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I Published each Thursday since January 18,1973
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I Pi ? | NC Robeson County
v I "Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
VOL BER 5 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1991 25 CENTS PER COPY
Whatever Happened to ...
Lottie Emanuel Chavis
Bv Barbara BraveboihLocJdaar
SPECIAL TO THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
-For 99 years Lottie Emmanuel Chavia longed to revisit
her native Bollock County, GA. Yet, she declined
invitations for free transportation from relatives traveling
from Robeson County, NC to Ada be He, GA.
"I just didn't go," she comments. Then in the summer
of 1988, the petite 87- year-old learned at a planned tour of
the area for the coming fall. She was among the first to
sign on for the trip.
On Nov. 19,1988, Mrs. Chavia placed her feet on land
she'd not walked oo since she was a 16-year-old in 1919.
"I wee kinds disappointed upon visiting my birthplace
be cause all the homes I once knew no longer existed,"
she says. "Yet. I knew things would have to change over
60-some yean." Signs of Mt Zion Baptist Church where
she once worshipped and attended school as a child no
longer existed. There wss, however, one landmark she
found familiar -a cemetery where Croatan (Lumbee)
Indians lie buried.
Until 1987, the Croatan Indian Memorial Cemetery
went an-noticed except for when a descendant of the dead
families buried there occasionally visited the site located
on a sloping pastureside.
"My visit to the cemetery was very emotional as I
recalled memories of beloved ones buried there," the
Umboe softly adds. She says most of the graves there are
of very young children who were victims of an influensa
spidsaaic in the early 190? a. For the octogenarian the
visit was a time to reminisce...
It was during the late 1800's that her parents, Edward
Margaret Hammonds Emanuel heard of employees*
opportunities in tire turpentine industry around the
Claxton, GAarea. The couple gathered together their two
daughters and household belongings and settled in
Ada holla Boon thereafter other families from Robeson
County moved to the rural area. The Robeson County
Indians ware known then as Croatans. They quickly
established themselves and built Mt Zion Baptist
Church, a one room wooden building. There they
worshipped and attended school; grades 1-7. As the
ail-Indian enrollment grew, teachers were recruited from
Robeson County among whom were William Henry
Oxendfae and Ervin Spa aiding.
Employed by Adabelfe Trading Company, "E.J."
Emanuel ipiillj established himself as an accomplished
cooper, making wooden barrels for turpentine. By then
the Emanuel children numbered three sons; six
"I wan the baby and waa always puny spd a bit
spoiled." Mrs. Chavis laughs. "The In than families
engaged in forming craps of cotton, corn and peanuts. My
daddy didn't raise tobacco until one or two years before
we moved heck to North Carolina."
Libs meet of the Indian children. Mrs. Chavis attended
school during three-months sessions." We'd gear up the
mules and fobs a wagon into neighboring Statesboro to
buy our school books. All the children studied together in
the one-room chureVschool building, so we only bought
one bosk per subject. The books were shared among the
i ldldieii of each family." Slate boards served as writing
After completing the seventh grade, Mrs. Chavis was
appointed by community people and approved by Bullock
County School superintendent to teach at the Indian
school. At age 18. she took control of students in grades
1-8. Among her students was her beloved neiee, Mary
Tnrkiaits daughter cf her oldest slater Louvenia, and
" That's ?hy I s^ today T moot old. Why! I have neices
and nephews Just foot years younger than I" she
interjects. "I remember babysitting these children who
fool Mhn my brothers and sisters.
Mm. Chavis says she remembers gatherings with
iiiwanrehj people end family alongside rivesbanks in
lilahiBi to enjoy flah Mas and picnics. Another favorite
peelkswwM font of watching the daily freight train stop at
a nearby trading company to deliver supplies. A rare treat
for the eossMuurity children waa a train ride into Claxton;
whie n weekly treat was that of taking n mule-driven
wagon into town for aaeaanaiy personal supplies.
fo 1919. Mrs. Chavia waa the tone unmarried child of
"E.J." and Mtogaret VhnaaueL In the spring of that year
the m ?' family made the hard dodston to move beak
to Robeson County. "Mama's parents ware getting on la
ago. red ahe wanted to move back to be near them." Mrs.
Chavia anys. "Meat of the other hdire famfttos bed
already toll for Robeson County. We ware among the vary
toat ossoo to toeva Ada belle "
Once the decision was announced by the patriarch, his
married children decided to relocate as well. Jointly they
chartered three freight train box can for shipping of their
household belongings, food supplies and farm grain. By
fall's coming all can were filled. Cows and goats were
sold, but the two Emanuel mules were shipped.
Arriving in Robeson County, the families engaged in
farming -mostly settling in the Saddletree community.
Mn. Chavis enrolled at Cherokee Indian Normal School in
Pembroke where she became a sometime boarding
student; sometime commuting student Upon completing
the eighth grade, she was recruited to teach at the
ail-Indian Shiloh School in Sampson County, NC. There
she taught grades 1-7 in a one-room building and was
paid $25 per month from which she paid room and board.
When her one-term teaching assignment ended, she
returned to the Indian Normal School and was given a
Hi , , i i BBsae?e=ggg=3i
one-year credit for teaching and was promoted to tentft
grade. She completed high school (11 grades) and during
summer months was able to complete one year of a
two-year teaching certificate program before dropping out
to care for bar aging parents and to marry the 30-year-old
bachelor she'd courted for several years.
So it was at age 27, Lottie Emanuel Chavis eloped to
Dillon, SC to marry Normie Chavis. "I didn't sbp away
and get married. I just walhed away." she says coyly. The
couple didn't formally announce their marriage. They just
went to the groom's home and took up housekeeping and
farming in the Saddletree community. It was there they
Hved together for 49 years. They remained childless. Mr.
Chavis died in 1980. Mrs. Chavis says aha never regretted
not getting her teaching certificate. After marriage, she
subaituted aa a teacher at Magnolia School.
She still resides in the saarn community. She says
failing health he ape her pretty much confined to home
where her beloved 13-year-old dog. Pee Wee, keeps her
Six years ago after suffering a heart attack the retired
foom teaching Sunday School at Bethel Hill Baptist
Church. There she'd taught for 50 yean and served as
secretary to the chureUk Women's Missionary Union.
Today she busies herself hi attending meetings with the
Saddletree Senior Citisens Club; producing hand
i inrhpted items, wading and taking care of her many
flowering box plants.
"Lord, I love flowers. Sinee say heart attack I can't hoe
and dig around them in the yard. So I just put them in
planters and pots an my porch and in my home," she
A proud moment came for Mr*. Chavis in the summer
ol 1988 when the Lumbee Homecoming committee
appointed her Co-Grand Marshal for its homecoming
.Tlbn thmsainri people gathered in Bam broke Town Park
that swhry morning to wave to her, Mm. Mta Locklear and
Mr. Oscar Chavis who wore Grand Marshals. There,
attired in her ever present bonnet, she sot on a float. She
anys while foaling pride in the moment, she didn't fool the
loaatoM ha cams the My sitting neat to har was 99 years
old. sad the gentleman was 98. "I didn't feel old. Not at
all."
Say Yoo Kead It In
TBfi CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
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Tkmm HlglKewer will pwfcm h Dinah Washington,
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Eastern Carol 1 na uscarora Nation
-to Re? Enrol I A11 Members
BYMibe Dtam
The Eastern Carotins Tuscarora Nation will begin to re
enroll all former members as well as anyone who would
like to become a member. The enrollment prosess begins
Friday night, Fleb. 1, 1991 at 7:90 p.m. and will continue
every Friday until March 8,1991 in the Nation's meeting
house, located between Island Grove Church on Highway
710 and the Old Red Springs-Maxton Road (State Road
1903) on the Nation's Sovereign Territory.
Each individual who is being re- enrolled or enrolled
will receive not only an enrollment number on their card
but also a clan number. They will receive a clan number
through a geneo logical process which traces them back to
one of the seven Tuscarora Clans: Bear, Wolf, Turtle,
Deer, Beaver. Snipe, and Eel.
The Eastern Carolina Tuscarora Nation through the
"Great Law of Peace" which is the official Law of the
Nation and through the "Looghouse" which has now
been built and established on the Sovereign Territory is
recalling all former enrollment cards. These cards are the
ones which were certified by the Six Nations in New York
and Canada back in the 70's. Everyone who has one of
these cards and fails to come in and re-enroll will have
their cards void and their names removed from the
enrollment book.
Thia new system will clarify the confusion that exists in
North Caortina on who represents the Tuscarora Nation in
dealing with the Six Nations and the foreign governments
of the United States and Canada.
The Eastern Carolina Tuscarora Nation will be using a
screening system to screen each individual who comes in
to enroll or re- enroll and the Nation has the right to reject
or accept anyone who is enrolling.
The time limit for re-enrolling or enrolling will be 30
days from Feb. 1, 1991 and ending March 3, 1991. Those
who live out of state and are unable to come in to re enroll
or enroll can come m at a later time with proof of out of
state residency status.
For additional information call 919-321 4955 or write
the Eastern Carolina Tuscarora Nation. Route 3 Box 226,
Maxton. NC 28864. This article is sanctioned by the
Traditional Chiefs and Clan Mothers of the Eastern
Carolina Tuscarora Nation and thtpugh the self help
programs that exist and are sponsored through the
nation.
News from Fmey Cirove School
The second grade cUss of Mrs. Melba Oxendine and
Mrs. Maria Bullock obeat wad National Hat Day recently.
This day falls on the third Friday in January each eyar.
Activities relating to this day included a discussison on
the origin of hats, different styles of hats, and the three
communication. '
??wn?nmimfre iHiiiti "ii an ' air-raiiMM?
Certificates of partieiaption were awarded to each
student wearing a hat. Special certificates were given to
Lauren Tyner and Steven Callahan for the largest hats:
Lacy Carter and Hilda Loddear for die ugliest hats;
Natasha Oxendine and Shaun Lewis, foe the prettiest hats .
i twtin tire ^ t r an^t fft-i a ttntrr let ttc f'vj ri n if r i d ? ?**
An all day stuff development reading workshop was
held m the school cafeteria on January 17, 1991. Amm
Evan*, Early Childhood Supervisor, KcUhy 3*nmn, PSU
educator and Cathy Maples, Robeson County School*
Supervisor, shared this most rewarding experience.
~ *m
Involved activities included: sharing of personal
materials, reading aloud, make and take and vocabulary
instruction. This was an an going workshop associated
u*tk Phsey Grove's school improvement plan
local
happen i nigs
Am*4mv *i the 4 wheeler elm. On the left ie mend
him ndentr Jtt Imter ef Chmleiton, SC. Pktneed on
tken *- " -* ? W+-L 1 ' ? ^
rfil W/WW^Bff Miw* ?vri|P9K ?V iwWi,
W urn elee the Deeh M Ceeh winner
met rn m Umt kmd m Sei +*n-, hetnem*
i idtttltrmelntetlltn eneey ether Setwehm, mm metni
ehidttn't timet. The neat?wh| wflN Ml k held
tohrmm 9, teUh tehee MwwMf el I p.m. end metne el I
P.m. The hthhf It eneenmted It teme enl end jele in the
fm.
THE COACH'S
COR NER
fay K?n Johnson
PSW GREEM GRASS LESSON
The parking lot and the little police station have been
removed and aa we came out of the Upward Bound
building we aaw this nice winter rye grassing quadrangle,
the ha Pate-Reba Lowry clock on the right and the
basketball and two tennis courts. And Tommy Swett of
the Upward Bound program smiling greeted us. Doris,
Jolgnn Johnson, my brother's daughter to be Doris'
guardian in case anything happens to me. The
overwhelming euphoria of such peace was really a lesson,
the grassy quadrangle, students can experience for years
to come. Gone is the hussle to find parking here and
double parting that I had to do to gat to the post office and
the sight of the ides that police protection is or has to be
the eeatral idea sitae the little station is atoved off to the
side. Their protection will always be needed since some
people never learn even in n fine environment of the new
grasey quadrangle.
The sourta w#l always teach that the summa of life is
happiness, not necessarily winning. The pick up games.
The commaradiry the courts engendered cannot be
bought The games without referees can't be beat for
abayfag the rubs on your own. The Iannis games where
you use your own honor to call the halls in or out also
taash the grassy green lesson of sportsmanship.
So much thanks should go to Dr. Jqe 0 sen dine and his
staff far preserving the green grassy lemon of PRP s new
qusdrangie of pease.
KtnJoknim
Ta Subaartfea Call |
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The Carolina Indian Voice