By RAY WYCHE

The Waccamaw Siouan Native American tribe centered north of Bolton is helping the Lumbee Indians of Robeson County in their efforts to gain full federal recognition as a tribe, a move that would bring financial help to both tribes for education, health care, housing and economic development.

Chief Roscoe Jacobs of the Waccamaw Siouans said his tribe has prepared a petition backing a U.S. Senate bill introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) that calls for Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to grant the Lumbees all benefits now given to tribes that have full federal recognition.

A similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton.

Sen. Dole’s bill would grant full recognition to other Indian groups, including the Waccamaw Siouans, living in counties adjacent to Robeson. The majority of the more than 50,000 Lumbees, the largest group of Indians east of the Mississippi River, live in Robeson County.

The Lumbees’ efforts for full recognition, the third time since 2003 that the matter has been brought before the Senate committee, is being opposed by some Indian tribes who claim the Lumbees do not have documented proof of their heritage as Indians. Among the Native American groups opposing the designation as a fully recognized Indian tribe is the eastern Band of Cherokees of North Carolina.

News media reports claim the Cherokees are afraid that if full federal recognition is given the Lumbees, the Cherokees’ portion of federal funds would be reduced. The reports also mention that the Cherokees, located in the mountains of North Carolina, are fearful that the Lumbees could open gambling casinos as allowed for Indian tribes by the federal government. Since the Lumbees’ territory is close to I-95, in contrast to the isolated location of the Cherokee Reservation, the Cherokees are afraid that if Lumbee casinos are opened they will siphon gambling money that normally would be spent with the Cherokees.

Lumbee leaders have said that the tribe has no intention of getting into the gambling business as the majority of the members are opposed to games of chance because of their religious convictions.

Jacobs said the petition from the Waccamaw Siouans would be forwarded to support the Lumbees’ claim.

He added that the daughter of Herman Jacobs, a Buckhead native now living in Texas, is an attorney and will go to Washington to work on behalf of the Lumbees.

“She’s also going to work on behalf of all Waccamaw Siouans,” Jacobs said.

In a speech before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Sen. Dole said, “For more than a century, the Lumbees have been recognized as American Indians,” but have not received financial benefits other recognized tribes have been granted.