Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C.
CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"Building Communicative Bridges In .-\ Tri
Volume 27 Number 47 Thursday. November 23. 2000 Mr 28372 ore
I ? Pembroke NO ^OJ
Official Winners of Tribal Election
Announced: One District to Re-run
The Elections Board of the Lumbcc
Self Determination Commission
has certified the following candidates
as representatives on the Lumbcc
Tribal Government: Milton R
Hunt. Chairman; Larccc Hunt. District
1; Larmari L Mitchell. District
2. Rev Jimmy Hunt and H Dobbs
Oxcndinc. District 3; James (Jimmie)
Goins and Rhonda Locklcar. District
4; Henry Clay Chavis. District
5 and the srcond scat is pending;
Reginald Oxendine. District 6;
Randall S Jones and Dclton Oxendine.
District 7; Danita Locklear.
District 8. Linda O Hammonds.
District 9; Craig D McMillian. District
10, Mike C. McNeill. District
11; Walter Martin Lowcry. District
12; Traci Locklear Guerra and James
Hardin, District 13; Darlcne Jacobs.
District 14; William Lonnic Revels
Sr. District 15. Rosa Rc\ els Winfrcc.
District 16. Roderick (Rod) G Locklear.District
17.andDaucc> F Brcwmgton.
District 18
According to Lcroy Freeman.
Chairman of the LSD Board of Elections.
District 5 candidates Gerald
Strickland and Rev Steve Locklear
will hold a re-election within approximately
30 days This decision
was made because 97 provisional
ballots at the Prospect Precinct were
placed in the ballot box when they
should hav e been placed in a provisional
envelop to be set aside until
verification of tribal enrollment
Other members of the Board of
Elections included Larry Locklear.
pastor of Island Grove Baptist Church.
Kent Chavis of the Red Springs Lumbee
Bank and pastor of Pembroke
First Baptist Church: andBobbv Dean
Locklcar. LRDA board member and
member of the LSD Commission
The LSD Commission will meet
on Saturday. November 25. 2000
The elections board will certify the
election and their results will be sent
directly to Judge Howard Manning
who established the LSD Commission
The LSD Commission, according
to Chairman Freeman, will not
certify the elections. They will, however.
hear any grievances w hen appealed
from t he board of elections
Candidates have 24 hours to issue
grievances and the board has48 hours
to respond. The complainant can then
appeal to the LSD Commission, if not
satisfied According to information
distributed by the Board of Elections,
the "decision of the LSDC will be
final" on appeals
A Tribute to Ralph Hunt:
A True Tribal Icon
RALPH HUNT: A TRUE
TRIBAL ICON
by Cynthia L. Hunt
Mr. Ralph Hunt passed away
Saturday, November 18, 2000, at his
home in Lumberton. He is survived
by two daughters, Jacqualine and
Marion Hunt; one granddaughter,
Elena Marie Hunt; and one brother,
Charles Hunt. Preceded in death by
his parents Dozier and Marion Hunt,
he was 66 years old.
Mr. Ralph, as he was commonly
referred to. was truly an icon of the
Lumbee tribe. He was both an
educational and political leader of the
tribe, as well as one of the tribe's most
successful businessmen. He at
tended school at Fairmont and was a
graduate of Pembroke State University.
Mr. Ralph also received a
Masters' Degree from Appalachain
State University. His career in
education began in 1955 as a teacher
at Fairgrovc School, where he would
later serve as the principal. Mr Ralph
was also the coach of the basketball
team at that time. He held the record
as the "most winning" Coach among
the Indian schools. He would go on
to serve as principal at Union Chapel
School. In the 1970s. Mr. Ralph
retired from the public school system
of Robeson County.
The political career of Mr. Ralph
began in the 1970s, when he was
elected to serve on the Robeson
County Board of Education During
his term of service, he was the first
American Indian to serve as Chairman
of the Board This was prior to the
school merger and was no easy task
in the County at that time. Mr. Ralph
would heighten his service for the
tribe by being instrumental in the
hiring of the first American Indian
school superintendent Although
this was his only elected political
position in the County, he did not
leave the political arena Mr. Ralph
became essential to the political
advancement of tribal members. Effective
in working the County's
political machine, always in the best
interest of the Lumbee tribe, he was a
significant factor in the election of
Robeson County's first American
Indian Sheriff, Glenn Maynor. a
member of the Lumbee tribe. Mr.
Ralph also worked with candidates for
positions in both the state and federal
government A private, modest
individual. Mr Ralph possessed the
unique ability to successfully
strategize almost any political campaign.
As a businessman. Mr Ralph was
the owner of People's tobacco warehouse.
He was one of the first tribal
members to achieve success in the
business. Mr. Ralph served as the
interim president of Lumbee Guaranty
Bank, as well as serving as a member
of the bank's Board of Directors. It
can be said that his service during this
time was essential to the institution's
current success.
Mr. Ralph's career included serv ing
on the Board of Directors of
Lumbee Regional Development Association.
Inc. He was a member of
the tribe's Federal Recognition Committee
and most recently served on
the Lumbee Self-Detcrmination Commission.
He was appointed to the
Commission by Judge Howard E.
Manning and served as the Chairman
of the Elections Board until his illness
forced him to resign the position.
The career of Mr. Ralph spanned
almost five decades In that time he
accomplished many firsts and was
dedicated to the advancement of the
Lumbee tribe. We will certainly miss
the innate wisdom he possessed and
we will remember Mr. Ralph, a true
tribal icon.
Carnell Locklear to
be spokesperson
for Eddie Hatcher I
Defense Committee |
The Eddie Hatcher Defense Committee
has retained Carnell Locklear
as public relations spokesperson.
Mr. Locklear is a long time
Tusearora Activist and has been involved
in the Indian movement over
30 years. He is well known within
the count}' and has spoken on Eddie's
behalf in several states.
Mr. Locklear can be reached at
PO box 545. Pembroke, N.C 28372.
Telephone # 910-521-0495
The Word of God
is special.
For example. Mathew 7 vers e 7.
If you ask- you will receive
If you seek - you will find.
If you knock- The door wil 1 be
open.
What the Word of God says is
special. This tells us 3 times (the
trinity), if we have a need - loc >k to
God and He "-'ill respond positr ?ely
No only what ii says- but the nur nber
of time it is stated, is special -3 tL mes.
Think about it.3 times; as if the Father
said it. The Son says it ant 1 the
Holy Spirit says. For me that's a
definite afivnative. That's special.
Look w here this verse is pla ced.
Remember the number 7 stand:; for
perfection and completion. Yes
Mathew 7-7 is special. Ask. seek
knock- The response from God is
promised to be positive.
TYJ
Sales Associate Summer Chavis, right, holds up a photo of the Lumbee Ring as designer Timothy P. Lockleur
II points out the highlights of the historic design.
The unveiling of the Lumbee Ring was the highlight of the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting at Cyna's
Diamonds and Jewelers Inc. in Pembroke on Saturday, November 18, at I p.m.
More next week on the unique business and the Lumbee ring. (Photo by UNCP Photographer Bobby Ayers)
"Through Native Eyes " Stars guest appearancefor opening ofFestival
Left to right: Robert Locklear (Henry Berry Lowrie); Mychalene Deese
(Rhoda Lowrie); Dr. Will Moreau Goins (Directors of Native Film
Festival); Timothy B. Jacobs (Steve Lowrie) and Van Coleman (Producer/
Director).
Pembroke locals honored at the 3rd Annual Native
American Indian Film Festival in South Carolina
The Eastern Cherokee, Southern Irquois and United Tribes of south
Carolina, Inc. was again leading the Satewidc oberscrvance of NATIONAL
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2000 in South Carolina.
They have sponsored this statewide observance since 1994 when thcv did
presentations at many schools in S.C. including Heathwood Hall School
in Columbia. During November and throughout the entire year ESIIJT
raises awareness to the general public about Native American Indian's
contributions to South Carolina's history and America's culture by doing
extensive "out-reach" educational presentations to public and parochial
schools and in the various communities and civic organizations throughout
the state. Governor Jim Hodges also declared November 2(1110 as South
Carolina Native American Hertage Month , this year. The Native
American Indian Heritage Month is celebrated to stimulate public
interest and pride in South Carolinian Native American Indian Tribes
and their contributions to South Carolina culture and history. It is
celebrated also to increase public awareness of the Native American
Indian people that are presently organized in SC, as tribal sovereign
nations and tribes. In the Month of November the ECSIUT attempts to
heighten awareness of the present-day contemporary cultures of the
Native tribes and groups here in SC. The aim w as to re-educate and teach
the general public about the Indian experience.
In accomplishing that of rc-cducation the Hastcrn Cherokee. Southern
Irquois and United Tribes Inc. offered to be a resource of information for any
teacher in South Carolina regarding Native American culture. "It is
important that we celebrate the special Native Indian hcrtiage and history of
South Carolina Most people don't realize that the Capital City. Columbia
was once Cherokee land." stated Dr. Will Moreau Cioins (Eastern Hand
Cherokee/ Tuscarora& I.umbee/ Cheraw ancestry), and CEO of the ESIUT
a k.a. The Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina "Our organization
continues to do " out-reach presentations" into the community and schools,
and also we sponsored by the Columbia Film Society ." stated Cioins. Dr. Will
Moreau (joins, whose Grandfather. William (Joins, was bom in the "Red
Hanks in 1990 and grew up near Pembroke in the "Prospect community" and
whose father grew up in Fayettcville. North Carolina . has North Carolina
ties that he is proud of
Local Legend and folk hero HENRY BERRY LOWRIE was the subject
of the film that Premiered on the evening on Monday 13th of November
" Through Native Eyes: the Henry Berry Lowrie Story " kicked off the week
of celebration in honor of Native American Heritage Month Produce/
Director Van Coleman, and film stars Robert Ixxiklear (Henry Hem' Lowrie)
and Timothy B. Jacobs ( Steve Lowrie) were the honored guests for the
reception that followed the showing. An open floor was held for the media
and festival patrons, answering questions and providing photo opportunities.
"It was an honor, for me to introduce my fellow actors and filmmakers from
"home" (North Carolina) including: Van Coleman from Gibson. North
Carolina: Robert I.ocklear from Pembroke: and Timothy Bryan Jacobs from
Maxton- Pembroke area, to the enthusiastic crowds attending the opening
night of the Native Film Festival, stated Dr. Goins
The 3rd Annual Native American Indian Film Festival this year had an
exciting array of Native American made films Documentaries, dramas,
legends & myths and featuring ancient and contemporary Native American
Indian culture. The movies that were featured include "On and off the Re/"
a documentary about the famous Mohawk comedian by Sandy Osawa. a
Native American Indian filmmaker. A dramatic historical film by Van
Coleman. "Through Native Eyes; The Henry Berry I.owric Story " Also.
"The Legend; The Story of Siwash Rock", and "To Return ;The John Walkus
Story" from Native American Indian Filmmaker. Annie Frazicr I Ienry were
also shown and many other films from November 13th to November 16th. "I
was so proud to have the Henry Berry I .owory Story shown during this film
festival, since that story is part of my North Carolina hcrtiagc and history."
stated Dr. Will Morcau (joins. Coordinator of the Film Festival, it made me
feel proud and it was great to show the people of South Carolina about the
hero Henry Berry Lowrie.
"Through Native Eyes" received rave reviews from local South Carolina
newspapers. Coleman's film has transcended his intended aim for the
classroom. This Crystal Award of Distinction winner, inducted into the
"Local Legacies" project of the U.S. Library of Congress, continues to gain I
recognition and applause. Coleman's " labor of Love" has left many
anticipating the next project from this local gem
Count Your Blessings!
Looks as though writing about my November blues last year must have
helped! So far I've been enjoying this November - in spite of a wet. dreary
weekend and voting uncertainties.
And. of course, this month is the special time when we sit aside at least one
day to cat turkey and give thanks for the Maker of turkey s, and everything else
in the natural world around us. Also for our families, friends, lovedones. And
for a country where we arc still often realize.
I-et's take time out on Thursday and every day (from 5-10 minutes up to an
hour or two ) to "count our many blessings- which include that first Thanksgiving
celebration between the Native people of New Iingland and a group from
Hurope who had arrived looking for a place to worship their God froely
Community /Tribal Meeting planned
A tribal community meeting will be held on November .10. 2000 from
7:00 p m until 9:00 p.m. at the Native American Resource Center located in
the Old Main Building on the campus of the University of North Carolina at
Pembroke. This meeting isbcing sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Atlanta. Georgia, and the North Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services. Division of Public Health, Epidemiology and
Communicablo Disease Section. Raleigh. North Carolina to address the recent
outbreak of Syphilis among the tribal members in Robeson County. This is a
major health threat to the county and local tribal communities. There will be
open discussion to address strategies to intensify efforts to control syphilis in
Robeson County.
Any interested tribal or community member can attend. For more
information about the meeting contact Jan Scott at 919-715-3688 or Craig
Wilkins at 404-639-8799 or Dean Seneca at 404-639-7223.
Refreshments will be served.