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Last Friday was a big day for the some 24,000 students in the Public Schools of Robeson County. For almost 23,000, it was the end of another school year. They could now devote their summer to summer time jobs, rest, recreation, or virtually anything else other than attending classes. For over a thousand of our students, it was an especially momentous occasion for it marked the end of their formal public school education. They were the graduates who now have to decide whether to continue their education at the 2 or 4 year college level, attend a trade school, join the military, or enter the work. It is a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Actually if attending college was what they wanted to do, the decision had been made much earlier. They, afterall.hadhadtotake certain courses required for college acceptance and that would have been done early in their high school careers. Hopefiilly, their grades were sufficiently high to have assured them of being qualified for the college of their choice. Regardless of whether college is in their future plans, it is important for them to realize that education is a continuing process and whether or "not our graduates go on to a ichool of , higher learning, there are other ways available to them to continue to expand on the knowledge they gained in ' our schools. Entering the work force, for example, doesn't mean that educa- . tion is necessarily at an end. Adult education courses are available at institutions like our own Robeson Community College-courses which could help them to advance in their jobs, These courses can be taken at times that fit around their work schedules. It is also possible that taking some of these courses could bring about an interest in returning to school to learn a new profession. Being in the military could give our graduates the opportunity to take classes which may help them while serving and also when they return to civilian life. It is an opportunity wasted if they don't take advantage of that available education. Our curriculum and programs have been designed to have our graduates as ready as possible to be productive citizens. For those who choose not to go on to other formal education, we have tried to sufficiently ground them in certain basics that make them easily trainable by industry. By encouraging them to take curses like advanced math and Principles of technology along with having them involved with our College Tech Prep Program, we have been able to prepare many of them to make the choice between further education or immediate entry into the work force. As another group of young people heads out into the world, we know that we've made every effort to prepare them for their next step in life. Our prayers for their success go with them. Dedicatiion of building planned at Odum Home ?0n Sunday, June 4 at 2:30 pm on the Odum Home Campus, the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina will dedicate the new Jimmy Latta Vocational Services Building. Friends and family of Jimmy Latta , deceased Harnett County native, will ..officially open the building which . bears his name. The construction of this facility will ..open new educational opportunities for the residents of Odum Home. As part of the Odum School's educa tional curriculum, students will have an ideal setting for wood working, auto repair, and other types of vocational training. Students will also utilize this speciality classroom set up for arts and crafts, including ceramics. The on campus school at Odum is affiliated with the Pembroke Middle School. Churches and members of the community are invited to come share this special occasion which will also include an Open House of all the Odum Home facilities. Since 1899, there have been over ten bills introduced in either the US Congress or US Senate to have the Lumbee tribe recognized by the federal government as an Indian tribe On occasion the bill would pass the House but not the Senate, and vice versa. This week we will begin our look at the onl> successful legislation to recognize the tribe: the 1956 Lumbee Act. June 7 will be the 44* anniversary of the signing of the historic Lumbee Act. There are those that feel the tribe was recognized by the bill and terminated by the same legislation. Not only has the Lumbee Act created controversy in and out of the tribe, but the name itself, has been the subject of many arguments in the tribe's quest for federal recognition. The next few weeks we will review the history behind the legislation, as well as some of the conflict surrounding the Act and the name Lumbee. We will begin our review by looking at the history behind legislation passed in 1953 by the state recognizing the tribe as Lumbee. It is important to note, the Lumbee tribe has had many name changes and each time the state changed the name of the tribe, attempts were made to have a federal bill introduced to reflect that name change. Below is a listing of all the name changes of the tribe by the state: 1885 - Croatan; 1911 - Indians of Robeson County; 1913 - Cherokee Indians of Robeson County; 1953 Lumbee. Bills introduced at the federal level would have named us Croatan. Cherokee, Cheraw, Siouan Indians of Robeson County and Lumbee. In the early 1950s D.F. Lowtv began a campaign to have the name of the tribe changed, this time to the Lumbee Indians. The name was derived from the Lumber River, which got its name from the poetry of John Charles McNeill, a native of Scotland County. The Lumber River was originally known as Drowning Creek until its name changed in 1809 by the state legislature. The first reference to the tribe as the Lumbee Indians appeared in a 1926 Raleigh News and Observer newspaper article. In 1948 Lowry organized a group of Indian ministers to advance a broad spectrum of social and political programs, including changing the tribe's name. The group, which called itself the Lumbee Brotherhood, chose Lowry as its first president. In justifying the name Lumbee as the name of preference, Lowry argued that because the tribe was originally composed of members from different tribes, no one historical name was appropriate. Rather, the tribe should take its name from a geographical name, as had other tribes across the US. Lowry cited the Watered and Pee Dee as examples. In what appears to be a replay of the battles fought within the tribe over the Siouan bill, the LowTy group met opposition over its proposed name. Nonetheless, the Lumbee Brotherhood persisted and was able to get a bill introduced in the NC Legislature in 1951 by State Senator Watts. When it became clear that there was no consensus among the tribal members, the Assembly refused to act, and . instead, passed a resolution calling for a vote of the Indian people in Robeson county on the name change. Late that summer the Lumbee Brotherhood began circulating a petition in favor of the name change. After some problems regarding the financing of referendum, it was scheduled for February 2,1952. During January the entire Indian community was involved in the debate over the issue. The choice presented on the ballot was either to adopt the name Lumbee or stay with the name Cherokee of Robeson county. The schools were to be used as polling places. ^ Voting took place'on February 2, at the fourteen polling places in the county. The results were 2109 in favor of the name change and 35 opposed. Immediately following the vote the Indian leadership called a mass meeting for February 14. This meeting was attended by the local delegation to the NC General Assembly. Because its next session of the legislature was not due to convene until January of the following year, tribal leaders had plenty of time to organize a campaign to get the name change accepted. The same opposition to the 1951 legislative effort surfaced when the Lumbees took the results of the referendum to the legislature in Februaiy 1953. Throughout the winter and early spring the two sides waged battle in the halls of the General Assembly. Those supporting the legislation were led by D.F. Lowry. Those opposing the name change sought the assistance of Lumberton resident, Judge L.R. Varser, long time friend of the tribe. He spoke against the bill. After losing at the committee level, the opponents next challenged the validity of the referendum, claiming that the majority of the adult Indians had preferred to retain the Cherokee name, but had boycotted the vote. The opponents called for another referendum, however, this was not accepted by the Assembly Committee. Finally on April 20, 1953 the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill No. 114 into law. Shortl> thereafter, the Lumbee Brotherhood called community meetings to celebrate the victory. Next week we will look at the tribe's efforts to have the bill passed at the federal level J'his article was written by Cynthia L. Hunt, paralegal of the Indian Law I nit at Lumbee River Legal Services. Information for this article was taken from The Lumbee Petition for Federal Acknowledgment. Carolina Indian Voice f E-mail the editor at brayboyconnee rThotmaihcom. Tell the Carolina Indian Voice what's happening with you. Or write to the Carolina Indian Voice at P.O. Box 1075, Pembroke. NC 28372. Telephone us m (910) 521-2826 or simply send us a fax at (910) 521-1975. Are you looking for investment opportunities? Need a retirement or vacation home? If so, consider making your choice in BRUNSWICK County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state. Let Purnell Swett help you find a summer home or a retirement home on the coast or beach area. Purnell Swett Sales Associate OnM?| Dorothy Essey & Associates 113 South Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 Business (910) 454-2896 Fax (910) 457-1102 ToU Free 1-877-410-2121 Home (910) 845-0637 Email: pumell@C21essey.com Each Office Independently Owned and Operated Looking back won't help Look to the future Look to UNC Pembroke Degrees in Accounting (BS) Business Administration (BS) Master of Business Administration Information Sessions June 5 - Undergraduate Degrees, Richmond Community College June 6 - MB A, Richmond Community College June 12 - MBA, Scotland County Public Library, Laurinburg June 13 - MBA, Holiday Inn (exit 22,1-95), Lumberton June 19 - MBA, Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes June 20 - Undergraduate Degrees, Seven Lakes Country Club [Highway 211, west of Pinehurst) |<UI SISSUBS a?BH It 7 P.w7 To register, contact: Dr. Ken Clow, Dean School of Business A Moss Communications 910-521 -6311,800-949-UNCP TTlWrjf^P clow@sassette.uncp.edu Under a new law you may qualify lor FREE DIABETIC SUPPLIES! EVEN IF YOU DO NOT INJECT INSUUNI FOR SIGN UP CALL: 1-888-808-8774 GREAT LAKES DIABETIC SUPPLY, INC. Lumfiee Homecoming 2000 Parade Entry Fees Commercial Floats $50.00 Car or Truck $10.00 Kings & Queens $10.00 Church or Schools $10.00 Elected Officials No Charge Marching Units (non-military) $10.00 Home-made Floats $15.00 Ourapologies butthere will be NO horses or horses and carriages in the parade. We apologize for any inconvenience in lastweek'sad. Commercial float fees will be waived with a purchase of at least a 1/4 page advertisement in the Lumbee Homecoming Program Booklet. To receive your assigned numbers to be in the parade, mail a check or money order along with the following application payable to Lumbee Homecoming 2000/LRDA. The application below may be clipped from this paper and mailed in as an official entry form. 2000 Lumbee Homecoming Parade | Application/Entry Request I NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE*: TYPE OF ENTRY: FEE INCLUDED FOR ENTRY: $ DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION/MMTttY: JUNE 15, 2000 I y*> Mail to: Lumbee Homecominq Parade 2000 y? c/o Parade Chairman ?( .1 Lumbee Reqional Development Association, Inc.?( R ? Post Office Box 68 ?( ? Pembroke, NX. 28372 ?( y? For Information: (910) 522-1101? No objects, including candy, can l>e thrown from any parade entry due.to the I need for safety for children! The right to reject any entrant is reserved to the g tribal agency. Applicants will be notified accordingly! j. AMERICAN RED CROSS ROBESON COUNTY CHAPTER 707C UNION CHAPEL ROAD PEMBROKE, NC 28372 521-3640 TICKETS $1.00 Drawing July 1,2000 TICKETS ON SALE AT RED CROSS CHAPTER OFFICE OR CYNA'S JEWELERS GIFTS Shampoo & Style Hand Paraffin Wax Two small seafood Dinners Gift Certificate Cordless Telephone Shirt & Tie Set or Ladies Blouse DONATED BY BB &C Body Shoppe Sheffs Seafood & Co. Mother Earth Creations Jack's Furniture Store lagrands Formal Wear Look for Mora Gifts to come. THANtfYCHJ FOR YOUR SUPPORT 1 CT ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND DONATED BY CYNA'S JEWELERS Tickets go on sale Friday, May 12
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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June 1, 2000, edition 1
6
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