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.

March 9, 2023 Meeting Photos

Legislation

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

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.

 

Meeting Information

 

2024 Meeting Dates
March 7, 2024
June 7, 2024
Sept. 6, 2024
Dec. 6, 2024

 

Date Meeting Minutes
Sept. 15, 2023 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 1-2, 2023 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 9, 2023 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 2, 2022 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 2, 2022 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 2-3, 2022 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 10, 2022 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Jan. 27, 2022 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 3, 2021 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 3, 2021 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 4, 2021 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 11, 2021 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 4, 2020 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 4, 2020 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 5, 2020 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 12, 2020 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 6, 2019 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 20, 2019 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
July 26, 2019 Public Hearing
June 7, 2019 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 7, 2019 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 7, 2018 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 7, 2018 (1 of 2) CIA Meeting Minutes Approved  
CIA Meeting Minutes Approved Part 2
July 11, 2018 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
May 31-June1, 2018 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved 
March 1, 2018 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 1, 2017 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 1, 2017 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 2, 2017 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 9, 2017 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 2, 2016 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Sept. 2, 2016 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
June 3, 2016 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
March 10, 2016 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
Dec. 4, 2015 CIA Meeting Minutes Approved
2015 September  June  March

Commission Members

Name Representing Appointment/Last Reappointment Date Term Expires
Lenora Locklear Coharie

July 1, 2021

(serving since 2016)

June 30, 2024
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, 2024
Joshua Rory Welch Eastern Band of the Cherokee July 1, 2021 June 30, 2024
Carolyn R. West Eastern Band of the Cherokee July 1, 2020 June 30, 2026
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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
Danny Bell Triangle Native American Society

July 1, 2021

(serving since 2018)

June 30, 2024
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

Officers

Name Position Representing Appointment/Last Reappointment Date Term Expires
Ricky Burnett Chair Lumbee Tribe

July 1, 2021

(serving since 2017)

June 30, 2024
Craig D. McMillian Vice Chair Speaker of the House Appointee July 13, 2022 June 30, 2024
Nadine F. Patrick Secretary/Treasurer Waccamaw Siouan Tribe July 1, 2022 June 30, 2025

State Officials

Official Department Designee
Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell NC Department of Administration David Elliott
Commissioner Josh Dobson NC Department of Labor Julie Ryan
Secretary Machelle Sanders NC Department of Commerce Betty Marrow-Taylor
Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser NC Department of Environment Quality Sharon Martin
Secretary Kody H. Kinsley NC Department of Health and Human Services Debra Farrington 

State Official - Ex Officio

Name Position Department
John Mintz, State Archaeologist Advisor Cultural Resources

Youth Ex Officio

Organization Member
NC Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO) Ariel Locklear, Co-Chair and
Korbyn Walton, Co-Chair
NC Native American Council on Higher Education (NCNACOHE) Joshua Lamar Richardson