PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY | '
THE CAROLINA INDIAI f /OICE
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I I^^VOLUME 12 NUMBER 33 2Sc PEK COPY p i | ? ? r- THURSDAY. AUGUST 16, 19*4
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...CHURCH NIGHT UPDATE
PAGE 4
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1\ CONCEPT PLAN
\y \V NORTH CAROLINA CULTURAL-TOURIST CENTER
~ NAXtON TOWN5HIR NORTH CAROLINA
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INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER
STILL IN THE FUTURE
J BUT MOVING AHEAD
"What you arc looking at repesents a
dream that has been taking shape for the
last seven years." said A. Bruce Jones.
? Cnn.niissioiirr ,>f Indian Affsirs. "A Ipt
of careful planning, patience and dedica
tion went into this design." Jones was
referring to a colorful "bird's eye view"
of the proposed North Carolina Cultural
Tourism Center. A large drawing, or
"concept plan" (see illustration above)
shows the different components of the
overall design and how each part relates
to the project's purpose. The variety of
activities planned is impressive-strate
gically located parking areas surrounded
by an array of recreational and edu
cational activities: camping, canoeing,
golf, the museum, a series of "living
villages." a conference center and
facilities for organized sports.
"1 think it is especially important to
remember one factor in the development
of this plan," said Jones. "The initial
step was taken by Governor Hunt when
he asked the Commission to take the lead
in developing plans for a major tourist
attraction which could be built around
the heritage and culture of Eastern North
Carolina Indians. In addition, the
Governor requested support from the
Department of Commerce and the Travel
and Tourism Division of the Department
of Administration.
"The reason that Robeson County
emerged as the most desirable location
for such an enterprise is the direct result
of two factors that immediately became
apparent: (a) a series of traffic surveys
demonstrated that the crossing of 1-95
and U.S. 74 near Lumberton represented
an ideal point to tap one of the State's
major tourist flows, and (b) the Lumber
ton area contained essential resources,
such as tourism accomodations, a vital
Indian culture and a variety of tourism
oriented enterprises.
"From a purely practical standpoint,
both the Governor's office and the
Commission perceived the development
of this project in relation to economy.
Certainly, a Culture-Tourism Center
would have a major impact on the income
of a lot of people in this area. However,
there were other reasons that were
repeatedly stressed from the beginning.
The proposed Center would also provide
us with an opportunity to inform millions
of non-Indians about our culture and
traditions: and. most importantly, the
plan that we evolved provides us with a
means of promoting economic and
cultural goals without exploiting our
cultural and historical traditions."
During the initial stages of planning,
the Commission of Indian Affairs acquir
ed a feasibility study from Wilber Smith
and Associates in Columbia. South
Carolina. Through a series of marketing
studies and as a direct result of the
conclusions reached by Wilber Smith and
Associates as a result of comparative
data on similar centers, projections on
construction costs and conservative
estimates on projected income: the study
concluded that the concept was practical,
desirable, and potentially an economic
goldmine. In fact, the study indicated *
that the Culture-Tourism Center would
be self-supporting after the first three
years of operations.
According to Jim Lowry, Chairman of
the Commission of Indian Affai/s,
planning for the Center was cautious and
thorough. "We never perceived this
concept as a gamble," said Lowry.
"Every aspect has been carefully
evaluated. For example, we have paid
particular attention to other operations,
such as the Museum of the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians and the Oconaluftee
Indian Village. Both of these successful
operations have major advantages, but
we also discovered disadvantages-prob
lems that we would have the opportunity
to avoid, such as inadequate traffic
management, the development of ex
pensive attractions with limited appeal,
or a lack of diversity in the Center's
activities."
This latter problem, the need for
diversity, led to the Commission's
decision to include facilities that are
already in existence on or near the
project site, including the golfing
complex, the "Strike at the Wind!"
facilities and the Riverside Lake com
plex. Generally, the Commission felt that
a diversity of attractions would make the
difference between a visiting audience
that stayed several days as opposed to
several hours. "As perceived at pre
sent," said Lowry, "The Culture
Tourism Center will have enough
diversity to appeal to a variety of family
interests, recreational, educational and
entertaining."
The present status of the Culture
Tourism Center is as follows:
?The General Assembly has appro
priated funds to purchase the land
required for the Center. Planning in
relation to this acquisition is moving
ahead.
?Preliminary reviews conducted by the
archaeology branch of the North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources indi
cate that there are shea of archaeological
and/or historical significance on the
development. Should further investiga
tion indicate that appropriate preser
vation measures are necessary, sites
and/or excavations will be incorporated
into the plans as a valid part of the
Center's purpose: the preservation of the
heritage and culture of eastern North
Carolina Indians.
?The Curator of the Old Main Museum
in cooperation with the Commission of
Indian Affairs will coordinate planning in
relation to the Center's museum.
The reality of the Culture-Tourism
, Center is still in the fksture. As planning,
progresses, the Commission will assume
responsibility for keeping the Mjan
people of the state informed.
Riverside Country Get. the proposed
site of the Indian Cultural Center, is
a*d taifaecf ^ af
. River
Fest Day
Planned
The Robeson County Rec
reation and Park Commission
is sponsoring it's first annual
1984 Lumber River Fest Day
on Saturday, August 25.
There will be a two hour canoe
float down the Lumber River
starting at Hwy 72 Wi^llife
Station, near the Cancer
Institute, down to Stephens
Park in Lumberton. The float
will begin at 9 a.m. and finish
at 11 a.m. Anyone wishing to
use a canoe must contact the
Recreation Department prior
to the event. Canoes are
limited so reservations will be
made on first come first
served basis.
The Lumber River Fest will
begin at 11:30 a.m. at Ste
phens Park until 4 p.m. Food
and refreshments will be
available.
Cont.'d Page 2
n;: V J&40
. ic, , ^c$y
County School
Board
elects new
Attorney
On 5-4 vote
*
The Robeson County Board of Educa
tion met in regular session Tuesday
afternoon and fired Earl Homer Strick
land as school board attorney, replacing
him with Gary Lynn Locklear, a
Lumberton attorney.
The motion was made by Ronald
Revels and seconded by Bill Oxendine.
Also voting to fire Strickland were Dr.
Dalton Brooks. Dr. Gerald Maynor and
Charles David Locklear.
Voting "no" were board chairman
Pete Clark, David Green, ?.B. Mortoi
JR. and J.R. Musslewhite. New member
Catherine Leach abstained. Board mem
ber Rufus Graham was absent.
Some board members seemed surpris
ed by Revels' motion, especially. David
Green, as the action occurred just before
adjournment.
Green remonstrated, according to local
news reports, "This would have appear
ed to have been an executive session
issue, and tfyqn we could ask reasons
why, but it was not done."
He added, "It would seem that if there
was a desir^ to fire the attorney, it looks
like the board members should have the
courtesy of knowing before hand."
Morton, another member who eventu
ally voted "no" asked why Strickland
should be fired.
Revels answered, "because he serves
with a firm that represents the county
commissioners," inferring a conflict of
iatCT^s:. . < -* ' ?
Green injected, "W iy tonight? Is it
because we have a new board member
(Catherine Leach)? Is this the welcoming
party?"
But board member Charles David
Locklear interrupted, and reminded
Green that "each board member has a
right to vote however they wish."
It was reminiscent of the way former
attorney Dexter Brooks was fired when
he was replaced by Strickland, only the
players were different.
Strickland is a member of the law firm
Ward, Strickland and Kinlaw. Joe
"Pete" Ward is county attorney, and Hal
Kinlaw represents the board of elections.
Strickland was quoted as saying,
"lhad no idea it was coming. I will abide
by the decision of the board. I served at
the pleasure of the board and enjoyed
it."
IN OTHER MATTERS...
John Norman Sampson, suspended
as principal of Deep Branch Elementary
School, has been re- assigned to work in
the school's maintenance department.
Purneil Swett, Superintendent, said
Sampson was assigned his new duties in
July at his current salary until the
investigation is completed.
Miss Lumbee
receives Scholarship
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' >EOPLE
AND PLACES
AND THINGS
ST. JUDE BIKE A TOON SET FOB
SEPTEMBER 15
Mrs. Vera Lowry, Chairman of the
local "wheels for life" bike-a-thon,
announces that the fund riasing effort for
St. Jude's Childrens' Hospital has been
scheduled for September 15.
Local children, youth and adults are
encouraged to ride their bikes in the
bike-a-thon which will begin at Pembro
ke Junior High and end at the Cancer
Institute near Lumberton.
Check points will be set up along the
way with refreshments for the riders.
Each participate is encouraged to find
i sponsors, with all proceeds going to St.
Jude's.
The Bike-a-thon committee has met
twice in planning sessions, once at
ShefTs in Pembroke and Sunday at
Sandy Plains United Methodist Church.
Serving with Mrs. Lowry are Rev.
Simeon Cummings, co-chairman, and
Cleo Maynor, treasurer.
St. Jude's Childrens' Research Hospi
tal is located in Memphis, Tennessee and
is the brainchild of entertainer Danny
Thomas. It is the largest childrens'
cancer research center in America and is
dedicated solely to the conquest of
diseases of children.
Mrs. Lowry, and her band of volun
teers, encourages everyone to participate
in this worthwhile cause.
GUILFORD NATIVE AMERICAN
ASSOC.'S 8TH ANNUAL POW WOW
You are respectfully- invited to
attend and participate "uarfShe Cullff-rl
Native American Association's 8th An
nual Pow Wow to be held on September
28 and 29. 1984. The Pow Wow will be
held at Camp Uwharrie, the Boy Scout
Campground located near Jamestown,
N.C.
Please let your intentions to set up a
craft or food booth be known. Each
trader who sets up a booth will be asked
to make a donation for raffle of not less
than $25 value. Food booths will be
charged a flat $25 fee for the two days.
The sale of food items will be limited so
that only one food booth will be selling
each variety of food. Authorizatin to sell
a type of food will be assigned on a first
come, first served basis. Application
form must be returned by September 20.
1984. keeping in mind that consideration
for food booths will be given in the order
they are received.
Please share this information with
dancers and other people that you feel
may be interested. Keep in mind that
there will be over $1,000 in prizes given
away in the dance competition.
Your attendance and participation,
which will make this the best Pow Wow
ever, will be greatly appreciated.
For more information call Ruth L.
Revels at (919) 273-8686.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing will be held at 7
p.m. on August 21, 1984 at the Annex
Building of Lumbee Regional Develop
ment Association, Inc. to discuss LRDA's
plan to use a Community Services Block
Grant for fiscal year 1984-85.
A report on the proposed use of the
Community Services Block Grant funds
is available for public inspection at the
office of Kenneth R. Maynor, Executive
Director of LRDA. The report will also be
available at the public hearing. Persons
interested in reviewing the report should
visit the office of Kenneth R. Maynor or
attend the public hearing. Public input
and comments on the report are
welcome.
The following is a summary of the
LRDA plan: LRDA proposes to use the
Community Services Block Grant (I) to
provide social services outreach to
low-income Indian people; (2) to assist
the operations of 14 Indian senior
citizens chapters; (3) to provide home
repair services to low-income Indian ?
families in substandard housing: (4) to
"^hiTT^ day of August 1W4.
PLATE SALE AT ASHPOLE CENTER
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The United Methodist Men of the
Ashpole Center United Methodist Chur
ch will hold a plate sale, Friday, August
24, from 11 a.m. until, in the Pembroke
Town Park. Chicken and barbecue plates
will be sold for S3 each. Proceeds will be
used by the United Methodist Men for
special needs in the church and com
munity.
BAKE SALE AND YARD SALE
AT PEMBROKE ASSEMBLY
OF GOD CHURCH
Pembroke Assembly of God Church
will host a bake sale and yard sale in the
Pembroke Town Park on Saturday,
August 18 from 7 a.m. until. The public
is invited to participate. The pastor is the
Rev. Larry Lowry.
I I
Church plans
Plate
Sale
The Ladies Auxiliary of the
Pembroke Church of God will
sponsor a plate sale on
Friday, August 24, from 10:30
a.m. until... A singing will be
held the same night at 7:30
p.m. Featured singers will be
Felix Deal and Family, Lacy
Freeman and Family, tha
vivc'U- .ljir;-jv A ]
Hunt will be the musician.
All singing groups are en
couraged to attend. The plate
sale will continue through the
singing... A free will offering
will be lifted at the singing.
Proceeds from the singing
and plate sale will be used for
the building of the fellowship
hall.
Indian
Commission
sponsors
Successful
ABE Project
by Bruce Barton
The N.C. Commission of Indian
Affairs, in conjunction with community
college ABE/GED programs in the
targeted areas, is having a real and
lasting, and positive impact among
Indians who wish, (and need) to par
ticipate in these programs.
The Indian Commission is operating
adult education projects in Scotland,
Hoke, Halifax, and Warren Counties
with the goal to lower the high illiteracy
rates among Indians in these counties.
? Ron Osendine is project director with
Barbara Barton serving as recruiter/
counselor in Hoke and Scotland Counties
and Shirley Richardson fulfilling the
same critical role in Warren and Halifax
Counties.
The Commission reports favorable and
positive interaction with ABE (Adult
Basic Education)/GED (General Equi
valency Diploma) programs administer
ed by Richmond Technical College,
Halifax Community College, Vance
Granville Community College and Sand
hills Community College who are coop
erating with the Indian Commission to
bring ABE programs to the Indian
community in the respective areas.
According to Osendine, the woridag
relationships with Ike cesnmantty col
leges and technical ooBeges in the
respective counties have been "postive
and lasting."
The goal last year was to receait and
enroll 120 Indian adults in Scotland.
Hoke, Halifax and Warren Counties who
suffer edneettonal. economic end social
deprivation in the loeel ABE/GED
lore Barton and Richardson for a
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