🗳️ VOTE DAY IS TUESDAY JUNE 23 — GET OUT AND VOTE!

🗺️ FIND YOUR DISTRICT
(phone best · may not load on computer · allow 1-2 min) 📋 SAMPLE BALLOT 📍 VOTING LOCATIONS ⚠️ SOME ARE NEW!

🚗 Need a ride to the polls? Call Brenda Jacobs: 910-734-2525

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 05

Who Is Speaking Out

Respected Lumbee community leaders, scholars and advocates speaking out before the June 23 vote. These voices represent legal expertise, historical knowledge, scientific inquiry, and the ordinary tribal member.

Confirmed coalition leadership

These two leaders have formally confirmed their roles with Lumbees United for Accountability.

Chairwoman — Confirmed

Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery

Lumbee educator and 2025 North Caroliniana Society Award recipient — one of North Carolina's most prestigious cultural honors, presented for long and distinguished service in the encouragement, production, enhancement, promotion and preservation of North Carolina. Delivered the keynote "A Woman of the Dark Water: A Pathmaker and A Wisdomkeeper" at UNC Pembroke, April 2025.

Enrolled Lumbee tribal member · Educator · Community leader · 2025 North Caroliniana Society Award

Vice Chairwoman — Confirmed

Arlinda Locklear

The first Native American woman to argue before the United States Supreme Court. Federal Indian law attorney who provided nearly four decades of pro bono legal representation to the Lumbee people — from 1987 until federal recognition was finally granted in December 2025. Selected as the 2026 Lumbee Homecoming Grand Marshal — the tribe's highest community honor. Has dedicated her career to Lumbee sovereignty and member rights.

Enrolled Lumbee tribal member · Supreme Court attorney · Federal Indian law specialist

Additional leader letters of support will be added here as they are received

Coalition members

The following enrolled Lumbee members have joined Lumbees United for Accountability.

Co-Secretary

Robin Branch

Co-Secretary

Larmari Louise Mitchell

Digital Director

Robin Oxendine

Facebook Administrator

Kim Oxendine Shyman

Robin Oxendine

Ruth Locklear

Rev. Dr. Michael Cummings

Rick Barton

Charles Graham

Dr. Ryan E. Emanuel

Tina Oxendine

Sam Kerns

Brenda Jacobs

Anita Blanks Hammonds

Bosco Locklear

Cynthia Hunt

Malachi Hammonds

Carvicous Barfield

Dana Hunt-Locklear

Gerri Locklear

Dale Locklear

Eddie Moore

Connor Hughes Oxendine Beard

Panthia Locklear

Jacqueline Hunt Chavis

Colleen Chavis

Colonel Lynn Locklear

Amanda Locklear

Ronald Hammonds

Donna Cummings Crawford

James McGirt

Rev. Horace Oxendine

In The Robesonian

Our Open Letter — Published in The Robesonian

OPEN LETTER TO LUMBEE TRIBAL MEMBERS & VOTERS

Did you know that the Lumbee Tribe Constitution requires a referendum among the members to authorize gaming in our territory?

  • This declares the approval of gaming to be of fundamental importance, to be decided by the people
  • The referendum it requires must have at least 30% participation by tribal members to be valid, guaranteeing a public and vigorous debate among Lumbees

Did you know that the Lumbee Chairman and Tribal Council have proposed an amendment to the Lumbee Constitution to strip out this requirement for a referendum to authorize gaming?

  • If adopted, this amendment would deprive membership of its right to have the rigorous debate to authorize gaming in a referendum
  • This amendment can be adopted by a simple majority with no minimum voter participation, by a small handful of members and little or no debate

Did you know that the Lumbee tribal government has already scheduled this vote for June 23, with little or no public debate or knowledge?

  • If this quiet, quick vote succeeds, there will be no debate about gaming among our people and no referendum to authorize it
  • This proposed amendment also includes others that would place full power to approve and control gaming in our territory in the Chairman and Tribal Council to negotiate and approve gaming contracts

A group of concerned Lumbee citizens, who oppose this power grab, have organized to encourage the debate among our people on this important issue. We call ourselves LUMBEES UNITED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. Visit our website, join us, make your voice heard, and preserve the integrity of our Constitution.

VOTE NO. DEMAND BETTER!!

Sponsored by Lumbees United for Accountability

Chair: Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery  ·  Vice-Chair: Arlinda Locklear

Co-Secretaries: Louise Mitchell, Robin Branch

VoteNoDemandBetter.com

Paid for and approved by Lumbees United for Accountability

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!!

🚨

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

RSVP NOW →

Last chance before the vote. Bring your questions. Get real answers.