LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has a new chairperson.
Harvey Godwin Jr. won the tribal election in November. He was sworn-in Thursday for a three-year term as the chairman of the Lumbee Tribal Government.
Godwin takes over the tribe’s chairmanship from Paul Brooks.
“One of the things that I think is important right now that people themselves are expecting is an open and transparent tribal government,” said Godwin.
As chairman, Godwin has the authority to put items on the agenda.
“My vision going forward is to enhance our educational programs among our people,” he said.
Godwin explains he looks forward to getting things turned around and doing things right for generations to come. But in order for that to happen, he says the people must come together as one.
“Three generations from now, into the future our children and our grand-children can look back in time to and say this is when the people really united. This is when they developed a government that was open and transparent,” Godwin explained.
As founder of Two Hawk Employment Services and Two Hawk Workforce Services in Lumberton, Godwin believes in hands-on leadership and open lines of communications.
“And that’s going hand in hand here at the Lumbee tribe. We’re here to help people empower themselves, to improve their quality of life and not just for the Lumbee people but for all people in our immediate area,” Godwin added.
He says military veterans will have their needs taken care of, too.
“It’s left up to us when they come home and to help them find jobs, help them find housing and make sure that they come back into the Lumbee tribe as our brothers and sisters,” said Godwin.
Godwin says he will bring the spirit of the tribe’s constitution back into the everyday lives of tribal members and the government. He also emphasized keeping tribal members informed about the government’s business.
