Editorial And
Opinion Page
AS I SEE IT j
Bruce Barton
* " ' ? rr ?
Happy birthday, llrandi!
It's hard to believe but nt> baby. Brandt Nakcll Barton, eelebrated her 25th
birthday on October 21. 2001 Her mother and I have decided to keep Iter
She's a precious child ana has added immeasurably to my life, even in my
advancing years (I'm 60 now you know ) My life took on real meaning \\ hen
she was born Oct 21. 1976 I mark real tintc from then
Tlic Lord has blessed inc w ith precious children, including my two spiritual
children. John Marv in Carter Jr "Pete", now 79. and "Sissy". Teresa Maria
Carter Willie. 74 They have brought me much joy and four grandchildren too
Happy birthday. Brandi 1 love you very much
Civility and esprit de corps seem to be gaining a
foothold in school board meetings and Central Office
No one knows how long it will last, but civility seems to be gaining a
foothold at school board meetings According to local reports, slings and
arrows of derision and meanness were not palpably evident at the last school
board meeting That's good!
Civility still has its place
Test scores arc improving, and the future docs seems to be encouraging
and improving under the leadership of Superintendent Barry Harding. Espnt
dc corps and moral scent to be in the air at the Central Office too. For instance,
the Central Office staff had a little get together last Friday evening "just to
thank Dr Harding for his leadership and the good things happening in our
school sy stem."according to remarks from Dr Bruce Walters and others who
' spoke at the informal gathering Richard Monroe, representing the Central
Office Staff, presented Dr Harding a plaque just to let him know his staff
appreciated all the advances being made and recognitions coming ltis way like
the recent announcement that Dr. Harding has been nominated as Superintendent
of the Year by the SandhillsEducation Consortium.
All of this just seems too good to be true in ol' Robeson Ummin!
IF THEY COULD
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with 74.
Letters to the Editor
Were You There? More Questions and Answers
on the Lumbee Constitution Vote November 6
Deal ! Jiloi
I a-t spring local ncwspapci earned announcements In the Constitution
Committee i'l the I rtbul Council of the I.umbcc Nation thai mfonticd the public
of scheduled public healings throughout Robeson Countv and aieus in llohc
County. Cumberland Countv. Charlotte. NC and Raleigh. NC and Baltimore.
Man land I he purpose of the pubhe heat tugs \\ as to inform the public and to
solicit opinions and input into the l.unihee Constitution Specifically. public
healings were scheduled and held at the following U>caliotis Mai eh 2(?. 2i"'lRed
Spungs High School. Maieh 2l). 2tH)|- I'uinell Swell Ihgh School. Apul
2. 201)I- l.umbeiton High School. Apul l>. 2001-Si Pauls High School. April
12. 2001- South Robeson 1 ligh School Apt il 24 2001 -Fairmont I ligh School.
April 2b. 2001 -Cumberland Count>. Fayctteville. NC. May v 2001 -Charlotte.
North Carolina. May 24.2001- Raleigh. North Carolina. June IA 2001- Hoke
County, Raeford. NC and Baltimore Man land
In addition to the above public hearings, neath 400 people completed a
survey with nine questions related to the Constitution during 1 .umbcc 1 Ioniccoming
An editorial of Thursday. October IS. 2001 infetTcd that the tribal Council
"has spent the last year focusing on everything except the mandate of the
people " Bruce Barton and I attended the Pumcll Swell High hearing I believe
we can both attest to the fact that the proposed Constitution was thoroughly
discussed in a lengthy public heating and in an atmosphere that openly solicited
input and opinions of those ill attendance l ively one thcie had an opportunity
to listen, to respond, and to speak up
In addition to the public hearings, monthly meetings of the Tribal Council
have received committee reports from the Constitution Committee Two called
meetings of the Tribal Council were held in September to better inform the full
Council of the "voice of the people" whose ideas, opinions, and suggestions had
been inserted and integrated in the revised drafts of the Constitution Those who
attended monthly meetings of the Council were kept informed of the progress
through the Committee reports. After the two September meetings, a thud
meeting of the Tribal Council w as culled by a few members w ho selected other
issues to draw a quorum in order to rescind action taken at the former two
meetings on the Constitution I can assure you the Tribal Council has not been
negligent in considering the Constitution They have inslied in the last few day s
to make changes that were suggested thr ough public hearings I low ever, those
who have attended the public hearings and have monitored the Tribal Council
by their presence at meetings of the Tribal Council know that the Constitution
has not been set aside and just brought to life in the past three or four weeks
As to the concerns abiuil the location of the public hearings. Public facilities
cost money and are expensive. llNCP's Moore Hall was not available for
October 25 and out of respect for the scheduled l.RDA Pow Wow . October 26
was ruled out as an alternative date. Although there was a full house when the
Tribal Council was installed last winter at the Fanner's Market, the site was not
well icccived Finallv. Robeson Couunumtv College. .111 public institution with
a -lS"u Indian student cmoilmen! was made available lluough negotiations and
donations I'm icntal of the factlitv Indian people live across Robeson and
sunounding counties and Robeson Conununitv C ollege is accessible on I-Ms
from I loke and Cumberland Counties and I lighvvav 74 can be easily accessed
from Scotland Counts The Public Hearing at I'umcll Swell High in March.
201) | did not attract 50 people, so the suggestion that the Tribal Council
selected Robeson Comnmiiitv College because the Council did not want
people to attend the public heat ing cannot test on the fuel that western Robeson
Counts has a lai ge Indian population What matters is that people attend, listen,
respond, voice then opinion and follow up All Indian people have had this
opportunity Opportunities require responsibilities On November 0. enrolled
I.urttbeepeople will have an opportunity to voice their opinion and to vote their
convictions It will be either an opportunity to vote for change, or as Vmtta
Clark said on Oetobci IS. an opportunity for "business as usual" Those who
encourage people not to support the Constitution on November (1 are advocates
for "business as usual" Those who are brave hearted, high spirited, and
persistent like those individuals who supported and adopted the fust Constitution
will continue to be "I'alhmakers" to a dillerent future through l.untbee
self-government A people who self-govern can demand and command
respect from those who seek to govern them. Jim I ow n foimei Chan of the
i.uinbee Self Determination Commission once quoted Lord Brougham when
he said "You can enslave a spirit, but you cannot enslave a mind " I hope that
the 1 limbec people will 1 eiect enslavement of both our spirit and our minds by
making up their own minds without undue influence front those who would seek
to continue to enslave us The Constitution referendum is scheduled for
Tuesday. Novembei 6th 1 hope your readers will not be confused with your
announcement that the referendum will be held on November 7th Polling siteswill
be announced within the next few days I hope that we can count on you
to support the Constitution and to encourage people to attend the I'ubjic hearing
on Thursdav. October 25. at 7:00 p.m advertised in vour newspaper as A
PUBLIC MKBTINCi FOR Tin- I.UMBLi: PI-OPl.K. Hneourage them to
attend the monthly meeting of the Tribal Council 011 Saturday. October 27 at
10:00 am Finally, urge them to vote lor the Constitution on TIIHSDAY,
November 6. 2001 from 6..40 a.m. until 7:30 p m..
Finally, some members of the Tribal Council have been holding meetings
in their electoral districts to inform their constituents of the Constitution and the
process by which the Constitution was dev eloped, revised, and proposed For
those who cannot answer affirmatively the question. "Were You There?' should
perhaps contact their elected district Tubal Council person and ask "Where
Have You Been '" or "What Have You Done to Keep Us Informed?"
RUTH DIAL WOODS
An Enrolled Tumhee Who Was There
Pembroke, NC
Thoughts from Derek Lowery
Dear Editor.
I had a few minutes to write so I thought I would put down a few things that
have been running around in my little brain. Hoping that it will give you something
to think about and who knows we might even decide it's time we do
something about some of the situations we face.
On the National level of what happen in New York, everyone is going around
now asking God to Bless America and I'm wondering where have these people
been or are they blind? America wouldn't be the country it is today if it wasn't
for the guiding hand of the Almighty. We should pray that God continues to
Bless this Country or as preacher friend of mine said. "We should ask God to
Bless this Nation one more time."
1 was asked where was God's handduring all this I answered that God helped
over forty five thousand people out of those buildings. It's a shame that it took
something like this to get our attention but have you notice that churches have
been full lately. I think we all need to ask God to forgive us for hurting His
Feelings by questioning His presence during the events in our nation. I don't
know what God's purpose is but I know there is a purpose. I also know that we
can get mad with God and we can question god, but it still doesn't change the
fact that He is God.
I know that being Tuscarora this is dangerous ground for me to voice my
opinion about but so many people ask me what do I think about certain Lumbee
issues. But as I alway s say you're entitled and 1 encourage you to have
your opinions, and you're free to express them.
I want to congratulate the Lumbee Tribal Council for appointing Dr. Ruth
Dial woods as Acting Director. In my book the Lumbees made an excellent
choice, 1 have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Woods for a number of years.
In all that time 1 have know her to be an honest and straight shooting kind of
person, whom you never have to wonder where she is coming from. I wish Dr.
Woods and the Lumbee Tribal Council the best and I hope that the hand of the
Creator will direct you in the way you need to go.
Last but not least I ask the Lumbee people to support Dr. Woods, because as
we all know often times we Indian people elected or appoint someone into a
position and we sit back waiting for them to fail. We need to realize that this is
not the traditional way of Indian people and we need to realize that our job is
to prepare a better tomorrow for our youth. We can't accomplish this by sitting
around waiting to see what tiappens. the actions we take today help to
form our future of tomorrow. .
I also wanted to say I feel positive about the new direction of the NC Indian
Cultural Center. I can't honestly say I know Mr. Oxendine but one thing I
know about him is that he too is the type of person that you don't have to
wonder what he is thinking. He also seems to be the type of person who isn't
afraid to take action and I feel that the Cultural Center needs this kind of
person. 1 wasalso please to hear that the people of Evan's Crossing are Willing
to help support this new direction. I think we can all agree that one of the best
ways to change things or have an impact is from the inside.
1 also know for a fact there are many of you waiting to see what happens
before you start to lend a hand, let me be the first to tell you that you've waited
long enough. Now is the time to help and now is not the time for more excuses
such as 1 want to wait and see what happens.
I encourage all Indian people across North Carolina not to sit back waiting
for something to happen let's pull up our sleeves and make something happen,
at the North Carolina Indian Cultural Center, most of all let's do it for our
future leaders of tomorrow (Our Children).
Can you think of a better reason? As always I hope I've given you some
things to think about, then it I have, less do something about it.
In the True Way
Derek Lowery
Lumbee Constitution Discussed
To;lllC 1 id 111 >r
I went in Lumbee tribe com and road the Lumbee Constitution last week when
it was placed on-line. It does not even give you a place to respond to what you
have read Besides it being a combination ol'tiie United States Constitution and
the Bill of Rights, I saw very few. if any. original ideas. It has three branches
of government, executive, legislative and judicial. The passing of this endangers
our Indian Education Program, the low-income heating program, our
Christmas Basket program, our Head Start and Day Care Programs. It takes
away the power from the man we elected to lead the tribe. Mr Milton I lunt It
also endangers the future of everyone who holds a Lumbee card who is an
elected official or is a state or government employee. It gives murderers,
rapists, thieves and even child molesters the right to sit-on this tribal council.
One of the dumbest things I found on there was "the Supreme Court of the
Lumbee Nation " 1-xcuse me while 1 clear my throat! There is no book of
Lumbee Law There is no Lumbee Jail house and there is no Lumbee Police
Force (unless you count the Pembroke Police Department.) There are over
49,000 enrolled Lumbecs and whoever wrote or copied this needs to have their
head checked, if they think for one second the majority of Lumbees are going
lo be under any tribal law;, like slaves, especially when there is none The
Lumbees did not fall off the turnip truck and it does not take a rock to fall on
their heads to know this document is nothing more than an attempt to save the
butts of the council from Judge Manning.
This document gives the Lumbees one choice: are you going to be United
Slates citizens or arc you going to be Lumbees in bondage? It makes me w onder
if these people are trying to get someone off death row!
There is no percentage required on this voting. If 15 vote for it and five vote
against it, then it legally passed and if it docs, there are going to be thousands
of Lumbees looking for an alternate tribe. They are going to pull their Lumbee
cards faster than someone can pop Jifiy Pop popcorn! The passing of this socalled
constitution will create a loss of federal funding. There w ill be nothing
left for the Tribal Council lo create sen ices for because you cannot get services
if you do not have a certain amount of people enrolled. Are we not alreadv poor
enough?
1 cannot tell you a thing that either the new or old tribal council has done for
me 1 cannot tell you a thing that Indian Housing has done for me, other than
lose my application. I can say that over the years, every now and then, the LRDA
has assisted me And this constitution makes them look like angels!
But when it comes down to my civil and personal rights as an American (and
take this from someone who did not know she was Indian until she was 12 years
old and thought she was only a little w hite girl with a suntan) 1 would rather tear
up my Lumbee card that is so worthless that it w ill not even buy a cup of coffee
for a homeless man or along with it take thirty-five cents to make a phone call
, than to be under the rule of someone who is more ignorant than me! And I know
that 1 am not the only one thinking about tearing up their enrollment cars
Actions speak louder than words! Bring on the vote!
Vinita Clark
Pembroke, NC
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In ancient times many people believed that a forked hazel twig had
supernatural powers, hence the idea that divining rods of hazel can
be used to find water or minerals underground.
Commend Sheriff Glenn Maynor
TO: The Editor
I commend Sheriff Glenn Maynor and his staff for the professional and
caring attitude shown to the citizens of Robeson County.
Rev. Hilton Deese scheduled an appointment for the youth of our conference
to tour and see the actual operation of the Robeson County Detention
Center on October 13th. We were greeted by Sergeant R. O. Brown who was
very courteous, had an outstanding attitude and professional in all aspects. As
we toured the facility, our eyes were opened and our hearts touched. Young
people of Robeson County, the Detention Center is a place you may want to
tour but you definitely do not want to spend any time incarcerated there. Please
go to school, get involved in positive endeavors in your home, school, community
and go to church regularly.
The tour was completed and my words to Sergeant Brown were: "Sergeant
Brown. I know I am under your control, please unlock these doors and let me
out of here".
Thank you Sheriff Maynor, Sergeant Brown and the Deputies of Robeson
County.
With Respect. Elton Hunt, Superintendent
Lumber River Holiness Methodist Conference
The Carolina Indian Voice is published every
Thursday by First American Publications,
207 Union Chapel Road, Pembroke, NC 28372.
Second class postage paid at Pembroke, NC
28372.
Please send all address changes to P.O. Box
1075, Pembroke, NC 28372.
Subscriptions are $25 per year In the State of
North Carolina and $30 per year in all other
states.
Bruce Barton Publisher
Connee Brayboy Editor