What is heritage to you?  Our heritage is something we should all be proud of, but many of us don’t even know where our family tree really begins.  In the small town of Pembroke NC, which is rich in American Indian heritage, it is very important to the residents to keep the Lumbee Indian heritage alive. It is the resident’s pride in the Lumbee Indians that makes the small community so tight-knit.

The Lumbee Indians are the ninth largest tribe in the United States that originated in North Carolina but also reside in parts of Virginia, and South Carolina.  The name Lumbee came from the Lumber River that runs through Robeson County, NC.  At over eighty percent, they are the majority of the population in Pembroke NC.

When I took a visit to Pembroke last summer, it was evident to me that the Lumbee Indians are still an extremely integral part of the town’s culture.  The community pride can be seen everywhere, including at UNC Pembroke, as their mascot is the Brave, and even in the annual Miss Lumbee pageant, and on every corner you turn in Robeson County, it is obvious that you are in Lumbee Country!

Tags: Lumbee Indians, Miss Lumbee, Pembroke, Place Properties, Smart Student Living, UNC Pembroke