Carolina Indian Voice
:e,NC
"Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
Robeson County
t
North Carolina Indian Cultural Center... A Brief History
KEEPERS OF THE PAST
At day's end, they gather up the treasures and lock
them into a secure room.
The staff of the North Caoriina Indian Cultural Center
(NC1CC) sometimes work until 8 or 9, even later,
nonetheless, the ritual collecting and safeguarding of the
treasures never gets overlooked because this is the heart
and soul of the task they've taken on: the preservation
and telling of a way of life.
FVw in number, the treasures aren't likely to interest
thieves since their value isn't in their market price. They
include a handmade quilt of migenta, maroon and white,
handwoven baskets, both simple and intricate, beaded
ornaments, gourds, a hooded day figure with piercing
eyes, a contemporary effigy carved from stone.. They also
indude an architect's rendering of the phase one focal
point, the Visitor's Center and Museum, and shelves of
plans, proposals, impact studies, histories, ecological
reports, budgets, travel brochures, archaeological data,
in, short, all that will one day come together as eastern
North Carolina's chief repository of Indian lore.
Although the idee of en Indian Cultural Center
emerged more then 25 years ego, it wee not until 1981
that it found its earliest fiscal support A $15,000 planning
grant from the Coastal Plains Regional Commission to the
''North Carolina Commission on Indian Affairs funded a
study of the concept A year later the Council of State
gave $100,000 for the initial property option purchase.
By 1964 the ball was rolling and almost half a million
additional dollars were accrued for purchase of land.
Consistent efforts over the six years resulted in the
incorporation of a private, non profit organisation,
establishment of a 15-member Board of Directors, the
hiring of an Executive Director, the completion of
archaeological and feasibility studies, and the raiaing of
yet mote funds and mote support.
MANY CAREFUL STEPS
Amassing artifacts, both ancient and'recent, and the
products of today1 s Indian artists and craftsmen may be
one of the more enjoyable aspects of developing a cultural
center, but it is not the major part, nor is it the starting
place. In fact, a single starting place probably never
existed. Instead, there have many places to begin and the
lead juggler of these multiple beginnings is the Center's
Director. Dr. Helen Maynor Scheirbeck. a woman who
believes that having only one thing to do at a time
constitutes walking backward.
By the time Dr. Scheirbeck was hired in 1987, a first
market study had already been completed and the
multi-tribal Board had money in the bank. The issue was
how to proceed and the answer was forward--in every
direction. In rapid succession more staff was hired, repair
work to the site's amphitheater, lake, and grounds got
underway, plans were solicited few a phased-in approach
to development, meetings with tourism specialists,
museum curators, and marketing experts took place, and
moat importantly, the public began to participate in the
project
"This has never been the Board's Cultural Center or
my Cultural Center," says Dr. Seheirbeck. "It belongs to
the people and from the first we wanted the public to work
with us, to be part of the fun and the headaches of
development" So, the public was invited to special
events such as the Ground Belssing, pow wows, and art
shows and also to simply drop by, to ask questions, to
meet the staff, to see how things are coming along, to
lend a hand.
For Dr. Seheirbeck, members of the Board and many
others, the importance of proceeding with the Viator's
Center, Museum and other Phase I elements, are very
important for the sagging Robeson County economy. The
$60 million Cultural Center will mean about 500 new jobs.
untold numbers of spin-off businesses, and will provide a
major marketing outlet for the entire state's Indian
population. This is in addition to meeting the Cultural
Center' a primary objective: To create a regional cultural
and educational park that will serve as a preservation and
presentation center of the historical culture of the Native
American throughout North Carolina--the Coharie,
Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Sapoin, Lumbee,
Tuscarora, and the Waccamaw-Souan.
At this time--early in 1991-the project advances
roughly on schedule. There is every reason to believe that
the opening of the east coast's newest cultural theme
park- complete with living displays, interpretive exhibits,
archaeological features, films, ceremonial reenactments,
and gift shop filled with Indian arts and crafts-will
coincide with America's celebration of the 500th
anniversary of Christopher Columbus' most important
voyage.
A WALK THOGUHTMANY YESTERDAYS
Who doesn't remember being small and magical? Who
doesn't remember marching through a still, green,
sweet smelling place and feeling powerful, feeling aa
though the world was good, that all things in it were good
and that they knew you and approved of you?
Another memory: there is something fearsome out
there, just beyond the clearing, deep in the dark, shadowy
woods. la it a wild animal mad with a strange sickness? Is
it someone or maybe a lot of people come to avenge some
wrong or come to take your food?
There are other things, stories your parents and
grandparents told yon, and you remember telling, sitting
at the kitchen table with the smell of coffee or maybe
bread, warm and strong, circling about your heads. The
older folks nod in agreement to a shared knowledge that
you don't really understand. But it's all right The stories
hold your attention and you know that their wisdom will
keep you safe.
Our pasts are both private and communal. Our histories
blend and tangle like the threads in a blanket so that me
remember many things, some of which happened to ur
and some of which happened to ancestors. Because we
believe that both kinds of memories are important, we
honor them by recording and preserving them.
Hie North Carolina Indian Cultural Center will be a
kind of family album of the state's first citizens.
On arrival at the Cultural Center, guests wfll be greeted
at the Visitor Center and Museum, a 25,000-square-foot
facility housing an auditorium, gift shop, class rooms and
meeting rooms, and, most important, exhibits covering
more than 12,000 years of North Carolina history.
An Exhibit Orientation Area wfll set the stage for the
entire cultural site experience--in the museum, along with
the riverwalks, in the seven Indian villages, at
the ceremonial grounds, and on the nature trails.
There will be six additional exhibition galleries in the
central facility, allof which will be filled with the elements
that most typify the period. The galleries and some of the
features are: the Paleo Indian Hall which stretches into
the most distant past to present ancient relies of
flintnapping, bone work, and weaponry;
The Archaic Indian Hall which wfll feature examples of
early basketry and shell work as well as descriptions of
the trade practices of the period:
The Woodland Indian Hall which introduces the
elements of myth, religion, ceremony, art, and medicine;
The Early Historic Period (1600-1840) Hall which
presents the North Carolina Indian as he is most often
depicted in American history. Ibis gallery will most
certainly offer a few surprises;
The late Historic Period (1840-1980) Hall which
SEE NORTH CAROLINA INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER
PAGE4
There remains too much to do is the lives at Wfllard B .
and RearUeladdear (or them to dwell on the creeping of
old age.
He says food tends to be his only vice right now and he
is trying to cut back on eating too much for health's sake.
"Probably one reason I've Bved as long as I have is that
I've never been a drunkard, and have never hit a fighting
lick in my entire adult life."
And Mrs. Locklear attributes her longevity to her love
f. I M Bfcj, rt ?>! a t I AM T 1 ? II ? ??> Mill III |1 ?? tl
lor people, noney, i love everyooay.
i_ A
Whatever Happened to
Willard B. and Peariie Mae Locklear
by Barbara Bmvoboy-Leekloar
Spatial to 1KB CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Age is a state at mind say WOlard Brantley Locklear
and his wile, Feartie Mae Emanuel Locklear.
. "Why, you're not eld until you get up in the 80's."
Mm. Locklear says as her husband nods in agreement.
^ The Union Chapel community residents are pushing old
age. He is 74 and she is 78 yearn old. And though they are
in the winter of their lives, spring shines brightly as they
reminisce about their 56 yearn together as husband and
wife.
He was bora the third at ten children to Hayes Locklear
and his wife, Phodie Wooden Locklear of Robeson
County.
Bom in Claxton, Georgia, Mr*. Loddear is the daughter
oi tha lata Isaiah Diaon Emanuel and Annie Mae Ransom
Fmsnucl Her parents moved from Georgia when she was
seven jean old. She is the only surviving child at the six
children ben to "LD." and Annie Mae Ehnanuel,
Robeson County native*.
: Mr. loddaar grow up in the Union Chapel community
and attsodad Union Chapel School. He says among his
taaeben at tire all-Indian school were Martin Luther
Lowiy, Lottie Mas Bahsr and John L Carter.
After completing the 11 grades offered at tho school, he
enrafied at Cherokee Indian Normal School ia Pembroke,
ft was there be mot Mrs. Loddaar who had attended the
Ihompeoa and Barter Tan-Mile School.
"It was love at first sight far me." Mr. Loddear says of
moating his future wife. The couple graduated bom the
high school in 1934 and married a year later.
Td just become to bo It yuan old whan I got
married." she remembers. Mr*. Loddear says she told
I her mother that she and Mr. Loddaar. hor boy friend ,
wees just going for a tide on tha night they got married.
Later on they slipped sway to DOlon, SC. Their wedding
[ night was apeut fa the home at the groom's sister,
Strawdie. A week later they moved in with his parents in
the Union Chapel community.
A jmt later after hie parents built a new home, the
couple took up housekeeping la the original Hayes
Loddear house. Mi*. Loddear remembers it was a
one room house with paaeleee windows. "A wooden
abutter covered ike window opening."
Mr. Locfciosr say* he learned first hand from his father
tiie importance at frugality. "I wea born and raised in a
two-room log house with a day floor and lived there until I
was sin years old.
"lean remember living there when my parents had tin
at us children. There were no crib* or storage buildings to
keep cured tobacco in, and Daddy would atom sheets at
the farm crop inside the house far asiaha eying.
"If my daddy made two dollars, he always kept one of
them. He could radly squccee money."
The couple worked on the Loehear hum during their
?ilead year oI marraige. "It was a tee when monthly
wages warn twelve dolors. That year aty wife and I warn
Whh the earnings Mr. LasMssr says ha bought a M
wnndharatof aaak stove, ? hod and a dreeeer.
" And 1 didn't spend hail ha mime we had to have aomo
left to live en," he interjects.
A tow yeare later the yeung aoupte awvod near Had
Qwtoga where aba apmatod a asuatry atom and he did
carpentry work at Ft Bragg Military base. 'three years
later they moved back to the Union Chapel community
and remained. Tbey were to raise ten children: six eons
and four daughters. Another child died hi infancy. By now
the Hayes Loddear estate had increased from the ten
acres he'd purchased from his mother for ten dollars, to
66 acres which consisted of three farms.
- Drawing on his carpentry skills, Mr. Loddear buih a
home for his growing family. It was at his father's
homestead he engaged in fanning crape of tobacco, com
and soybeans. He supplemented his income by working
as a master carpenter with construction companies.
He ww employed with a Robeson County-based
corporation for 29 years and farmed, too. As a
construction site supervisor he was able to work parttime
during tobacco harvest season. He also worked parttime
for 20 years with his late brother-in-law, Juddie A.
Revels, 8k. in a funeral home business.
ha 1964 Mr. Loddear retired. Mrs. LocMear is a retired
homemaher.
Today the coupie's activities are slowed by declining
health. Hie family farm is attended by a son who also
operates an auto garage nearby. Mr. Loddear limits his
driving because of "stiffness" in a foot caused by a (
medical ailment He says be relies on a relative and ,
neighbor to drive him most places.
However, when he does drive, beside him is his j
beloved dog, Prince. The 16-year-old friend goes /
whwfvtr master goM.
"I even tabs him to church with me every Sunday. He \
stays in my car and waits patiently," Mr. Loddear smiles.
"He even goes with me to town." he says of the dog 0
whicfe was given to him by a daughter.
Mr. Loddear has bean a Sunday School adult teacher t.
for ? year*. He is very active in l.is beloved Union Chapel
Community Baptist Church where he serves as chairman
of the Steward committee. p
s
For going on four dacadaa ha haa bann a vital flguro in ?
' 'Tva alwaya fait that aarviaa to my community waa ?
important." the Liunbaa Indian eoramanta.
Savon arthrWa raaultad In a hnaa cap rapine am cot for
lira. locMaar aevoral yuan ago. Sha laarnad to <Mv? an
automobOa yaara ago, but navar waa Ucanaod to driva.
Hut fact did not hindar traval ovor tha yaara far tho
Lumbaa grandmotbor. Sha aaya aba baa touaad naora than
a doaan atataa in tba nation and baa tahan a emiaa akip an
a viaft to Naaaau.
8ho to active in bar church and belongs to the woman's
auxiliary which aaoots monthly. 8h# hmtos ktmif to
hobhiss which fatbits top gwllting, watching tobvtofan
?mi vtoWag fitontto and relatives oa tha totophaaa.
Uto eoupto no leaper tabs leaf distance trips. They
sooaa aootont la have vtolla train tbair toa ehftdasai M
grandchildren aad nine giaal gjsiiituhbiiiaa Many toaau ,
to thoirboats reflecttripa atbygoaa years. Mr. Laddaarto
vory toad of a sap sole alio a which boasts thirty some to
rwrIMW ?
"I art at BMay aapa ! have la than tbasa with aiy
OOM b# OOMMOtO |
WiUard B. and PtaHU Mat LaehUar 1
Native American Resource Center has many references
about Indians
By Dr. Stan Knick
Are you looking for information about a particular tribe
>r nation af Indians? Ate you trying to find out the rmal
itory about Gerooimo or tome other Indian leader? Are
fou aearching for general knowledge of Indiana of the
Saetern Woodlands? If so, the Native American Renounce
>nter, in Old Main Building on the Pembroke State
Jniversity campus, is a good place to look for some
inswers.
The Native American Resource Center has recently
pened a Reading Room where people can find
ifosmatiao about various topics related to American
sdians. The books are arranged by'regions which reflect
lie similar cultures among the Native Americans in each
Rfion. The regions include: Eastern Woodlands, Plains,
latssu and Grant Basin, Northwest Coast and Arctic,
with west, and California. Within each of these regions
in various books: some about specific tribes; some about
w art of that region; ooms about particular people. A
arson hilarsrtad in finding out more about one of these
iburai regions can " browse" through the bonk* '?
for items of interest.
TOm Resource Center has also recently developed an
index for the books in the Reading Room. With this index
s person can find out which boohs contain htfosmatian
about specific Indian-related topics. A sample of the
topics in the index includes: agriculture, arts and crafts,
clothing and regalia, dance, federal policy, honehig and
villages, languages, myths and legends, and treaties.
There are many other topics as well.
Although the books in the Rending Room may not be
cheched-eut. the public is welcome to sit in the Reading
Room and make use of these references For persons who
need to take references home with them, many of these
same books are also available in the Psmhseha State
University library, which is also open to the public. Staff
members of the Native American Resource Center are
available to assist people looking for references and to
discuss many of the topics included in the Reading Room.
U you want to learn more about Native American cultures,
visit the Native American Ras ouree Center.
Local Person
Receives State
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