Arlinda Locklear, the attorney who for more than two decades has represented the Lumbee Tribe before Congress in its fight for federal recognition, has been replaced.

Sources confirmed Thursday that the Lumbee Tribal Council has entered into a contract with Lewin International LLC, a Nevada company with expertise in the development, marketing and operations of full-service casinos, to be the “exclusive” lobbyist for the tribe’s efforts to obtain federal recognition.

Locklear, a Pembroke native who practices Federal Indian Law out of Washington, D.C., confirmed Thursday that she has been replaced. She declined to comment on why the Lumbee Tribal Council fired her when Lumbee federal recognition is closer now to becoming reality than it has been since 1993.

“I can’t comment on this. It’s a confidential matter,” she said. “You will have to speak with tribal officials.”

Tribal Council Speaker Ricky Burnett said in a statement that Locklear had served the tribe for more than 20 years in Washington using her experience, legal skills and contacts with congressional representatives and staffers.

“She has coordinated fact and expert testimony for congressional hearings. She worked closely with both House and Senate representatives to guide a bill through the House of Representatives and the Senate committees of jurisdiction. The bill is currently awaiting a vote on the floor of the Senate,” Burnett said.

“Tribal leadership has determined that additional resources are needed to get the affirmative vote required in the Senate,” the speaker said. “The tribe secured the resources and informed Ms. Locklear. Due to the transition in her role in the lobbying effort, Ms. Locklear made the decision not to further participate in the tribe’s efforts to achieve federal recognition.”

Locklear disputes Burnett’s statement that she chose to no longer participate in the effort to obtain federal recognition.

“I did not resign and had no intention of resigning,” Locklear said. “This has been my life’s work — I would never walk away from it.”

In his statement, Burnett emphasized that the hiring of Lewin International does not mean the tribe is moving to develop casinos.

“Both bills in Congress would prohibit the tribe from entering into a gaming enterprise,” Burnett said. “The tribe’s position on this has not changed. While Congress drafts and makes the law, the tribe has not requested that the language of the bill be changed to allow gaming upon passage of the bill.”

Locklear said that she has to have “faith” that the tribe will stand by its position not to seek gaming. Changing the bill, she said, would mean the recognition process would have to begin again and could take several years.

“I would urge that the Congress and public take the tribe at its word about gaming,” Locklear said.

Passage of the recognition bill would bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid to the Lumbee Tribe, which boasts more than 50,000 members, most of whom live in Robeson, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland counties. The tribe would be eligible for health care, education, housing, economic opportunities and other benefits currently received by other tribes recognized by the federal government.

The Lumbee recognition bill jointly introduced by North Carolina’s U.S. Sens. Richard Burr, a Republican, and Kay Hagan, a Democrat, is waiting on a vote on the Senate floor. U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, a Democrat from Lumberton, shepherded a similar bill, the Lumbee Recognition Act, through the House last year. It was approved June 3.

In 1956, Congress granted the tribe partial federal recognition, while at the same time denying benefits given to other American Indians. Other tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee, have for years questioned the Lumbee Tribe’s ability to trace members to a historic tribe.