They said questions remain about the origins and authenticity of the Lumbee, who have at various points claimed descent from four different tribes. Reaction from other tribes - particularly the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - was swift and negative. House of Representatives unanimously approved the Lumbee Recognition Act, bringing the North Carolina tribe closer to the federal recognition it has sought for more than a century.
The Catawba and the Lumbee could change those odds. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians operates two casinos in North Carolina – the only legal such operations in the state.
