RALEIGH — Lumbee citizens were recognized during the N.C. American Indian Unity Conference community awards. The awards were presented at the annual banquet in Raleigh.
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery was the keynote speaker at the banquet. Seven of the recipients recognized during the banquet were from the Lumbee family or community.
These included Daphine Strickland, who was recognized with the American Indian Elder of the Year Award; Rev. Gary Deese, Head Lumbee Warrior, and Rocky Sampson, received the Veterans Award; Craig McMillan received the Economic Advancement of Indian People award; Ricky Harris, the former Lumbee Tribe administrator and former Robeson County manager, received the Distinguished Service to Indian Community award; Stella Hardin received the Distinguished American Indian College Student award; and Kerry Bird, President of the National Indian Education Association and Inaugural Director of the N.C. American Indian Heritage Commission, received the distinguished service to Indian education award (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Lumbee)…