H.B. 699
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 18, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40363-LG-115A
Short Title: State Recognition for The Tuscarora. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Goodwin.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO GRANT STATE RECOGNITION TO THE TUSCARORA INDIANS AND TO
3 PROVIDE REPRESENTATION OF THE TUSCARORA ON THE STATE COMMISSION
4 OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
5 Whereas, the Tuscarora, also known as Skaru:re, hemp gatherers, the shirt wearing
6 people, and the people of the sunken pines, are a pre-contact, First Nation Indian Tribe of North
7 Carolina and are documented in North Carolina's and Virginia's Colonial records; and
8 Whereas, they are blood kin to the Haudenosaunee, People of the Longhouse, who
9 are the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and the Seneca: The Five Nations that created the
10 Iroquois Confederacy, which is one of the greatest and most powerful Native American groups
11 in North American history. The Iroquois Confederacy abides by the Great Law of Peace that
12 united the five tribes and brought peace to the people. The Great Law of Peace is the first form
13 of democracy on the North American continent and was one of the founding principles for the
14 United States Constitution. (U.S. Senate Resolution 76, 1987; U.S. House Concurrent Resolution
15 331, 1988); and
16 Whereas, The Tuscarora have demonstrated organized continuity spanning to
17 pre-colonial times and have formally organized no fewer than 20 years ago with provided
18 documentation and have maintained the core governing bodies of Tuscarora people to this day;
19 and
20 Whereas, The Tuscarora have adopted The Tuscarora Council of the Great to unify
21 and govern their people with one mind; Now, therefore,
22 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
23 SECTION 1. Chapter 71A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new
24 section to read:
25 "§ 71A-7.3. The Tuscarora; rights, privileges, immunities, obligations, and duties.
26 The Indians comprising three core communities: The Tuscarora Indian Nation of North
27 Carolina Prospect Longhouse, Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina, and the Tuscarora Tribe of
28 North Carolina, whose ancestors, in 1718, entered a treaty with the government of North Carolina
29 and were granted Indian Woods, a 56,000-acre tract of lands on the Roanoke River in what is
30 now Bertie County and who are of the same linguistic stock as the other tribes of the Iroquois
31 Confederacy of New York and Canada, shall, from and after July 1, 2023, be designated and
32 officially recognized as The Tuscarora, and they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges,
33 and immunities as an American Indian Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying
34 out and exercising substantial governmental duties and powers similar to the State, being
35 recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to
36 Indians because of their status as Indians. The Tuscarora shall maintain individual enrollment
*DRH40363-LG-115A*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 criteria, providing an opportunity for unenrolled Tuscarora descendants to enroll and shall govern
2 themselves in a manner that will benefit and unify all Tuscarora that come under their
3 governance."
4 SECTION 2. G.S. 143B-407 reads as rewritten:
5 "§ 143B-407. North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs – membership; term of
6 office; chairman; compensation.
7 (a) The State Commission of Indian Affairs shall consist of two persons appointed by the
8 General Assembly, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Assistant Secretary of
9 Commerce in charge of the Division of Employment Security, the Secretary of Administration,
10 the Secretary of Environmental Quality, the Commissioner of Labor or their designees and 21 24
11 representatives of the Indian community. These Indian members shall be selected by tribal or
12 community consent from the Indian groups that are recognized by the State of North Carolina
13 and are principally geographically located as follows: the Coharie of Sampson and Harnett
14 Counties; the Eastern Band of Cherokees; the Haliwa Saponi of Halifax, Warren, and adjoining
15 counties; the Lumbees of Robeson, Hoke and Scotland Counties; the Meherrin of Hertford
16 County; the Waccamaw-Siouan from Columbus and Bladen Counties; the Sappony; the
17 Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation of Alamance and Orange Counties, The Tuscarora of
18 Robeson County, and the Native Americans located in Cumberland, Guilford, Johnston,
19 Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake Counties. The Coharie shall have two members; the Eastern
20 Band of Cherokees, two; the Haliwa Saponi, two; the Lumbees, three; the Meherrin, one; the
21 Waccamaw-Siouan, two; the Sappony, one; the Cumberland County Association for Indian
22 People, two; the Guilford Native Americans, two; the Metrolina Native Americans, two; the
23 Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, one, one; the Triangle Native American Society, one.
24 one; The Tuscarora, three. Of the two appointments made by the General Assembly, one shall be
25 made upon the recommendation of the Speaker, and one shall be made upon recommendation of
26 the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Appointments by the General Assembly shall be made
27 in accordance with G.S. 120-121 and vacancies shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122.
28 …."
29 SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.
Page 2 DRH40363-LG-115A


Statutes affected:
Filed: 143B-407
Edition 1: 143B-407