NC Commission of Indian Affairs
NC Commission of Indian Affairs
History of the Commission
The NC Commission of Indian Affairs was established to:
- deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs.
- utilize local, state, and federal resources to provide aid and protection for Indians as needs are demonstrated.
- hold land in trust for the benefit of State-recognized Indian tribes.
- assist Indian communities in social and economic development.
- and promote recognition of and the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions considered by them to be sacred and meaningful to Native Americans.
Legislation
- Creation of NC Commission of Indian Affairs NCGS § 143B-404
- Legal Recognition of American Indian Groups 01 NCAC 15 .0200
About the Chair
Governor Roy Cooper appointed Rev. Ricky Burnett chairman of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs on July 31, 2019. The Honorable Brooke Clark, District Court Judge, for Judicial District 16B, Robeson County, NC, conducted the swearing-in ceremony during the annual meeting of the Commission on Sept. 20, 2019, in Raleigh. Burnett is the 10th person to hold this position since the Commission’s establishment in 1972.
Rev. Ricky Burnett was appointed to the NC Commission of Indian Affairs by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in March of 2017 to complete the term of Daniel Jones. He has served on the following Committees since his initial appointment to the Commission: Indian Housing, Cultural Resources and Indian Land Trust.
He is a pastor at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Fairmont, NC and is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He is currently serving as Speaker of the Tribal Council. Burnett is also very active on the North Carolina Pow-Wow Circuit where he has served as Arena Director and Pow-Wow Coordinator. He is also a military veteran.
About the Commission
The Commission of Indian Affairs consists of 28 members: 21 representatives of the American Indian community, two representatives appointed by the General Assembly, and one representative or their designee appointed by the secretaries of DHHS, DOA, Commerce, DEQ & DOL each.
The following American Indian communities have members on the commission selected by tribal or community consent from the Indian groups that are recognized by the State of North Carolina:
- The Coharie of Sampson and Harnett Counties
- The Eastern Band of the Cherokee
- The Haliwa-Saponi of Halifax, Warren and adjoining counties
- The Lumbee of Robeson, Hoke and Scotland Counties
- The Meherrin of Hertford, Bertie, Northampton and Gates Counties
- The Waccamaw-Siouan from Columbus and Bladen Counties
- The Sappony of Person County
- The Cumberland County Association for Indian People of Cumberland County
- The Guilford Native Americans Association of Guilford and surrounding counties
- The Metrolina Native Americans Association of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties
- The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation of Orange and surrounding counties
- The Triangle Native American Society of Wake and surrounding counties
Commission Members
| Name | Representing | Appointment/Last Reappointment Date | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenora Locklear | Coharie | July 1, 2021 (serving since 2016) | June 30, 2027 |
| Isabell Freeman-Elliott | Coharie | July 1, 2022 (serving since 2001) | June 30, 2025 |
| Gladys Hunt | Cumberland County Association for Indian People | July 1, 2022 (serving since 2016) | June 30, 2025 |
| Helen Cook | Cumberland County Association for Indian People | July 1, 2021 (serving since 2018) | June 30, 2027 |
| Vacant | Eastern Band of the Cherokee | ||
| Jarrett Crowe | Eastern Band of the Cherokee | July 1, 2024 | June 30, 2027 |
| DeVane Burnette, Sr. | Guilford Native American Association | July 1, 2022 (serving since 2013) | June 30, 2025 |
| Sheila Kay (Epps) Wilson | Guilford Native American Association | April 21, 2023 (serving since 2021) | June 30, 2026 |
| Alfred Ray Richardson | Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe | October 17, 2022 | June 30, 2025 |
| Pamela Sunshine Richardson | Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe | June 22, 2022 | June 30, 2027 |
| Ricky Burnett (Chair) | Lumbee Tribe | July 1, 2021 (serving since 2017) | June 30, 2024 |
| Larece Hunt | Lumbee Tribe | July 1, 2020 (serving since 2005) | June 30, 2026 |
| Vernanda (Vee) Oxendine | Lumbee Tribe | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2025 |
| Constance B. Mitchell | Meherrin Indian Tribe | July 1, 2022 (serving since 2014) | June 30, 2025 |
| Walter David (WD) Baucom | Metrolina Native American Association | July 1, 2021 (serving since 2008) | June 30, 2027 |
| Greg Bryant | Metrolina Native American Association | July 1, 2023 | June 30, 2026 |
| William Anthony (Tony) Hayes | Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation | July 1, 2023 (serving since 2017) | June 30, 2026 |
| Dorothy Stewart Yates | Sappony Tribe | July 1, 2023 (serving since 2011) | June 30, 2026 |
| Craig D. McMillian (Vice Chair) | Speaker of the House Appointee | July 13, 2022 | June 30, 2026 |
| Danny Bell | Triangle Native American Society | July 1, 2021 (serving since 2018) | June 30, 2027 |
| Elton Ray Jacobs | Waccamaw Siouan Tribe | June 1, 2020 (serving since 2011) | June 30, 2026 |
| Nadine F. Patrick (Secretary/Treasurer) | Waccamaw Siouan Tribe | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2025 |
| Gerald Goolsby | President Pro Tem Appointee | July 1, 2023 (serving since 2021) | June 30, 2026 |