tm THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE <Sf
J D?dic?tod to Hi? Itoit in ?N ?< us L*a?J
VOLUME 6 NUMBER 33 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY. AUGUST 17. 1976 154 PER COPY
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LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR COMES TO ||j||M^^^H
PEMBROKE HHHI
THE PLAINSMEN QUARTET
_ ha TO PERFORM
To De Located In Old Lockleor 0 Son Funeral Home Building T_. . _
Pembroke?Indians in Robeson and
adjoining counties have an oral tradition
of '"being ripped off by lawyers."
Stories abound about land being lost,
Indian males being sent to prison, lives
being wrecked, insurance claims not
filled, damages not sought for wrong
doing, etc. etc. etc. It is a litany of law
being used against the people, especi
ally poor people- whatever the color of
their skins.
Lumbee River Legal Services propos
es to do something about law's poor
record among poor people.
THE NEED FOR LEGAL SERVICES
Every person in this country is
required to live under and obey the law.
Every person is also entitled to use the
law. Our democratic society requires r*
less. If some people- but not others
have access to the law, then the path of
the law is inevitably skewed, and the
law is inevitably unfair..
These are among the basic premises
of the Legal Service* Corporation Act of
1974. In the Act, Congress established
the mandate of the Corporation: to
provide "high quality legal assistance
to those who would be otherwise unable
to afford adequate legal counsel." That
mandate was founded onthe judgment
that "equal access to the system of
justice in our Nation" must be provided
for all.
Congress adopted the Act to ensure
that legal assistance would be available
to poor people and that federal, state,
and local laws would be enforced on
behalf of the poor -not just on behalf of
those who can afford counsel.
The tradition of free legal aid to the
poor in this country was nearly 100
years old when the Corporation was
established. But no more than a few of
the poor ever had real access to a
lawyer's services until the mid- 1960s,
until then, the only hope for most poor
persons with civil legal problems was a
lawyer's charity.
By 1922. the American Bar Assoca
tion had identified 33 legal aid societies
in the country. In 1965, the number of
those societies had grown to 248, but it
had become apparent that the few legal
aid lawyers and the voluntary services
donated by private lawyers could not
meet the legal needs of the poor. The
traditional problems- in family law,
housing, health, consumer concerns,
and administrative benefits? were
compounded by unemployment in many
locales. Debt collections, evictions,
repossessions, and related issues all
increased tragically.
Against that background, in 1965, the
Office of Legal Services was organized
o within the Office of Economic Oppor
tunity, later the Community Services
Administration.
The cause of providing free legal
services to the poor made significant
progress over the next decade. Limited
federal funds were rapidly exhausted,
however, as grants weft made where
strong community and bar support
showed the need and desire for legal aid
programs. As the 1970s began, the legal
services program became an object of
partisan political controversy. Funding
for existing programs was virtually
frozen from 1971 to 1975, and programs
were forced to curtail their services
drastically as the consequences of the
budgetary freeze were exacerbated by
record inflation.
In areas where, the programs were
operating, however, legal services
attorneys provided service with extra
ordinary dedication and professional
ism. Often working in shabby surroun
dings that no private lawyer would
tolerate, legal services attorneys - idea
listic and over worked, committed and
underpaid- took on case loads of up to
500 legal matters a year.
As legal services efforts expanded, it
became evident that - structural change
was necessary. Legal services attorneys
and their clients, and such organiza
tions as the American Bar Association,
the National Bar association, the Nation
National Clients Council, and the
National Legal Aid and Defender
Association- recognizing the need to
insulate legal assistance for the poor
from partisan politcal pressure? moved
in Congress and in their own broad
constituencies for the establishment of
an independent Legal Services Corpo
ration.
The Corporation began operations in
October, 1975. It is governed by an 11
member Board of Directors, appointed
by the President of the United States,
with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
With funds provided through con
gressional appropriations, the Corpora
tion distributes grants to approximately
320 legal services program operating in
about 700 neighborhood offices located
throughout the 50 states, as well as in
the District of Columbia. Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, and Micronesia.
Approximately 320 legal services pro
3,700 lawyers and 1,500 paralegals work
in these offices. All programs are
governed by local boards that include
private attorneys and eligible clients
from the community. The Act provides
for the governors of every state to
appoint nine- member State Advisory
Councils, responsbile for notifying the
Corporation of apparent violations of
the Act, or of Corporation rules and
regulations, by Corporation- funded
programs.
WHAT IS LUMBEE RIVER LEGAL
SERVICES INC.? WHO IS IN IT?
AND HOW DID IT BEGIN?
As mentioned earlier, Lumbee
River Legal Services, Inc. is probably
the newest of the legal service agencies
funded through the national and state
offices.
?t
f.fei
Lumbee River Legal Services, Inc.
has a definite "Indian" look to it. It is
actually a dual program.
The legal services program has (or
will as soon as it is felly operational) a
general legal serviae program and a
special Indian Unit.
The special Indiewiiflit is what seems
to make this particular legal services
program unique and spropo to the area
it is located in- namSK Pembroke and
Robeson County. PeBbtoke is known in
some circles as fee spiritual and
economic center of fee Lumbee Indian
community, although not all Indians
agree with that designation.
But everyone agrees that Robeson
and adjoining cotnrtfcs' large Indian
population is in dire need of legal
services, especially those of us who are
poor and unable to hire competent legal
counsel for those worrisome "civil"
problems that seem tP haunt all of us in
our daily lives.
The legal services program officially
named "Lumbee River Legal Services,
Inc." will provide legal services to a
general low income area in a 4 to 5
county area that has a few small cities
and a lot of rural farming. The area i
very poor and has never had a legal
service program. In addition. North
Carolina has over 37,000 non- reserva
tion Indians, a majority of whom are
poor. These Indians live throughout
North Carolina with the largest group
living in Robeson County where approx
imarely 30,000 Lumbee Indians reside.
Additionally, some estimated 1,000
Indians reside in Robeson County who
wish to be known as Tuscorara Indians
and who are actively engaged in a legal
battle to change their name from
"Lumbee" to "Tuscarora."
The program, in its formative stages,
is staffed by Cathy Sampson, Genneth
Mercer and Sue Jamieson.
An Open
Letter From
The Tuscororo
Tribal Council
T<> Whom It May Concern:
We are the Tuscsroras of North
Carolina. At the preaent time we are
enga|ed in trying to get federal
recognition as the Tuacaroras. It has
been a long hard struggle, on n
sometimes mcky road. Hie Tuscsmm
Tribal Council office, lucalcd in Pem
broke, is concerned with Indisn busi
ness and only Indian business. Our
chairman, Carnie Brayboy. can he
reached at this office. We have an
attorney, Raymond Oibbs, and a
historian. Peter Hammonds, to help
fight our case when we reach the courts.
A none having questions concerning
anything connected with the Tuscamraa
may feel free to contact us. We now
need help to win our court suit Any
donations wNI he greatly appreciated,
AH checks may he made nut to the
Tuwaron tribal Conned.
The MUs la located at Bnvei's Metal.
?act 3rd atreet, P.O. dot IIM,
Nmheate. N.C. Ml aua. ta
dtOOpm
Dexter Brooks, a local attorney
associated with the law firm of
Locklear, Brooks and Jacobs in Pem
broke is considered the "spiritual
father" of the idea, of a local legal
services unit. He and his law partners,
Arlie Jacobs and Arnold Locklear. have
donated countless hours of labor and
expertise to get the program off the
ground.
They have been ably assisted by
many others in the area, including
Angus Thompson, a local Black attorney
with law office in Lumberton and Mr.
Richardson, another Black attorney
who is a member of the the district
attorney's staff. Robert Locklear who
heads Lumbee Regional Development
Association's Right to Read Program is
a member of the North Carolina Legal
Services Unit, the governing and
advisory body of the local effort, has
provided considerable advise and ser
ves on the local board of directors.
LRDA has helped, providing office
space and staff assistance. Ruth B.
Locklear, an LRDA staffer, has worked
with the program as has Kenneth
Maynor, executive director of LRDA,
and other members of his staff.
Representatives from other Indian
s tribes and organizations have assisted,
especially Julius Locklear, a member of
the Guilford County Native American
Assocation and Kent Patrick, from the
Waccamaw- Siouan Tribe.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW AND
WHO WILL HEAD THE PROGRAM?
Lumbee River Legal Services, Inc.
is expected to close a deal today
(Thursday) to buy the building that
formerly housed Locklear and Son
Funeral Home in Pembroke. The
building, owned by Samuel Locklear, is
expected to be signed over to the legal
services unit today for a purchase price
reportedly in the neighborhood of
$60,000. Locklear has relocated in a>
spacious and modem funeral home
facility on Union Chapel Road. The old
funeral home was being used as a
fraternity. The building fronts the rail
road that traverses through the heart of
Pembroke and sits beside Pates Supply
Company.
WHO IS GOING TO HEAD
THE PROGRAM?
According to a source, the execu
tive director will be an Indian. And the
director is expected, according to
unconfirmed sources, to come from a
list of Indian attorneys comprised of
Julian Pierce. Betty Jo Hunt, Brantley
Blue and Arlie Jacobs.
Pierce is now a staff attorney with the
Securities Exchange Commission in
Wahsington.
Betty Jo Hunt, daughter of Mr. an
Mrs. Alton Hunt from the Fairmont
area, it now engaged as an attorney in
the Washington. DC area. She most
i recently headed a task force for the
American Indian Policy Review Com
I mission. She headed the task force on
i non- federally recognized and termina
ted Indian Tribes.
Commissioner Brantley Blue is finish
ing up an appointment as a judge on the
U.S. Indian Claims Commission.
i Jacobs is a partner with the law firm
i Lorklear. Brooks and Jacobs In Pern
i broke.
All of tha candidates are natives
I of Robeson County.
I
Lumber River Legal Services is
eipected to he operational before the
, end of this eyar The stand up budget is
i in eseess of ft ISO .000.
I vt iHuaNv. the legal senders unit
have a staff of as many aa It
i attorneys spt-i lalt/lng in the rtvil
^aspisls o| it* km
?
A gospel sing featuring the Plains
men Quartet will be held at Sandy
Plains United Methodist Church on
Sunday night. August 20, 1978 at 7:30
p.m. The church invites the public to
attend this evening of inspirational musii
and worship.
DEDICATION SERVICES HELD FOR
BEAR SWAMP BAPTIST CHURCH
On Sunday. August 13, 1978 a
dedication service was held for the
purpose of dedicating the new fellow
ship hall and sanctuary of feear Swamp
Baptist Church. A church history was
given by Mrs. Dorothy Lowry and the
message was brought by Rev. Steve
Jones. Rev. T.M. Swett is pastor of
Bear Swamp.
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
RESCHEDULED
Notice is hereby given that the
regular monthly meeting of the Mayor
and Board of Commissioners has been
changed to September 5, 1978 at 7 p.m. ?
The meeting will be held at the town
htHr
JOSEPH ROBERTS RECEIVES
HONORS
Joseph Roberts
Joseph Roberts, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Poorboy of Route 1. Pembroke
was awarded the most outstanding male
athlete in the Governor's School at
Winston- Salem, NC. While at the
Governor's School, Joe studied various
phases of mathematics, topology, ab
stract algebra, probability and com
puter science. He also studied Philoso
phical Thinking and Psychology.
Joseph was among three students
attending Governor's School from Pem
broke Senior High School. Joseph was
chosen in academics, while Lisa Stover
and Cindy Kay Locklear attended in the
performing arts (dance).
Joseph is involved in numerous
activities at Pembroke Senior High
School where he serves as a marshal,
and all- conference Tennis player,
varsity football and basketball.
BURNT SWAMP BAPTIST CHURCH
PLANS HOMECOMING
Burnt Swamp Baptist Church will
observe its annual Homecoming on
Sunday. August 20th. Guest speaker
will be Kev. Varser Lockee from
Lincolnton. NC. Lunch will be served
and singing will begin at 2 p.m. Friends
and relatives are cordially invited. Rev.
hi ford Locklear is the pastor.
NANCY WOODELL FAMILY
REUNION TO BE HELD
The annual meeting of the Wooded
Family Reunion will meet this year at
Union Chapel at the Burnt Swamp MuMI
purpose Center on Sept. 2. Pinner wil
be served at 12 noon and the felloe ship
wHI last until. Everyone is urged to
bring a revered dish Pilots sike on
?air at the toMdlng to help defray
rspensrs Everyone Is acted to pieaee
hr present bv Mvrte W ended a# Rente
2. Knthrifre She hnpaainomM yon at
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7i, MP
hicks un
"Clean Up"
: Lumber River
Campaign
Lwnberton?Most petitions these days
are for the removal of a politician from
office. Bill Kebort . manager of the
Hungry Bull Family Steak House in
Lumberton, has changed the format a
little bit.
He's passing around a petition tor
signatures to clean up Lumber River.
Kebort. a transplanted Yankee and his
wife. Virginia, like to go out on the river
in their fishing boat. Or they did. Alas,
debris, fallen limbs, silt deposits and
the like have hampered some of their
outings and Kebort decided to do
something about it.
His petition read; ^
TO : UNITED STATES CORPS OF
ENGINEERS;
"Whereas, the Lumber River in
Robeson County is now overgrown with
trees and stumps and is in such a state
hat navigation is impossible) and where
as. various vile substances have been
deposited in said river which are
harmful; now therefore, the under
signed citizens of Robeson County do
hereby petition the United States Corps
of Engineers to undertake its mission
and dean and rid said river of all trees,
stumps, shallow areas and deposits."
In other words, Kebort wants to take
his wife Virginia out on the river again
in his fishing boat. That's all.
And he wants the corp of engineers to
clean up the river "not dredge it but
clean it up."
Kebort expects Rep. Charlie Rose to
meet with him and concerned dtizens at
a yet to be named location some time in
September to receive the petitions he
has collected.
Said Kebort. "When people get
ready to do something in America it
gets done--and it's time to dean up
Lumber River."
Robeson County offidals have re
sponded enthusiastically to Kebort's
petition drive. Petitions are available at
The Carolina Indian Voice for those who
would like to sign.
If an enthusiastic guy with a handful
of papers and 'a Yankee broque
1 approaches you and asks you to sign a
petition-SIGN IT!! It's for a good
cause, to clean up the muddied Lumber
River and restore hef to her once
sparkling, cascading self.
Warriprs Open
'Scrimmage
Season Againsr
Maxron Friday
Nighr
Finrtnii The Poaibrofce High
rion og?n their "ecrtounape nMfe
Friday night againet Maatoa hen at
homa. The acrtminaga la aaM|M tft
give Coach Join W.
?p . oppoctaaity to laafe at SES
aider fln eiaee hiaaloa ia
Capo Fear CooAwaaaa.
hot the FaOia Mfrh fWl
year hmg
Construction of Old Main Now Official
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