Editorial and Opinion Page \
Visiting burial grounds
is a spiritual experience
I knew it was there I had read
about it 1 had talked to people who
had visited it. cleaned it and wrote
about it 1 knew it was there, but I
had never taken the time to v isit it
imsclf That all challenged on ELaster
Sunday April 7th. 10% I went
there
I was working in Georgia and
was not going to be able to make it
home for the Easter weekend I got
up laleand decided that this was the
time for me to visit it It was the
Croatan Indian Memorial Cemetery
located between Statcsboro and
Clnxlon. Georgia I had heard all
inv life about (he Indian people who
had gone down to Georgia to try
and find a belter life for themsclv cs
and their families The
work thev found there was either
tenant farming or turpentine
industry My grandfather was one
who went He did not succeed in
finding a better life and relumed to
Pembroke. Robeson Countv and
- HOME!
I thought of mv grandmother
Nancy Caroline Lowry Revels, mv
grandfather Luther H Revels and
their children who accompanied
them on the journey to Georgia as I
drove the 50 or so miles to the
m m
ccmcierv As I drove live whisper
of an idea entered ntv mind Wh>
did (hex slop in iliis area"' This
thought was lo grow and enlarge as
I drove the final miles
As I followed the directions
given lo me bv a friend I began lo
look for a sign that I wasncaring the
Ccmcierv Mv last turn was made
and a Red Tailed Hawk rose from
the ground eov cr and began lo lead
me to the direct ion to the ccmcierv
I parked and approached the
ccmcierv on fool as it sat in the
middle field I approached it in (he
quiet respectful manner that nn
people do w hen we are nearing the
place of the dead I read the plaque
thai had been placed at the entrance
and opened the gale for cmrv I read
each and everv gravestone noting
the names CKcndinc Jacobs
E manuel. Locklcarandbcll These
names evoked mental images of
people I know with those names
some alive and some departed It
was a spiritual moment in mv life
that will be with me forev er
The question that began on mv
drive returned fullv matured Whv
did thev stop in this area"' Was it
because there was a town ncarbv
named Pembroke'' Did the river on
the outskirts or CUiMon remind
them of the Luntbcc River'* Did
thev seen sign from the Great Spirit
sueh asa turtle deer, hawk or eagle'*
Did the pine trees make them feel
comfortable enough to decide that
this had to be the place'' These
questions I cannot answer I can
onlv draw front the overwhelming
evidence that I saw and felt as I
concluded that this place did remind
me of Robeson Count). North
Carolina
As I was about to depart. I noticed "
one last piece of cv idenee that did
the spiritual heart some good All
of the graves were facing East
aw ailing the daw n of each new dnv
It was good*
I called mv friend and thanked
her for sharing this place of mv
ancestors who paved the vvav for
me even iir Georgia It fell right to
share (his moment with a friend
You have heard about it. read
about it talked about it and said
that one dnv >ou would like to go
down to Georgia and spend a
moment with v our people who lived
and died there Do it now or face the
possibilitv that vou never will'
Carel oca (Red Turtle)
Along the Robeson Trail
by Dr. Stan Knick, Director
PSU Native American Resource Center
In the last two segments we have
been looking at music and musical
instruments of traditional Native
America. We began with a brief
general discussion of the importance
of music in Native American culture,
and moved on to two'lypes of
instruments ? rattles and flutes. 'Ibis
week we turn to the class of traditional
musical instruments which is perhaps
most often associated with Native
America ? drums.
Use of percussion instruments
such as drums in traditional cultures is
older than anyone knows. This
behavior must have come rather
naturally to human beings, because
almost all cultures on every populated
continent developed some kind of
drum. It probably began with
rhythmic striking of natural objects
such as fallen trees and hollow logs,
and progressed toward constructed
objects such as the many types of
drums seen around the world.
In Native America there are
several distinct types. The so-called
"foot-drum" (see Harold Driver's
Indians of North America) was (and
still is) used in the Northwest Coast,
Southwest and California culture
areas. This is a form made by placing
a plank over a small pit in the ground,
and played by stamping the foot (or
feet) on the plank. The pit acts as a
resonating chamber, amplifying the
sound. The foot drum is used in
ceremonial dances and songs.
The hand-held single-headed
drum, sometimes called "hoop drum"
(and sometimes mistakenly called
"tambourine"), was very widely used.
In the Arctic culture area, Native
Americans and Native Alaskans made
(still make) large single-headed drums.
These hoop drums are used not only in
religious ceremonies, but sometimes
in dispute resolution as well. Two
Inuit or Aleut men who have a
disagreement may choose to compete
with each other using drums and songs
instead of fighting. In the songs they
make fun of each other, and the
gathered community decides who wins
the dispute on the basis of which man
drums and sings (and ridicules) better.
Hoop drums, often in somewhat
smaller forms, also occur in other
culture areas of Native America,
including the Great Basin, California,
Plains and Eastern Woodlands.
Yet another variation on the
drumming theme is the kettledrum
(sometimes called "water-drum").
This is a form made by stretching an
animal hide over a pottery (or
sometimes wooden) vessel which has
been partially filled with water.
Because of the water in the body of the J
drum, the kettledrum has a very j
distinctive sound. This type of drum is j
often associated with The Native
American Church (the so-called
"peyote religion") which developed in
the nineteenth century and spread
around the Southwest, Plains,
California and elsewhere. However,
kettledrums have also been used in the i
Eastern Woodlands (for example,
among the Iroquois) independently of
The Native American Church's
ceremonies.
The drum, like much of
traditional Native American music, is
considered by many to have sacred or
ceremonialqualities. In the traditional
way, the drum must be respected and
treated with care.
In the next segment, we will look
at other types (and the best-known
single type) of traditional Native
American drums. For more
information, visit the Native
American Resource Center in Old Main
Building, On the campus of
Pembroke State University.
Triangle
2nd Annual
Pow-Wow
Ralcigh-The Triangle Nati\c
American Society will be hosting
its second annual Pow-Wow June
1st and the 2nd. 1996 at the North
Carolina's Farmers Market. Lake
WltcclcrRoad. Raleigh. Admission
is free Grand Entry will begin ai
12PM on Saturday June 1 and al I
PM on Sunday June 2nd
Come out and enjoy traditional
and fanes style Indian dancing
Featured drums arc Rcdwolf and
Southern Suns The featured female
head dancer will be Christy
Strickland (Lumbcc) and the
featured head dancer is Joel Moore
(Waccantaw Siouan) Invited
Indian princesses include Ms
Indian North Carolina Ms North
Carolina Senior Citizen Indian
Queen and Ms Indian USA
Come join with us on June I
and 2 and learn more about North
Carolina's Nali\c American
cultural by visiting cultural
information and demonstration
booths, and trading with Indian
artists and craftspersons Proceeds
will go toward the Mark Ulntcr
Indian Education Scholarship
Fund, a stale-w ide scholarship fund
to help North Carolina Native
American students attend a college
or university in North Carolina
Mclntyre begins mudslinging
in run off election
To my Editor and Friends
The mud slinging has now
begun Rose Marie LowryTownsend
hasstood there patiently .
and proudly while Mike Mclnlyrc
and his stafT seems to have gone to
any means possible lo formulate a
picturesque choreographic, toxic
illustration ol . the quality of the
character of his opponent The
Mcjnlyre staff, in my opinion,
refuses to accept the facts that they
w ere beaten by 1) a woman and 2t
a Native American!
Excuse me while I clear my
throat!
Apparently Mclnlyrc resents the
fact that Lowry-Townsend has
friends all o\ cr the fifty slates who
will assist her in the campaign for
Congress. Is Mclnty re upset'' From
local news coverage I would say
yes sir Buddy' Mclnlyrc
obviously has seen the plain fact
that Lowry-Townsend didn't need
Robeson County lo vvin' And
obviously Mclnlyrc needed more
than his existing support in
Robeson. Nolhingthis fundamental
has occurred in our County since
the hue Julian Pierce whipped Joe
Freeman Brilt from his grace'
I think it is a shame and a
disgrace that Mclnlyrc attempted
to use Lowry-Towrisend's NCAE
olTicc in Raleigh against her If his
staff had bothered to check. thc>
would have realized that Low rvTownsend
was ELECTED to this
office by her fellow teachers and
administrators. Well. I believe
Mclnlyrc should have kept his
mouth shut. He only embarrassed
himself, not to mention his
supporters! It has been rumored
that one attorney's office in
Lumbcrlon called is former
associates and business contacts to
vote for Mclntvrc I've also heard
that influences were spread on the
" south-side'' and other places
Let every one of every race speak
THEIR choice on June 4. 1*)%
After the election, folks will ask
\ou Where were you when Rose
Marie l-owry-Tow nsend was elected
to Congress!"
A Proud Supporter!
Vinita May nor Clark
Pembroke, NC
Sutton explains PSU
name change stalling
This is in response to my many
constituents and the general public
that are understandably confused
over the headlines and articles of
the past weekend concerning the
proposed name change for
Pembroke Slate University. The
confusion appears to be related to
the PSU name change becoming
stalled in the General Assembly as
reported in the area newspapers last
weekend
To understand the politics and
actions of the past week it is
necessary to understand the
background of the proposed name
change Also, one needs to
understand the'' rules' of the short
session.
First 1 would like to
emphatically state that cxcry
member of the delegation serv ing
Robeson and surrounding couiitics
enthusiastically supports the
proposed name change Most
delegation members have been
involved in the process for many
months.
The purpose of the short session
of the General Assembly is primarily
to ' lighten up" the budget
Consequently, a Bill sponsored by
any member or members. House or
Senate, without an appropriation in
it. would require a suspension of
the rules to be considered To avoid
that, the decision was made to have
Uhc Joint Education Oversight
Committee, consistingofthc House
and Senate, to hear the Bill and if
favorably approved, the committee
would bring the bill before both
legislative bodies. Normally, under
suchci rcumstanccs. the com m ittcc
co-chairs sponsor and handle the
Bill in their respective body
In this case. Representative
Frances Cummings. a member of
the committee, wanted her name
listed first on the Bill and be allowed
to handle the Bill in the House
Obviously politics played a major
role in this request.
Hep. Ron Sutton,
District 85
Cummings: The People's Righ
Legislators Practiced Unethical, Tail-Gate Politics
* \
Slate Rcprcsentat ivcfFranccsM
Cummings said. "the people of
Robeson. Hoke, and Scotland
Counties should 'Know the Truth'
of the methods put forward by the
Democratic Legislators and
community leaders to achieve their
goals by Unfair Strategies
Therefore Rep Cummings has
provided a scenario taken from
committee meetings, notes, tapes,
and the House Chamber Session of
how House Bill 1072 ;et into motion
the idea of changing the name of
Pembroke State University to the
University of North Carolina at
Pembroke and was passed by the
House Chamber on Fridav. Mav 17.
19%
The Study Commission known
as The Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee, of which
Rep Frances Cummings is a
member, has been meeting since
the fall of 1095 studying education
issues and budgetary matters in
preparation for trie Short Session
The Slate Board of Governors,
acting on the request of Pembroke
Slate University after several
hearings and meetings, approved
the name change and made its
recommendation to the Study
Committee
Rep Cummings requested of
committee stafT that a draft bill be
prepared and placed on the agenda
for discussion and approval. Rep
Cummings invited Chancellor Dr
Joseph Oxendinc to speak before
the committee granting her
approval, at his request, to bring
other individuals whom he wished
Chancellor Dr Joseph Oxendinc
spoke to the committee bringing
with him Senator David Parncll.
Rep Ron Sutton and PSU Trustee
Chairman David Wcinstcin
QUESTIONS Did Senator
David Parncll plan to introduce a
Senate Bill after witnessing Rep
Cummings' Bill being approved in
committee7 "Why did he (Parncll)
accompany Chancellor Oxendinc.
together with Rep Sutton and
Chairman David Wcinstcin7" Why
didn't Senator Parncll invite
Chancellor Oxendinc to a Senate
meeting7
ANSWER Senator David
Parncll is NOT a member of the
Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee It seems
rather strange lhal Sen, Parncll
i nt roduccd a compan ion bi 11 to Rep
Frances Cummings' House Bill
which was unnecessary Sen
Parncll's 'unexpected action' has
caused a delay for the PSU name
change to become law
The Joint Legislative Education
Oversight Committee had agreed
that Rep Frances M Cummings
was the Chief Sponsor of the House
Bill with Reps Sutton and Yonguc
as Co-sponsors along with oilier
committee members Rep
Cummings suggested the other
Robeson House members be given
an opportunity to list their names
Neither of the Robeson
Representatives is a member of the
Study Committee. Rep Ron Sutton
sought, through the help of Rep
Jim Black (D). Minority Whip and
committee member, to have his
(Sutton) name on the House BUI as
the Chief Sponsor Rep Sutton's
request was not granted Rep Ron
Sutton's action was as "coveting a
deed' that he did not manifest.
Rep. Frances M. Cummings filed
with the Principal Clerk her House
Bill on Thursday. May 9. 19% and
introduced House Bill 1072. the
second bill on the calendar, on
Monday. May 13.1996 The House
Bill was then referred to the House
Education Committee for
discussion and was approved on
Thursday, May 16. 1996 Reps
Sutton and Yonguc were present.
Democrat Rep Lee asked Rep
* Sutton these questions: "Do you
live in Pembroke? Is Pembroke Stale
not in your House District? Do the
people support thisbiH '" Rep Ron
Sutton responded. "I live just
outside of Pembroke. Pembroke
State is in my District (85) The
people support the bill and the name
change "
On Friday. May 17.19%. House
Bill 1072 was passed by the House
not without political posturing
Democrat Rep David Rcdwinc
made a compassionate speech
inquiring of Speaker Brubnkcrwhy
the House Chamber could not vote
on the Senate Bill for the sake of
speeding the process Speaker
Brttbakcr informed the House
Chamber that aflcr consideration,
the "House will pass the House
Bill " Rep Cummings Said that
Brttbakcr has shown the 'strength
of Courage' to do what is right
Rep Frances Cummings said
"What is further questionable is
why Senator Parncll chose to take
short cuts to have his Senate Bill
approved " Senator Parncll
introduced his bill after Rep
Cummings' bill According to a
reporting observer. Senator
Parncll's bill was approved bv the
Senate Education Committee in the
Senate Chamber and reported into
the calendar and. then approved by
the Scnatcon Thursday This action
was taken with the intent that the
Senate Bill would set aside the
House Bill even though Rep
Cummings initiated, filed, and
introduced her House Bill first
"Chancellor Joseph Oxcndinc
totally agreed Tor my efforts to have
the PSU name changed.'' said Rep
Cummings The normal process is
that committees meet on their
regular scheduled time to hear
House and Senate Bills.
Senator David Parncll
practiced Unethical. Tail-gate
Politics.' Cummings said. "The
unanswered question is why did
Senator Da\id Parncll say in the
Faycttcvillc Observer times (Ma\
18. 1996). "I told the Chancellor
that I did not have any selfish pridein
this thing . that I wouldn't
jeopardize the name change..?"
According to Rep. Cummings.
'Senator Parncll reversed his
statement by introducing a Senate
companion bill " Rep Frances
Cummingssaid. The action taken
by Senator David Parncll is
Morally Unfair" to the people who
will benefit from the name change
of Pembroke Stale University It is
my desire that Sen Parncll
recognize and honor the truth of the
House Bill's origination and be
expedient in his support of the PSU
family and the people by moving
the House bill's approval by the
Senate for immediate ratification."
Cummings said
Rep Cummings said. "All who
arc involved and should be
accountable in the changing of the
name of PSU should know that I am
not going forward to have this name
change accomplished to be reelected
because all WISE
Democrats. Republicans and
Independents will 'Shade the Oval
or "Pull the Lever' next to the
name Frances M. Cummings for
the North Carolina House of
Representatives?District 87.
Since Rep Ronnie Sutton did not
have the privilege to introduce the
House Bill lo change the name of
PSU which is located in his House
District K5. I decided to render my
assistance to achieve this goai
Quality education and expanded
opportunities to learn, achieve, and
acquircarcaniong my top legislative
priorities.
.? *
Rep. Ron Sutton V
A nice
thank
you note
Dear Ms. Connec;
I wan! to thank you and all those
who make the Carolina Indian
Voice possible. For the first time in
my seventy years of life, someone is
making a difference. Thetnithabout
our Indian people in Eastern North
Carolina has never been told until
your paper began some years ago. I
really enjoy how you call a "Spade '
a Spade" when dealing with issues
affecting our Indian people
Especially the way you deal with
the Robesonians lack or
responsibility in reporting the truth
about issues relative to Indians in
general They have been doing this
for sixty years, to my knowledge,
and I do not expect them to change.
My only hope is that our Indian
people learn to get along with each
other in a more responsible way.
There is no future in taking pot
shots at each other when a kind
word would serve much better We
have too much to oficr each other
goes a long way in our efforts to
help each other Life is too short for
anything else
Ms. Connec. keep up the good
work and if 1 can be of help to you
in any way. please call on me
By the way. what happened to
Dr Dean Chavers* article?
Otto A. Lockee
?
CHOOSE TRADITION
\ NOT ADDICTION*
Kho?thecomequencMof
y dcoW and drug abuw
VS A m?mop$
\J Ur0*d HcMont* Mtaft Ti9xt 1a?Mh
*TT"' ??*' . ^ I
NOTICE OF DEADLINE
ENTENSION APPLICATIONS
FOR USE VALUE ASSESSMENT
The Robeson County Board of
Commissioners at a regular meeting held May
20th, 1996 voted to extend N.C.G.S. 105277.2
7 to June I Oth, 1996. Any individual
which has not filed an Application for Use
Value Assessment and Taxation of
Agricultural, Horticultural or Forest Lands
should do so on or before June 10th, 1996.
J. Hal Kinlaw, Jr.
Robeson County Attorney