EDITORIAL AND
OPINION PAGE
AS I
SEE IT
by Bruce Barton
t
Welcome to Lumbee
HmiwIhI
The fwh? WIm Vale*
encourages "letters to the
editor." even when we do not
always agree with the opinions
put forth by the letter wri
ters.
A case in point is a letter in
last week's issue and another
in this issue writing about
Tuscarora lineage in the coun
ty, and disparaging Lumbee
designation and those who
choose to label themselves
Lumbee Indians.
supports Lumbee Homecom
ing with all the enthusiasm we
are able to muster. We
disagree with Mr. Douglas W.
Maynor, last week's letter
writer, who said "To me
Lumbee Homecoming is sim
ply a mark of shame on the
Indians of Robeson County..."
I do not agree with Mr.
k Maynor. I look on Lumbee
Homecoming with pride be
cause it is a positive force, a
good and healthy symbol. Too,
it is good to set aside some
time to share with our friends
and relatives and to honor
some of our own. It is good to
be a part of Lumbee Home
coming. And Lumbee Regional
Development Association
(LRDA) is to be honored for
sponsoring the annual event.
H is the kind of positive thing
they are supposed to be doing.
Too, I believe the Indians of
Robeson and adjoining coun
ties need unifying, not separ
ation as will surely result from
aoe much attention given to a
bee"? or "Tuscarora" or
"Cherokee." The names mean
little to me; it is the integrity of
the legislation naming us this
or that that really matters.
Many Indian tribes were
named after nearby rivers and
other geographical markers,
like the Eno. the Catawba, the
Cape Fear Indians, the Pee
Dee Indians, etc. etc. "Lum
bee" is o.k. as a name, as far
as I am concerned. What I
would like to see is our federal
recognition straightened out
once and for all.
But I uphold the right of Mr.
Maynor or any other letter
writer to express themselves. I
only give myself the same
right not to necessarily agree
with them if I choose not to do
so.
So, welcome home, Lumbees
and friends. It will be nice to
see you again.
Same are forgotten, la spite
Ms. Florence Ransom is the
harried but caring pageant
director for the successful and
popular "Miss Lumbee Pa
geant." She really cares about *
the pageant and the girls, and
she tries very hard. But every
year she forgets someone, and
she doesn't want to.
This year she called us after
the programs had been print
ed. She had forgotten to list
Curtis Pierce and Jerry Hunt
as auditors and Cindy Locklear
as one of the Entertainers.
So, we're listing them for
her. Hey, Curtis. Jerry and
Cindy, don't get too mad at
her-, she's trying her very best
and the does appreciate the
role you are playing in this
year's Miss Lumbee
Pageant. Really!
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
In-MJtt-Too-Yah-Lat
Speaking For Me and
My Native People
My Mine* is Cardell "BUI''
Speulding. I'm one of the
Native people and a member
of the Lumbee Tribe. I'm the
father a4 a very dear 19-year
old daughter.
I'm sentenced to die by the
white man's gas chamber in
Raleigh'i Central Prison in the
State of North Carolina. They
called it murder, totally dis
regarding the fact that I acted
only in self-defense. When
ever one of my Indian brothers
die at the end of the white
man's knife here in Central
* Prison, Warden Sam P. Garri
son won't even let it be known
in public. Warden Sam P.
Garrison kept John Kent
Hunt's murder here in Central
Prison which occured in 1976
out of the public. I'm sure his
reason was that whenever an
Indian brother gets killed at
the hands of the whites, then
Sam P. Garrison considers that
an honor. As I lay here the
| vary words of Chief Joseph, of
the Nez Peaces, spoken long
, longago. burns into my mind,
j flaming my heart and spirit
and saddening me greatly.'As
even to this truth beholds to
me and my people. Chief
] Joseph of the Nez Peaces died
; Sept. 21.1904. Before he died
| he spoke these words: "If the
< white man wants to live in
Spaa or with the Indian he can
live ia peace. There need be no
. trouble. Treat all human
beings alike. Give them aU the
MM hand. Give them all am
even chance to live and grow.
by the same Ood. Wa are all
brothers In rile eye sight of
Ood. The Berth ia the mother
of all people and all are
brothel? and sheers. And all
people should have equal
t traa horn free "should he
denied Nhorty te ?e odMe ho
PjMJM IfpeiiriM hwe tea
him to stay there he will not be
content nor will he grow and
prosper. I have asked some of
the white men where they get
their authority to say to the
Indian he shall stay in one
place while he sees whites
going where they please. They
cannot tell mel When I think
of our conditions my heart is
heavy. I see men of my race
treated as outlaws and driven
from country to country. Or
shot down like animals. I know
my race must change. We
cannot hold our grounds with
the white man unless every
Indian brother and sister of
our Native people stand our
grounds and let the whites
know that we've seen through
their thin screen.
We can't do it with the blinds
over our eyes. If all our people
support each other then Dr.
Paul Givens would remain in
Illinois where he belongs. We.
the Indian people of Robeson
County, can only ask an even
chance to live as other people
of the land live. If the Indian
breaks the law of the land then
give the Indian the same
justice as the big. rich white
man would get. The laws are
only used by the big. rich
white man as a weapon against
the poor white man to get to
the Blacks and Indians. As a
Native Lumber Indian I ask my
people to wake up. As we can
see. the Bill Fridays and Joe
Freeman Britts are creeping in
and trampling us under
ground. Let me be a free man.
Free to travel. Free to stop.
Free to work. Free to trade
whore I choose. Free to choose
my own teachers. Free to
follow the religion of my
fathers. Free to think and talk
and act for myself. And I will ,
obey every law or submit to
the penalty
Whenever the whites <**?<
the Indian as they treat each
ether we wtM have no. mere
wars. We shall all teem to live
and reapoet each other in the
Brannon
"Brings
Shame...
to Judicial
System"
Dear Bruce:
Jesus Christ sowed the
seeds of discord in the society
of His day by introducing a
new commandment. "Love
your neighbor as yourself."
The legal system of that day
"crucified Him on a cross."
Almost eighteen centuries
later enr founding fathers
imbedded into the Declaration
of independence the words.
"All men are created equal."
Two hundred and three
years after our nation's system
was founded upon those
words, a judge, in Robeson
County. North Carolina, is
reported to have stated to a
"Lumbee Indian," against
whom he was about to impose
an extremely harsh sentence,
the words. "Some people with
an education, but without
brains have been sowing seeds
of discord here for a long
time."
Anyone familiar with the
history of the tri-racial make
up of Robeson County, and the
recent protestations of certain
Indian leaders and groups of
alleged physical abuse by
members of the State Highway
Patrol of young Indian men
accused of minor offenses,
knew that the judge was really
signalling to the citizens of the
county that be regarded such
protesting Indian leaders and
groups as being wltbent
brains! Thai was pretty strong
language for a judge of a
criminal court to use in a
racially sensitive case.
It is reported that the judge
in question then asserted to
Tony Blue. "Those who were
with you in the beginning have
"no# fled (he Beta of battle
leaving you without funds to
face the music."
If. what the judge was next
reported to have said, was
really said by him. it was an
assertion of power that the
United States Constitution and
the rath* body of law in this
country would firmly prohibit
him from exercising. "If they
were here I would send them
to jail!" God forbid such a
thought! The expression of
the thought by a sentencing
judge in a public courtroom in
the State of North Carolina
brings great shame to the
Judicial System of a proud
state.
I was astounded by the
reported comments made by
the sentencing judge. I can
understand why the Robeson
County structural system that
some of us older Indians knew
and feared in our youth, as did
our fathers and grandfathers
before us. new hi turn, fear the
dismantling of that system by
the educated, thinking. Indian
leaders of today...but that
should be a social, political
and economic struggle... a
matter of persuasion.
Our judicial officers should
be restrained, objective and
judicious. Judges should in
no way use the power of the
bench to attempt to curtail or
control free thought or free
speech of any racial group by
calling their leaders educated
people without brains and
threatening them with jail.
Sincerely.
LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED
AND AUTHENTICATED.
PLEASE INCLUDE ADDRESS
AND TELEPHONE* IP
APPLICABLE.
around ua for all. Then God
above who rule* all will smile
upon this land and send rain to
waah out the Bleachy Spots
made by all the hatred that the
white man hat had for our
people for so long. For the
time being we. the Indian
Race, wait and pray. I hope
and pray no more groans of
wounded men and women will
ever go to God above and that
all people may be one people.
Sincerely and cordially.
CmBeR MBM" IpeuMlug
BM Ml Unman m -
??w " . BVO<|ln RflWi
Raleigh. N.C. >7*0.1
LETTERS TO
1 THE EqTOR |
Seys He Wu Trid For Crime
He Did Not iommit
EDITOR'S NOTEi This
letter was received from Paul
Lowery. He wai recently con
victed in the strangulation
death of Mrs. Evelyn Small of
Red Springs. Lowery received
a life sentence.
Convicted along with him
was James Small. Evelyn
Small's husband, who receiv
ed the death sentence for
masterminding the murder,
according to District Attorney
Joe Freeman Britt and the
Robeson County Jury that
convicted them.
James Johnson, who turned
state's evidence in the case,
was sentenced to 20 years. Yet
to be tried is Shirley Scott, as
an accomplice in the case.
Dear Mr. Barton:
You probably don't know
me. but I know you I My name
is Paul Lowery. 1 was tried a
few weeks ago in Robeson
County. But right now 1 am at
Central Prison in Raleigh. I
was the leading article in the
newspaper that you sent to
James C. Jones.
I think someone should
speak up for the people in
Robeson County, especially
for the Indian people because
the rich over run the poor and
send them up here to experi
ment on.
For example, take Mr. Joe
Freeman Britt. 1 am an Indian
and I am from Robeson
County. I was taken in to court
in Lumberion and tried for a
crime that I did not commit. I
had no witness to help me. Mr.
Britt took the witnesses that I
did have to testify to my where
abouts at that time and
ordAd the sheriff's depart
meiao tefl them to go home
becAe they were not needed
in iclt. Now that is the kind
of jitice that the Indian
peoplget in Robeson County.
I t J to get a new trial and
they Al me it will coat 7 or 8
thouund dollars which is
impoAble. Mr. Donald W.
Bulla-i was my attorney in
that Ate with no offense
towarcJiim under the circum
stance! and him being an
Indian! think he did a great
job. If 1 had not been for Mr.
Williarn Lowery those white
people Auid have put me to
death fA something that I did
not do.Me was one of the
jurors mtny trial. I wish there
was sorA way that I could
thank hid. All I know is that
he lived on a Lumberton
Route. N4y the Lord bless Mr.
Lowery. T
I knoi that I will be
pumshed|>rYhis but it is okay.
Just like Au had in your paper
article it^on't hurt anyway.
Mr. Barta, I guess we will
just have to leave it in the
hands of tfc Lord. If you think
this is wcnh printing in the
newspape^l would appreciate
it. Send mua copy and keep up
the good dork.
Yours truly.
Pff Lrwery
P.S. Mr. Barton. 1 have a
question. There were two men
who got th?<death sentence on
a 6 year Id's testimony in
court. But jn my case there
was an fc^ear old who
identified tie man who did the
crime. And Mr. Joe Freeman
Britt woulf not accept her
testimony is my behalf and
she was an <ye witness. Would
you call tlu^ justice?
I
A TUSCARORA VIEWPOINT
?p?* ' H 4 V, ^
to
To the Editor:
Concerning the Lumbee
Homecoming, I read with
quite considerable interest the
article concerning or about
"Questions Lumbee Home
coming." Since when did a
Lumbee Nation exist? Since
when did an Indian tribe, since
the coming of the white man,
change its name so many
times? Who gave you or us (so
they tried) that name?
Only a handful of people
who chose themselves to be
profiteers at the discretion of
the white man? My father.
L.M. Maynor along with a
number of others is recognized
by the BIA.
The Cherokee tried to be
peaceful with the Tuscarora
but since they showed not too
many signs of resistance to the
white men's gradual encroach
merit upon their lands, they
became mortal enemies.
So how in the name of all the
gods, with their superiors in
telligence. strength and wis
dom, could the Cherokee make
slaves of Tuscaroras?
Even now Tuscarora is a
feared name because my fore
fathers told me what their fore
fathers did to the white
settlers taking their land.
Stealing, plundering, raping,
murdering? Impossible to be
lieve this, feasible yes. There
is no such name to other
American Indians as "Lum
bee." It is simply a fallacy, a
farce.
Recently I took a trip among
two Indian tribes. I was going
to buy some presents (souve
nirs) for my folks. 1 walked up
to this (it was in an Indian
village) lady. She said. "I
know you are an Indian. But
from where?"
9 9
I said, (just for the record)
"I'm a Lumbee Indian from
Robeson County. Pembroke..
NC."
She said. "We've heard of
them but we don't know
them."
I said, "How about Tusca
rora?"
"Oh yes." she said. "They
are our brothers."
So what federally are we to
do with Lumbee? It's a ficti
cious name'
I sat along with he and
others in the BIA Bedding In
i
Washington, D.C. I asked one
lawyer to define for me a
Lumbee. The reaction was
ridiculous! *
The article by a Douglas
Maynor in your paper said all
Tuscarora in NC were driven
from North Carolina. This is
not true or will ever be true.
The blood of those people will
and shall always flow in our
veins.
I know the history of my
people too, much, much more
than any of you younger ones
will ever know. Anyone who or
that knows anything about
history, knows that the Tusco
roras were the most warlike
tribe the white man encoun
tered here along the East
Coast.
Proud to be a Lumbee?
Proud of what? How our fore
fathers despised the name
Croatoan! The name was used
by the local whites as a
maliciously, despicable name,
even though it was a very
honored Indian name.
Alas, again the name "Lum
bee" forced upon us those of
the few that thought them
selves elected to do so by the
Almightyl
Again, all Indians of Rob
eson County, we are an
almalgamation of tribes,
Croatoan. Cherokee. Hatteras
and Tuscarora. but in the
jurisdiction of most mainly
Tuscarora.
All the friends (whites) i
meet with our borders say we
should consider ourselves as
"The Tuscarora Indian Nation
of North Carolina.
Our forefathers escaped to
these dismal swamps to
escape the plagues of thunder
guns of the white man. Some
Tuscarora* fled to New York,
but others came here to escape
the rape of our land. We are
the assimilattoa of tribes, but
the fierce blood of the brave,
dreaded Tuscarora still flows
in our veins.
So come, one and all wise
mer hoopla for a Lumbee. a
white man given name. Stand
straight, stand tall, be what
you are. not a Lumbee. hist
another Indiana-Indian-Indian.
Preferably a Tuscarora. Then
we will br federally recognis
ed. h will ctMage our part of
the country!
Jooee J.Maynet ?
?ode I
P Mlfli.HC
To A' Teacher And Her Husband
E*w'i aMe. DmM Gmw
Olllfcl, ? 7th g ruder wrute
thi Mewtog la mmmtv if Us
Mkmt teacher who eaffcted the
lawether Oral ch?d. DmmM h
the Ma ef Mr. and Mn. Louie
Ona*M W the Mt. Airy
TO A TEACHER AND
HER HUSjBAND
You wanted a baby end it
came, but now things will
never be the same.
Your baby did surely cost,
but not it is surely lost.
Don't worry or feel sorry you
baby is in heaven, and when
you get there you'll see h grow
to be seven.
Soon another one w ill probab
ly come, and surely things will
have just begun.
I feel sorry for you and your
husband, you wouldn't be here
if God hadn't gave His son.
Your child didn't die because
it will soon fly. it will be like a
pigeon very high in the sky.
I'll remember you and your
husband in my prayer, while
your baby is in the air.
"Tha ballot it Itrooflar than
tha bullat." Lincoln
.
Vicuna ftaaca ? to fina that
2,500 ttrandi ptoad uda by
tide would not aquol an Inch.
' WAGON WHEEL
STEAK HOUSE
?w
3491 West 5th Street. Lumberton. N.C. 28358
Welcome Lumbees!
m
THE WAGON WHEEL STEAK HOUSE h proud to present "The Tribe" as live entertain
ment Friday and Satarday nights. We have one of the finest discos around on Sanday night.
. . I IT T" 1 '4*' ? ? ?? tAf t* ? 4P.
We are also proud to sponsor MISS DEDRA LOWRY in the Miss Lumber Pageant.
Oedra, 18, Is a 1979 graduate of Pembroke Senior High School. She is the daughter of Ms.
Ella Deane Lowry Oxendine. Dedra Is employed with H.L. Brewing ton Enterprises, and
plans on attending R.T.I, at a later time to take up office practice.
THE WAGON WHEEL STEAK HOUSE [formerly Brian's Seafood| wishes luck to all the
contestants, and a very happy and safe Lumber Homecoming to each and everyone.
Best Wishes,
THE WAGON WHEEL STEAK HOUSE
Box 3491
West Fifth Street
Lumberton, N.C. 28358
RANDOLPH UMBERGER'S
stmm at
the WIND i
?
EXPERIENCE!
.
1
THE MOST EXCITING
OUTDOOR DRAMA
IN AMERICA!
July 5th - August 25th
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Pre-show - 8 p.m.
Show-time - 8:30 p.m.
Located at the Riverside Country Club's
Lakeside Amphitheatre, 3 Miles West of Pembroke, N.C.
Just Off U.S. Highway 74.
Watch for Signs!
The Story of the Lembee Indians and Their Loader,
Heavy Betvie Lewrie In Rohoaan Comfy
Dnrtng the Chrl Wary and Koeonotnwtlon.
- ? 4