Lumbee Legend - Arlinda Locklear
Mrs. Arlinda Faye Locklear (born 1951) is a pioneering Lumbee attorney and one of the nation’s foremost experts in federal Indian law. A trailblazer in the legal field, she made history in 1983 as the first Native American woman to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court in Solem v.
Bartlett. In that landmark case, she successfully defended the rights of the Sioux Nation, affirming tribal authority over crimes committed on reservation land. In 1985, she achieved another major victory before the Supreme Court in County of Oneida v. Oneida Indian Nation, further strengthening tribal land claims and sovereignty.
A proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Mrs. Locklear earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1976 from the Duke University School of Law. From the beginning of her career, she has been deeply committed to advancing Native American rights, tribal sovereignty, and federal recognition.
In 1987, Mrs. Locklear became the first official legal representative for the Lumbee Tribe. In this role, she advocated tirelessly on behalf of her people, including testifying before Congress multiple times to push for fair and consistent procedures for federal acknowledgment of Native tribes. She played a central role in shaping discussions around the Indian Federal Acknowledgment Administrative Procedures Act of 1989 and worked for decades—often pro bono—from 1987 through 2010 to secure full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.
Over nearly forty years of legal practice, Mrs. Locklear has worked with organizations such as the Native American Rights Fund and the law firm Patton Boggs LLP. Throughout her career, she has represented Native American tribes in complex federal and state cases involving treaty rights, land and water disputes, and tribal jurisdiction. She has also earned a national reputation as a leading authority on the federal acknowledgment process for Native tribes.
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Mrs. Locklear received the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association in 2012. She was praised for her intellect, passion, and visionary leadership, and celebrated as an inspiration to Native American women in the legal profession.
Today, Mrs. Arlinda Locklear remains an influential figure in Native communities, continuing to inspire both Native and non-Native audiences. Her work holds deep significance in Robeson County, where Lumbee representation at the national level carries profound cultural and historical importance. Her legacy reflects a lifetime of dedication to justice, equality, and the preservation of tribal sovereignty within the United States legal system.
Building on the efforts of those who came before her, Mrs. Locklear has carried forward the long struggle for Lumbee federal recognition with determination and pride. She stands as one of the foundational figures in that ongoing journey – a steadfast advocate whose contributions will forever be remembered among the greatest in Lumbee history.
On behalf of Lumbee Nation – we simply can’t say THANK YOU enough for all the time, energy, and effort you have invested into your tribe to ensure our children have the exact same opportunities (in life) as the rest of the nation. Mrs. Arlinda Faye Locklear, you are absolutely amazing!