they vote on a billion-dollar gaming enterprise on June 23.
I am not making accusations. Every question above is based on public deed records, credible reporting, and my right as your constituent to know the truth.
About the need for a better amendment with real oversight
Ask your council member to oppose the current amendment and support a better one with genuine independent oversight.
Dear [COUNCIL MEMBER NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe from [YOUR DISTRICT], which you represent on the Tribal Council. I am writing to share my concerns about the gaming amendment scheduled for a vote on June 23.
I am not opposed to gaming. I believe a casino on I-95 could transform our communities and bring real prosperity to our elders, our children and our families. But I cannot support this amendment as written — because it concentrates too much power in one office with no real independent oversight.
Under this amendment, the Tribal Chairperson would negotiate all gaming contracts, nominate all members of the gaming board, and nominate all members of the gaming oversight board — with the Tribal Council's confirmation. One man controlling the contracts, the board and the oversight is not a separation of powers. It is a concentration of power. And that concentration has no place in a governance structure meant to protect 67,500 tribal members.
I am respectfully asking you to:
1. Vote NO on or oppose the current amendment, and support a better amendment that includes truly independent oversight — a gaming oversight board elected by tribal members, not nominated by the chairman.
2. Ensure gaming profits are constitutionally protected to flow to healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure and elder care across Lumbee territories — not to outsiders or insiders.
3. Support holding any future gaming vote during Homecoming over multiple days — the way it was done in 1994 when over 30% of our people participated — so that all 67,500 tribal members have a genuine opportunity to decide.
Voting NO does not stop gaming. It forces a referendum or a better amendment — one our tribe can be truly proud of. I hope you will stand with your constituents and demand better.
If you prefer to call, use this script as a guide. Speak calmly and respectfully. You do not need to argue — just ask your questions and request a response.
When someone answers:
"Good morning / afternoon. My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an enrolled Lumbee tribal member from [YOUR DISTRICT]. I am calling respectfully to ask about the December 2025 land purchase by Lumbee Tribal Holdings and a very troubling new development.
According to public deed records, our tribe paid $6.8 million for land that a Wyoming company had purchased just days earlier for $3.2 million. That company pocketed $3.6 million from our tribal funds with no public vote, no notification and no explanation. Business NC documented this publicly nearly three months ago.
I have now learned that some Tribal Council members may have signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement preventing them from discussing this transaction. I have five questions I would like answered before the June 23 vote:
One - Who owns Western Agricultural Holdings?
Two - Who authorized the $6.8M purchase?
Three - Why did we pay $3.6 million more than the land just sold for?
Four - Did some council members sign an NDA about this transaction?
Five - Will you call for the immediate public release of that NDA and a full independent investigation?
I am not calling to argue. I am calling because I love my tribe and our people deserve honest answers before we vote on a billion-dollar gaming enterprise. Can you tell me how I can get a response to these questions?"
If they say they will pass the message along:
"Thank you. My name is [YOUR NAME] and my number is [YOUR PHONE]. I would appreciate a response before June 23."
Keep the call brief, polite and factual. Do not argue. Hang up respectfully regardless of the response.
Important reminder: Everything you say or write should be based strictly on the Robeson County deed records (December 2025) and Business North Carolina reporting (February 2026). Do not make allegations beyond these documented facts. A respectful, factual question is the most powerful tool you have — and it protects you legally.
07 — Write a letter to the editor of your local paper
A letter to the editor reaches thousands of Lumbee community members who read local papers — and it puts the coalition's message on the public record. The Robesonian, Carolina Indian Voice, and other regional papers serve the Lumbee community directly. Copy, personalize and submit.
Sample letter
Letter to the editor — local newspapers
Dear Editor,
I am an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and I am writing about a vote that most tribal members do not yet know is happening.
On Tuesday, June 23 — four days before Homecoming begins — the Lumbee Tribe will hold a vote on a constitutional amendment that would fundamentally change who controls gaming in our territory. The Tribal Council voted 17-2 on April 16, 2026 to put this amendment on the ballot with little public notice or debate.
The amendment would give the Tribal Chairman the power to negotiate all gaming contracts and nominate every member of every gaming board and oversight board — confirmed by the same 17-2 council. That is not real independent oversight. That is concentration of power in one office.
Before any gaming vote was scheduled, our tribal funds were reportedly used to purchase land near I-95 Exit 10 at $6.8 million — more than double what the same land sold for days earlier, with $3.6 million going to a Wyoming company that nobody in tribal leadership has identified. These questions have never been answered.
A group of concerned Lumbee citizens — Lumbees United for Accountability, led by Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery and Arlinda Locklear — is asking tribal members to vote NO on June 23 and demand a better amendment: one with real independent oversight, transparent revenue reporting, and gaming revenues directed to tribal services for members, education, healthcare and infrastructure — not to outsiders or insiders.
Voting NO does not stop gaming. It forces a referendum or a better amendment — one the Lumbee people can be proud of.
For more information: https://votenodemandbetter.com
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Enrolled member, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
[City, State]
More information: https://votenodemandbetter.com
Where to submit
The Robesonian — letters@robesonian.com — Robeson County's daily paper
The News-Journal (Hoke County) — Jessica@thenews-journal.com — hokenews.com
The Laurinburg Exchange — amyjohnson@laurinburgexchange.com — serving Scotland County
Your local paper — whatever paper serves your community, they want to hear from local readers
Fayetteville Observer — letters@fayobserver.com — reaches Cumberland County Lumbee members
The News & Observer (Raleigh) — newsobserver.com/letters — the largest paper in North Carolina, reaching Triangle-area Lumbee members
Your city's paper — if you live in Baltimore, Detroit or elsewhere, write to your local paper too — Lumbee communities across the country deserve to know
Your local paper — whatever paper serves your community, they want to hear from local readers
Most papers ask for your name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are typically 150–300 words — feel free to shorten the sample above.
08 — Get involved with the coalition
The Lumbees United for Accountability needs people in every role — public voices, behind-the-scenes organizers, social media volunteers, church connectors, researchers, and donors. Whatever your comfort level, there is a place for you.
Express your interest
Your information will be kept private and used only to coordinate coalition activities.
We are Lumbee.
We fought 137 years for recognition. We will fight however long it takes to get this right.
Vote NO. Demand Better!!
Vote Date · Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Lumbees United for Accountability is not an anti-gaming coalition. Our members hold a range of views on gaming. What unites us is this:
01
The Lumbee people deserve a referendum or better amendment on gaming — with real oversight and real transparency and a real balance of power, not the currently proposed concentration of power.
02
Voting NO does not stop gaming. It forces a referendum or a better amendment — one with independent oversight, transparent revenue reporting, and a balance of power.
03
If gaming eventually passes, revenues must be directed to tribal services for members — healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure and elder care — not to outsiders, insiders or a Wyoming shell company.
Vote NO. Demand Better!!
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🚨
LIVE IN-PERSON TOWN HALL
Monday June 22 at 6PM
📍 662 Highland Games Road, Red Springs, NC
🌭 Hot dogs will be served Arlinda Locklear · Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery Rick Barton · Colonel Lynn Locklear · & Others