things to consider
from Derek Lowry
Dear Editor:
Last week I had a friend to ask: "Have you stopped writing
because you've moved back home? Or what's up, no one hears
from you anymore."
I smiled and said, "No, I just don't have much to say these days."
Then he began to ask me about the Lumbees' effort for federal .
recognition and Dr. Michael Brooks' letter and some other issues.
1 told him there are times when a person should think things
through before they speak about them. But as a Tuscanora I wanted
to go on the record and wish you Lumbees the best with your
efforts for clearing your status. 1 stated your situation that way
because to me you have federal recognition, but due to the language
in the same bill you receive no services because of your status
as INdians.
There is an old saying that goes: "Some of the worst things that
happen to Indian people they bring on themselves." In other
words, some of the things that happen to us we cause them ourselves.
There 's an oral tradition that states one of the leaders in the
early days of the Lumbee movement stated he didn't want a reservation.
What he didn't realize was by telling the Bureau of Indian
Affairs this he was actually saying to the BIA, "We don't want a
trust relationship with the federal government." which is exactly
what federal recognition is. I understand that this person had seen
reservations during the war and in the fifties and I can only imagine
the conditions he saw. And I agree, in part, that the last thing
we need is a place were unemployment is high and health care is
almost none existent, not to mention an education system that is
substandard and the people accept apathy as a way of life.
Yet the most interesting thing about this oral tradition is this
LUmbee leader owned large tracts of land and was afraid the government
would come in and take his land and divide it among the
poor Indian people who were sharecroppers. I often wondered
whose welfare was he looking out for when he said, "We don't
want a reservation?" Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying people
should be handed things they don't work for. But I think we can
agree from time to time we all need a helping hand to get us started.
You may not be aware of this but there is a rumor floating around
in Indian country. The rumor goes that the Lumbees are willing to
forego having jurisdiction over their people just to gain federal
recognition. What this means is instead of having your own court
system, your own educational or social service system, that you
would allow he state to continue providing these services for you.
More importantly, what this means is you will not have the special
relationship of federal recognition. Let me shine some light on
why thous would have other Indian nations up in arms. It is
because right now many Indian nations are fighting to keep their,
sovereign rights, not turn them over to state government.
Sovereignty is when the federal government watches over the
affairs of Indian nations to make sure state or local government
agencies don't treat Indian nations unfairly. If the Lumbee Nation
turns it's sovereign rights over to the state of North Carolina what
chance would any of the smaller Indian nations have of keeping
theirs? This would send a shock wave through Indian country that
would put us back to the dark ages and who would we have to
blame? The Lumbee Nation. Some state governments would like
nothing better than to get their hands on the rights of Indian
nations to take control of their water and land leasing rights, their <
tax exempt status, not to mention their gaming casinos. I hope and
pray that this is only a rumor. I don't think the Lumbee Nation
would want to be remembered as the Indian nation that helped to
do away with sovereign rights for Indian people.
Did you know that a tribe with federal recognition supercedes
State Government? Did you know neither state nor the county has
jurisdiction over Indian nations? Let me put this as simply as i can.
This means that if the Lumbee Nation had their own police force,
neither eh county nor state police could come on the land. This is
the same reason we cannot go into England or any other country
imposing our laws on them. Likewise you could have laws that
once you enter your sovereign land you had to obey, no matter if
you are Indian or not. You could have laws that go beyond county
or state law. What am I talking about? Let's look at a couple of
examples. The drug problem, for example. If every Indian who
was caught with drugs could be forced to enter a drug rehab program.
THis could happen, if it was a tribal law. If this still didn't
work, they could be forced to leave the reservation. And guess
what? The county nor state government could do nothing about it,
if it was tribal law. You can scream about rights. But we are talking
about the Lumbee Nation;s sovereign rights and no county or
state court could supercede the Indian nation's law.
I don;t know about you, but I am sick and tired of hearing bout
criminal rights. I know that it's true the county's police force is
way undermanned and lacking funds to stop all the criminal activity
that goes on in this country. But I ask you, what about the vie- '
tims who go to work, pay taxes and try to provide for their families?
What about their rights? Who is watching out for their rights?
I say unless we get rough with criminals and either make them
responsible for their actions or shame them into stopping, they will
just continue. Maybe if they had to pay back everything they took,
or if they killed someone, they were forced to work ten year for
that family, it would get the message that he Lumbee nation is serious
about lowering the crime rae. What if criminals were forced to
wear something that said "I have committed the following crimes
and can't be trusted?" Or, if every time a crime is committed an
officer would go to their house and check for items?? It might
have an affect.
The thing I don't understand is the apathy among the people. The
feeling that nothing can be done. Some say it is because there are
too many people on drugs or unemployed, going around committing
all these crimes. I don't totally agree with that statement. I
know people who have been out of work for months if not almost
a year and they don't go around committing crimes. People steal
because we don;t try and strop them. And when they arc caught,
we just slap them on the back of their hands. 1 for one have had
enough. 1 believe drastic actions call for drastic measures. Before
I go I would like to suggest instead of looking at federal recognition
as something that will continue the Lumbee problems, I think
the Lumbee Nation should look at it as a way of solving some of
the problems. Sometimes instead of the glass being half empty , it
mignt be half full.
As always these are just my opinions and my only objective is to
give you something to think about and to assist you in forming
your own opinion. After all is said and done, no opinion matters
more than your own, especially those you form yourself.
In the True Way.
Derek Lowry
The Carolina Indian Voice published each
Thursday by First American Publication, Inc.,
P.O. Box 10,75, Pembroke, NC 28372.
P. O. Box 1 07 5
Pembroke, N. C. 2837 2
"building communicative bridges in
a tri racial setting 52 1-2826
NIELA C.onvent,? n Scheduled ^ vents
November I - 2.00} Joseph K^oury (Convention (Center (jreensboro, North (Carolina
Saturday
November 1
8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Pre-Convention Tours
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Scholarship Golf
Tou moment
Grondover Resort
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Convention Registration
3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Exhibitor / Trade Show
Set-Up
8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Gospel Sing &
Stateside Gospel Choir
and Special groups
Sunday
November 2
Tribal Day
7:30 o.m. 8:30 a.m.
5K Fun Run & Walk
(with Billy Mills)
Pre-Registration $15
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Trade Show / Exhibits /
Vendors
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies &
1st General Session
< Featured speaker \
Sen Daniel Inouve
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
NIEA Issues Forums A
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Workshop Session 1
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
NIEA Board
Candidates Forum
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
NIEA / NC Local
Planning Committee
Welcome Reception
8:00 p.m. - 1 1:00 p.m.
Jana In Concert
Preshow - Willie Lowry
Monday
November 3
Youth Day
8:00 o.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Convention Registration
8:00 O.m. - 5:00 p.m.
NIEA Board Elections
8:00 o.m. 5:00 p.m.
Trade Show / Exhibits /
Vendors
9:00 O.m. 1 1:30 p.m.
2nd General Session
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
High School Student Day
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
College Symposium
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 2
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Issues Forum B
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Research Forum I
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 3
3:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
Issues Forum C
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
NIEA President's
Reception
I m ftI #
8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m
North Carolina
Cultural Prpgram
. Producer Scott Blanks
10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Youth Dance
Tuesday
November 4
Elders Day
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.fri.
NIEA Former Presidents
and Educators of the
Year Breakfast
(by invitation only)
8.00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Convention Registration
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
3rd General Session
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Trade Show / Exhibits /
Vendors
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
3rd General Session
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Issues Forum D
1:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 4
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Research Forum II
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Issues Forum E
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 5
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cultural Feast
7:00 pirn. - 12:00 a.m.
NIEA Row Wow
Free and Open to Public
Wednesday
November 5
Educators Day
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trade Show / Exhibits /
Vendors
8:00 a.m. * 12:00 p.m.
Convention Registration
9:00 a m. 11:30 o.m.
4th General Session
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Tear-Down
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Issues Forum F
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 6
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop Session 7
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Awards Bonquet
9:00 p m.-l 1:00 p.m.
Willie Lowry & Floyd
Westerman in Concert
For additional information, please call Rosa Winfree at 704-933-0576; Ruth Revels at 336-420-9306 or
,__Rita Locklear at 910-628-6829.
DIAL A UCTION COMPANY
ABSOLUTE AUCTION
Public Schools of Robeson County
Saturday, November 8,2003 at 9:00 a.m.
Velcord Drive
Lumberton, N.C.
Held in Old Velcord Building off exit 19 from 1-95
"Cars and Vans"
^Partial List*
chairs
desks
file cabinets
computers/cases
terminals
keyboards
monitors
stainless tables
stainless grills
buffer
Dcwalt/Kockwell tablesaws
air compressor
calculators
overhead projectors
tables
televisions
paper cutter
storage racks
gas furnace
warmer
87 Ford Van 3/4 ton
87 Dodge Mini N an
Farniall 14(1 Tractor (2)
copiers
Inminators
opaque projectors
VCK
rudio equipment
projector carts
audio equipment printers
stainless miser
stainless serving lines
Rockwell handsaw
Delta saw
trailer house 'tires/axles
vacuum cleaners
mop buckets
fryer
metal and wooden cabinets
steamer
steam cooker
lockers
l>o\ Ian/electric fan
85 ford Ranger l'/l'
John Deere Mower F525
scales air
conditioners
sewing machines
computer storage cases
blinds
typewriters
stainless sinks
stainless stoves
Parks wood plainer
table saws
exercise equip,
lawn mowers
podiums
lab tables
refrigerators 4
milk box
popcorn popper
vegetable cutlers
icc makers
84 Chess \ an I '2 ion
8(1 Ford Van 3'4 Ion
Industrial Fan
i
PUIS MANY MORE ITEMS
Inspections: Friday before sale from I:(10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and one hour prior lo sale.
Items subject to be added or deleted.
Terms: Cash or approved check day of sale
Notice: All equipment to be sold as is--no warranty. All merchandise should be moved on
the day of the sale.
For more information and directions call
Earl Seals at 910-671 -6000, ext 345
William T. Locklear at 910-521-1074
Allen Dial/Dial Auctioneer Company at 910-521 -3152
Auctioneer License #6389, Real Estate Broker H157294