TLa /^ __^1* Dedicated to Service SOTff^&"3?LT52tS I W ? MM m WO jrn ? W 4^ . . must impose a 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline for news ? ? ? H V jdW | Bill VI %l thM b to aPPear iH the Thursday edition. V>4tl \/llll(| . . ??BuiUr,ngCommunlcall*Jfmsr .. " "" I In A Tr%racUll Settnp *L /"X To subscribe to\The Carotina Indian Voir- rB. 'I +mr V A ^ feT < T p/ftw ca// <9/9; 521-2826. Or drop}I mZ /^1 d%d\ The Carolina India tor,. *H| gf^| ||f K". niuiaii f oi?? f 1" \/ ?^jrj r >. ^ o I t, Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. volume 13 numbek 27 thuasoav july 4, ivss ^ ^ 0 ^ ; ; I I n i' mm- ,- ?- r - , , ^ L= ACHIEVEMENTS BY INDIANS OVER PREJUDICES OF PREVIOUS ERAS CITED BY LONNIE REVELS Lonnie Revels Is shown sur roonded by li"Vm Yonth st the Sixth Annual Indian loath Unity Conference held at Pembroke State University. PEMBROKE-Lonnie Re vels, now a Greensboro city councilman and the owner of a successful printing company in (hat city, told an audience of young Indians from^Jl over North Carolina how fie was denied a five-cent soft drink aa a five-year-old Indian visit ing a drugstore in Lumbertori. "1 kept asking the waitress for a drink, kept tapping my nickel on the counter, but she acted as though she didn't hear me. So I finally left without my drink," Revels said Wednesday. As the first speaker at the sixth annual Indian Youth Unity Conference at Pem broke State University, Revels said actions like these exem plified words like segregation, discrimination, prejudice, and humiliation. "Learn how to deal with these words effectively," he said. "I want to give you a challenge: Be the best that you can." And he emphasized this point: "There is no greater need for unity among Indian people. The American Indian is at the bottom." Revels, who is now serving as chairman of" the N.C. Commission on Indian Affairs and recently was named "Tar Heel of the Week" by the Raleigh News and Observer, related how by refusing to give up he became the only Indian on a major municipal ity's city council in America. "I kept running for office until I won," he said. "Be persistant in whatever you do. Don't give up. The first time 1 ran for office, I lost by 27 votes. But my comments were like Gen. Douglas MacAr thur's when he left the Philippines: 'I shall return.'" Among his suggestions to the Indian young people were: (1) Like yourself, (2) believe in yourself, (3) don't limit your self, and (4) sell yourself. He spoke of the scholarship money available to Indian youth, enabling those without the financial means to College. "Be an optimist. Be posi tive," Revels urged. "An optimist looks at a bottle that is half filled?and says, 'It's half full.' A pessimist looks at the same bottle-and remarks, 'It's half empty.' In this part of the country, we were told as Indian people that we were just farmers. It used to be that the only writeups we got in the newspaper were when someone was murdered. Any accomplishments by our peo ple were carried on the back page next to the obituary. I had been programmed to think the only things we could do were with our hands." But Revels was convinced that "God doesn't make any junk." In challenging the Indian young people for the future, Revels spoke of new innova tions like the Indian Cultural Center purchased by the state for Indians at what used to be Riverside Country Club three miles west of Pembroke. "Along with the original property, the state purchased 100 acres of additional land to help in developing this Cul tural Center. But you know what our biggest problem is concerning this Cultural Cen ter? The Indians here in Robeson County are saying, 'It won't work."' (Note: Some Pembroke peo pie want the property used as a state para.; Revels added: "Our state is spending millions of dollars in celebrating its 400th anniver sary. But next year it says we are going to have the Year of the Indian in our state. We have the leadership of the Mate supporting it. W e shoulfi < be workYng tfcoffc toward supporting that project here." He told the Indian students "you are our greatest re source," warning them to look after themselves health wise and accident-wise. "The lifespan of Indians is 10 years less than other people. Our young people get lulled in automobiles. And there are drugs. This country has one of the highest fatality rates for Indians." In conclusion, Revels had the Indian young people re peat after him the words: "If not me, who? If not now, when? Look at me, I'm here. I have pride. I have roots. I'm somebody special." The Indian young people proudly echoed Revels' words that mean they want to achieve in all aspects of life today which will affect their lives, the lives of their child ren, and the lives of their people. In welcoming the Indian young people to the PSU campus, Dr. James B. Chavis, vice chancellor for student affairs at PSU, noted that five of the six Indian youth unity conferences have been held at Pembroke State University. "Many of you have deep roots here," commented Cha vis. "It has been 98 years since your.ftjrefathers got together to start this achool and this is what has evolved out of their dreams and hard work. We look forward to bringing you bright young men and women to Pem broke." -?* i First Lumbee to Graduate Under Tuition . Wavier Grant in Michigan Charlie Chavis of Detroit, Mich, became the first Lum bee to graduate from Wayne State University in May. 1985. He graduated with a degree in electronic engineering. He was the first Lumbee to graduate under the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Grant for Lumbees in Michigan which came after a long court battle. Chavis was co-plaintiff in the original suit. Prior tothe law suit, Lumbees were not recognized as Indians by the State of Michigan and were denied tuition waivers i .jgs'J- ?-f-frt-tnrV'- - which were available to other Indians. Following the successful case. Lumbees are now accorded their legal rights as Indians in the State of Michigan. Chavis is also a graduate of Pembroke Senior High School and like many Lumbees from Robeson County, hfe moved to Michigan. He also attended Wayne Community College. He is the son of Ms. Jeanette Chavis of Route 2, Pembroke and the late Willie Stancell Chavis is the grandson of' Mrs. Leola Barton. . Set - Charlie Chavis REUNION PLANNED O i en dine and Hut Heanlon Miss Eula and Mary Hunt of Pembroke, daughters of deceased, Solomon (Sol) and QuemJ&sier (Kge?) Hunt - Oxenmne, of the Blade Ankle Community of Fairmont, in vite you to a reunion at Berea Baptist Church in Pembroke, Saturday, July 13 at 12 noon. Everyone should bring a covered dish. For directions to the church call Mary Hunt at 521-4684 in Pembroke. RANDOLPH UMBERGER'S "STRIKE AT THE WIND!" KICKS OFF ITS TENTH SEASON SATURDAY NIGHT Red Banks-Randolph Urn berger's "Strike at the Wind!" begins it's tenth season Saturday night. The outdoor drama is built around the story of the Lumbee Indians of Robeson County. It is a saga called "the most ironic story in American His tory" by noted Lumbee his torian, Lew Barton. It is a story you must see and hear to believe... to understand.More than 50,000 strong today, these proud, industrious, and basically peaceful people have survived the threat of extinc tion from forced assimilation, the historian's pen, govern mental policies, and the evils of segregation. They survived to tell their story in this most unforgettable experience for men, women and children of all ages. ''Strike at the Wind" is the story of their joys, sorrows; hopes and struggles during the Civil War era, and how