Kiblished each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C.
"CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"'Ihiilding Communicative Fridges In A Tri facial Setting''
VOL VME 2 ft NUMfiEF\5y~ , 1H {JRSDA V, l)ECE:\fllEM.^-2_0^r^ ^ 2 5C
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Honors
Three "Unsung Heroes"
Each Nancy Susan Reynolds Award Worth S25.000
Fayettcville. NC (November 17.
2001)- The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
has given its coveted Nancy
Susan Reynolds Award to threepeoplea
river keeper in New Bern whose persistence
and love for he Neuse River
have spurred the reclamation of that
valued natural resource; a woman from
Alleghany County who. with modest
resources, has spent her life providing
necessities of life to the poor and struggling;
and a Native American military
veteran who has gained the trust of al l
segments of Hoke County's diverse
population, causing them in.work together
with mutual respect.
The awards, sometimes referred
to as "North Carolina's Nobel Prizes."
were presented today in Fayetteville at
ceremonies attended by more than 500
people and keynoted by North
Carolina's First Lady. Mary Pipincs
Easley. The awards, given in three categories.
carry prizes of S25.000 each.
Receiving the awards are Rick
Dove, for seven years River Keeper for
the Neuse River Foundation in New
Bern, for advocacy; Cora Neville of
Alleghany county who for years has
collected and distributed food and
clothes and helped provide other necessities
to her county 's most needy, for
personal service; Thomas Squier of
Hoke County who has brought together
diverse elements of his county, including
white. African American, Native
American and Latino, for race relations.
Dr.. Lloyd P. (Jock) Tate, of
Southern pines, President of the Z.
Smith Reynolds Foundation, said.
"Each year, we cast the net broadly to
find the people who. quietly and without
fanfare, see needs and figure out
ways to meet them. Often these people
, as in the case with winners this year,
have minimal personal resources.
These are the people who see wrongs
and try to right them; who see conflict
and suspicion and work for harmony
and trust; who see suffering and try to
alleviate it. These North Carolinians,
whose only rewards usually are know
ing they have improved lives and
communities through their good
works, are our heroes."
Nancy Susan Reynolds was the
daughter of R. J. Reynolds and
Katharine Smith reynolds and the sister
of Z. Smith Reynolds. The awards
given in her honor were first presented
in 1986 and arc believed to be the only
awards of their kind in the country
honoring extraordinary leadership at
the grassroots level for advocacy, personal
service and race relations.
Since the Nancy Susan
Reynolds Awards were created 16
years ago.Jhey have given SI .2 million
to grassroots leaders and nonprofit
organizations in the state. Once
brought to the public eye. winners
often receive attention from the national
news media, and some have
been the subjects of books and films.
Rick Dove's story is that of a
man who from his earliest recollections
was fascinated by the Neuse
river and pledged one day to return to
it, and work, and sustain himself from
it. Instead, when he retired and began
fishing commercially, he found that
pollution had spoiled it. He took the
job as River Keeper for the Neuse
River Foundation and his passion,
persistence, skills and doggedness
have helped end major sources of
pollution and set his beloved river
back on the road to good health, concerted
efforts by powerful business
interests to discredit him and threats
on his life made him more determined
to restore the Neuse to the condition
he remembered as a child.
Cora Neville spends her days
and nights gathering and giving- obtaining
clothes, food and other necessities
and getting them to the people
in Alleghany County who need them
most. A woman of modest means, she
turns gifts and "throwed away" things
into the difference between being
warm and shivering for lack of a coat;
the difference between going to bed
hungry and sleeping on a full stomach.
She refuses to sell the things she
collects, noting that "love is not for
sale." A woman who never runs out
of live or hugs. Nevill sees all people
as worthy, regardless of race, ethnic
background and social strata.
Thomas Broken Bear Squier is
a big man with possibly the stoutest
heart in Hoke County. A former Green
Beret and warrior. Swuier walks with
a cane and fights fro equality and social
justice w ith the same passion that
he fought for his nation in Vietnam.
He is a bridge between the various
racial and ethnic groups in his county
and has the ability to rally them to
common causes. Members of Hoke
county's large Latino population have
found Squier. a Cherokee who speaks
Spanish, to be someone thy can trust
and turn to as they attempt to car for
their families and make a life there.
Nancy Susan Reynolds, in
whose honor the awards were established.
was bom in 1910 and died in
1985. Herrole in founding the Z.
Smith Reynolds Foundation in 1936
and the guidance and direction she
gave to it prompted one writer to describe
her as "the most remarkable
woman of widely diversified philanthropy
in Twentieth Century
America."
Nancy Susan reynolds also has
been described as "a shy woman who
deliberately lived out of the limelight."
She was a generous woman
who lived modestly, quietly and without
fanfare, but made extraordinary
gifts. She admired and encouraged
people who saw needs and tried to
meet them in their communities, usually
with limited resources and often
against great odds.
Since its establishment, the Z.
Smith Reynolds foundation has made
grants of more than S300 million to
projects in all 100 North Carolina
counties. Most recently, it has given
special attention to five focus areascommunity
economic development,
the environment, pre-collegiate education,
issues affecting minorities, and
issues affecting women.
A New Beginning Celebration
planned at Cultural Center
c. very-one is invitea to attend a special event which will he held at the North
Carolina Indian Cultural Center on December 7th and 8th beginning at 10
a.m. both days. The North Carolina Indian Cultural Center is now under new
management and is steering ttrwardthe direction of bettering our communities
and all native people of North Carolina, thus the decision to celebrate
with an event called " New Beginning," according to Cornell Locklear, a
volunteer with the Center.
There will be plenty of Native American food, gospel singing, vendors,
boating, canoeing, storytelling and other events.
/'This is a timefor ourfamilies to come together and enjoy the Center and
all it has to offer," said Meritta Lacy, a volunteer at the Center. "We have
worked very hard on this project and we want everyone to come and
experience this new beginning that we have embarked upon."
"This is truly a new day for the Center and new era for all Native people
it represents," said Cornell Locklear.
Norma l.owry, site managerfor the Center said, "1 am so thankfulfor the
volunteers at the Center. They help so much. We want to thank these people
for all their efforts and we want everyone to come to this special event. If
there are any questions, please call the North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center at (910) 521-2433."
Blood Drive for Special Cause
Matthew blue, of Mt. Airy Boy Scout Troop 326. will be sponsoring a
blood drive to earn his Eagle Scout badge. The blood drive will be held at
Bear Swamp Baptist Church in Pembroke. N. C. on Saturday. December 22.
2001 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mclntyre announces $1.6 million for
Robeson County Courthouse
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Representative
Mike Mclntvrc recently
announced that Robeson CoUnty will
receive $1,663.1000 in federal funds
to renovate the county courthouse
building.
Congressman Mclntyre stated.
"This is great news for Robeson
County! Congratulations to Chairman
Johnny 1 lunt and all the County Commissioners,
County Manager Scott
Elliott, and all the other local officials
for their work on this matter. This is
an example of an excellent, local/
federal partnership working together
to provide services to our citizens
Thanks also to Jerry Batten and lrma
McPherson of IJSDA for their work
on this project."
Robeson County will receive a
United States Department of Agriculture
40 year low interest loan of
$ 1.081,100 and a grant of $582,000 to
renovate the courthouse that has extensive
water damage
Congressman Mclntyre is a metrrber
of the [louse Agriculture
Committee.
Rick Dove, 2001 Nancy Susan
Reynolds Awards Winner- Advocacy,
New Bern
i i
Cora Neville, 2001 Nancy Susan
Reynolds Awards Winner- Personal
Service, Sparta
Thomas Squler, 2001 Nancy Susan
Reynolds Awards Winner Race Relations,
Aberdeen
Christmas play
to be presented
at Sandy Plains
Sandy Plains United Methodist
Church will present the play "Christmas
Special Delivery" on Sunday,
December 16at5P.M.. inthechurch
sanctuary. The performance is free
and open to the general public.
Sandy Plains UMC is located at 2468
Union Chapel Road, 2.5 miles north of
Pembroke.
Native American
TheNC Indian Cultural Center will
sponsor a Native American Dance
Class for anyone interested in learning
to dance. Classes will be held
Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. til 9:00
Pembroke High
Class of 1966 to
hold reunion
The Pembroke H'gh School Class
of 1966 will celebrate their 3 5th year
Class Reunion December 21st at the
PcmbrokeJaycee Hut. If you have not
rcceiveda letter, or for more information.
please e-mail
stanlocklcar'ogoodyearcomorcall
Suzanne at 910-521 -0648. Deadline is
December 14th.
Dance Class
p.m. All ages are welcome, however,
younger children must be accompanied
by an adult.
For more information contact
NCICC at (910) 521-2433.
QurTribal Constitution '
by Ctnthia I.. Hunt
Last week we discussed \ arious issues raised by tribal members regarding
i the amendment process in the LumbceTribal Constitution This week we w ill
Xtfakc albricf look at the number of tribal members we need to amend the
docujiitni
" ritaccordancc to Article XIII of the constitution, five (5) percent of the
voting tribal membership is needed to propose an amendment to the document.
The\oting tribal membership includcsall members eighteen (18)years of age
or older There is a varied opinion on exactly how many tribal members w ould
be needed to constitute five (5) percent of the Lumbcc voting tribal memberslup
Records vary on the total number ofcnrollcd members It is probably safe
to say based on various research that there arc approximately 55,000 enrolled
tribal incmbcrsoftheLumbcc tribe This number includes deceased members
w hose name has not been removed However, according to the LumbceTribal
Enrollment office in a recent Robesoman new spaper article, about thirty (30)
percent of this number arc eighteen (18) years of age or older. That would be
approximately 15.000 tnbal members. Therefore, five (5) percent of that number
w ould be approximately 750.
If a petition requesting an amendment bearing 750 or more signatures of
tribal members is presented to the Lumbcc Tribal Elections Board, that body
is required to present the amendment to the tribal membership for a vote. The
amendment shall be adopted upon the majority vote of qualified voters voting
in the special election.
It is important to note that the LumbceTribal Elections Board is an essential
part of our tribal government. Please encourage your tribal representative to
appoint this body. Next week we will continue of our review of the Lunibee
Tribal Constitution by discussion the issue of jurisdiction.
Celebrates 89th birthday
Mrs. Gertrude Chavis
Mrs Gertrude Chavis celebrated
her 89* birthday on Saturday. December
01. 2001 at her home in the St.
Annah community with family and
friends. Mrs. Chavis is the daughter
of the late Donald Robert and Addie
Jane Chavis of Dillion County, SC.
She is the widow of the late Harvard L.
Chavis and the mother of 9 children:
Francine Chavis, Thedus R. Chavis,
Dorothy Walder, Donna Chavis and
Harvard Dean Chavis of Pembroke;
Larry Dean Chavis of Tennessee;
Loretta Filer of Virginia; Harvalene
McClcrnan of New York; and Carol
| GavrellofNew Jersey. Mrs Chavis is
also blessed with 19 grandchildren;
12 great-grandchildren and 2 greatgreat-grandchildren.
Recently photographed
Mrs. Gertrude is the picture
of good health.
Laws will protect residents
from threats and violence,
Sen, Weinstein says
Raleigh-Two proposals supported
by Sen, David Weinstein were signed
into law recently to help protect North
Carolinas from terrorists threats and
acts.
"We have a duty to protect our
state from threats and violence, especially
in the wake of the horrible
terrorist acts against our country," said
Weinstein, D-Robeson, who supported
both laws in the Senate. "These
laws will help provide safety and peace
of mind for all North Carolinians"
One new law sets tough criminal
penalties for making or delivering
biological, nuclear or chemical weapons
and for staging hoaxes or making
false reports regarding these weapons.
Under another new law, research
laboratories will keep an inventor)' of
potentially dangerous biological
agents, such as anthrax or small pox,
and report those agents to the state.
This registry will help investigators
pinpoint where those agents are located
in case they are ever used for
unlawful purposes
"We have seen anthrax scares all
across our country, even right here in
our state," Weinstein said "We must
be sure that our state is read)' to respond
as quickly as possible to these
threats- and that people who use such
weapons to harm or frighten others
face the consequences of their actions."
LRDA Sponsored Boys and Girls
Club Bring New Youth Services
Atter nearly a year ot planning
Lumbee Regional Development Association
on October 16th achieved
a milestone in creating, and officially
sponsoring the opening for business
in Pembroke, the first Boys & Girls
Club of America. This is the first club
in a non-federally recognized tribal
area in the U.S.
The Club's planning involved the
Pembroke Mousing Authority, the
Boys & Girls Club of Lumbcrton, the
Town of Pembroke, and the University
of NC at Pembroke's Triumph
Program.
The National Boys & Girls club of
America representatives presented a
check for S50.000 to the boys & Girls
club of Lumbcrton, the management
agent of the local club at the grand
opening on October 16. 2001.
The Club has been greeted with
strong community support. Over 100
youth have joined the club since its
opening. Over 300 members are expected
by summer of 2002.
The Club offers a host of activities
and programs to help youth develop
discipline and good overall charac
ter skills, with strong tocus on academic
school achievement.
In addition to providing a wholesome
recreational environment members
of the club also have assess to a
computer lab at the facility sponsored
by UNC-P Triumph Program, aimed
at educational development and enhancement
of youth for improved
school performance.
The location of the Club is the
Clinton Thomas Community Building
in the Strickland Heights housing
project in Pembroke. LRDA developed
plans fro the boys & Girls Club
as part of a joint initiative by the HUD
Office of Native American Programs,
and the national Washington. DC
based Boys & Girls Clubs of America
to establish Clubs in "Indian Country"
throughout America.
Since 1998 one hundred clubs have
been established on Indian reservations
The LRDA sponsored club was
club number 98 as of October 15,
2001. Mr. Dewey Locklear. Executive
Director of LRDA stated that "this
club represents a new day for our
youth in this area who lack recre
ational and educational opportunities.
America's great leaders were members
of a Boys & Girls Club in their
community, while in their youth. With
the communities on-going support this
club will produce strong community
leaders for our future".
Mr. Leroy Freeman. Chairman of
LRDA agreed, "the partners who
helped make this service possible will
see the rewards of their actions in our
future generations of those that have
benefited from this club arid what it
has to offer. Our elders and our youth
are our most valuable resource as Indian
people. LRDA has always known
this, and that is who our cultural and
service programs over the past three
decades tried to touch the most".
He went on to add. "The establishment
of this club for our American
Indian Youth is a crowning achievement
for all the partners who helped
make it possible".
For more information about the club
and its services call Glenda Madden.
Unit Director at 522-9005
In the Armed Forces
Kelvin Oxen dine
Air Force 2nd Lt. Kelvin Oxendine
has been commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the United States Air
Force after graduating from Officer
Training School (OTS) at Maxwell
Air Force Base, Montgomery. Ala'bama.
During the demanding 12-week
course, cadets are trained to be top
quality Air Force officers through an
extensive curriculum comprised of
classroom work, lectures, and exercises
to develop leadership, team
building, and officer skills. They receive
instruction in military training
and application, professional knowledge,
human behavior, defense
studies, leadership studies and management.
communication skills, and
physical fitness, and a field training
deployment.
Oxendine is a system engineer at
Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio.
Texas.
1 le is the son of Jerry R and Elizabeth
A. Oxendine of 8972 North
Carolina Highway 72 West, Pembroke.
NC.
In 1991. Oxendine graduated from
Purnell Swett Senior High School,
Pembroke. He earned a bachelor's
degree in 2001 from Troy State University.'Fort
Walton Beach
Community Wide
Memorial Service
to beheld
A Community Wide Memorial Service
sponsored by Pemberton Hospiceand
Home Care will beheld Thursday.
December 1.1th, 2001 at 7"00
P M. atBcrea Baptist Church, across
fromUNCP Giving families and opportunity
to remember passed loved
ones is the goal of the event. Every one
is welcome to attend and participate.
For more information please
contact Rev. Cliarles P Locklear,
Chaplain at (910) 521-5550 or(910)
521-4949.