MARY LIVERMORE LIBRARY OB ^
PEMBROKE STATE LIBRARY
dC 21371 ^ ^ _ ^ ^ ? /TitaalL.^.-^fe.*. ?
I Published each Thursday since January 18,1973 I
p ?
I ?Carolina Indian Voice I
rn H <w "S !MM
x> n ?-4 I .??<'* ? . T- ? * ?- f -?'TvfwSPFW^F- CT' * ?"? W] ' ?
H 33
n s gp wpM - ? ?' ? " *? 5 ? , ;V< . fc- : ? * * j^M
q .v^-V-^vsV '^4- * "l&! " ;'
| j oke, NC Robeson County
C M . ? t. tj,' v&-??? ^.-^L ? 4.'. 'jL* ?? ? j&T'-" ?' :
; n* | "Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
iLi t-j 3? '* .? l?.' ?.'-: -?? ? 'i -..?. ??'-.?% ;?Im. ?. ? ,..:,
|MM| i O I NUMBER 41 THURSDAY* OCTOBER IT. Iff I a cpB FB COFT
I
Char .vjoi egory Cummings announces
for town council seat
?
Charles Gregory Cummings
Charles Gregory Cummings has announced his
candidacy for the Pembroke Town Council. As a lifetime
resident of the town for 43 years, he stated, he is veiy
concerned about internal and external programs of his
town.
Charles i? married to the former Myra Warriax and
ti\ey Jiave twu-chiidaw?,JTeeww . 15,
Charles is a member of Sandy Plaifts United B^ethodisi
Church where he is very involved with different church
activities.
He has worked with Lumbee Regional Development
Association for 17 years with the Job Training Program as
a Placement Officer and working with Economic
Development.
Cummings has been involved with community projects
and committees at the county and local level. He has
served in various capacities, including: past president of
the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce; past president of
the Pembroke Jaycees; Pembroke Economic Development
Plsnel; Pembroke Zoning Board; Pembroke and PSU Day;
; Robeson County Strategic & Economic Development
Board; past Chairman of the Robeson County Committee
of 100; C P &L Southeastern Economic Fuel; Robeson
County Bicentennial 200th Anniversary. Projects include;
Welcome to Pembroke and PSU signs; Christmas Parade
for 16 years; Chairman, Lumbee Homecoming; N.C.
Indian Heritage Week; Robeson County Industrial Video;
and needy family services.
In making his announcement. Cummings released the
following statement:
"With federal budget cuts affecting state and local
governments, town councilmen must 1m more dedicated
to their positions in the decision making process. As a
council, we should search diligently for correct data, talk
with out citizens, took at other similar situations and make
a decision for what is best for the future of Pembroke.
"I am concerned about the following areas of
Pembroke: (1) governmental process: (2) housing; (3)
recreation; (4) police security; (5) town maintenance; (6)
upgrading of our existing businesses; (7) town
beautification; (8) senior citizens programs (meals on
wheels); (9) town grants; (10) town sewage disposal plant;
(11) roads; (12) new business growth (franchises),
industrial economic development. Economic growth is a
critical priority for our town. It would increase tax
revenues for our town, therefore, eliminating any new tax
increases for our citizens and maintaining a high quality
of living.
"A councilman's job isn't just meeting once a month
; and making decisions, but councilmen should be
personally involved ii) community programs and civic
1 organustienajlf they4re eonogqgd about their town.
<" One other major concern is Pembroek State University
of the UNC system. I'm very proud of this institution and
we are very fortunate that this institution is located in our
town. Hie time has come for us as citizens and business
leaders to get mom involved with the University. Hie
students and staff we our guests. We need a planned
program to look at our town weaknesses and strengths to
meet the needs of this institution. We are s university
town.
"Citizens, I need your support on November 6th.
Working together these ideas can become a reality."
Lumbee Bill requires tribal
referendum vote on constitution
While a spokesman for Sen. Jeaae Helms reports that
Sen. Helms will oppose the Lumbee BUI to be considered
in the Senate within a few weeks, the attorney for the
Lumbee Tribe, Aiiinda LocUear, states that the Tribe is
legally barred from standard procedure for tribal
recognition. "The 1966 act prohitrta the Lumbee people
from petitioning for recognition," Loddear stated. "The
preamble to the 1966 Act which designates the Lumbee as
Indian, also bars us from any services of the Department
of the Interior. The 1966 Act makes itim possible for the
Lumbee to petition for recognition."
In addition to Sen. Helms' office, the Bureua of Indian
Affairs has indicated that they will ask President Bush to
veto the Lumbee Bill if it passes the Senate. The BIA also
states that the Congressional route to recognition
circumvents the recognition process. In view of these and
other misconeeptsions about Lumbee, Attorney Loddear
feels that it would help if both those opposed and those in
favor of the passage of the Lumbee BUI were more
knowledgeable about the Bill itself.
H.R 1426 amends the preamble to the Act of June 7,
1966 "by adding at the end thereof the following new
clauses:
"Whereas the Lumbee Indians of Robeson sod
adjoining counties in North Carolina are descendants of
coastal North Carolina Indian tribes, principally Cheraw,
and have remained a distinct Indian community since the
time of contact with white settlers;
"Whereas the Lumbee Indians have been recognised
by the State of North Carolina as an Indian tribe since
1886;
"Whereas the Lumbee Indians have sought Federal
recognition as an Indian tribe since 1888; and
"Whereas the Lumbee Indians are entitled to Fademl
recognition of their status as an Indian tribe and the
benefits, privileges, and immunities that accompany such
status FEDERAL RECOGNITION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"See. 2. (a) Federal recognition Is hereby extended
to the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indiana of North Carolina.
AB lawn and regulations of the United States of general
application to Indians and Indian tribes shall apply to the
Lumbee IHbe of Charsw Indains of North Caroline and its
"(b) Notwithstanding the first section of this Act any
group of Indians la Hubs inn or adjoining counties whose
maiahsu are not enrolled in the I umbos Trive of Cheraw
Indiana of North Carolina, as fitinalaif under section
14(b) may peMon under pert N of title ? of the Cede of
for of tvffool
"^'IwrVTCBA flea. Ha) The lumbee Tribe of Chmuw
Indiana af North Carolina and lie mam kin ah* he
eligible fur elf services and benefits provided to Indians
because of their status as federally recognised Indians,
except that members of the tribe shall not be entitled to
such services until the appropriation of funds for these
purposes. For the purposes of the delivery of such
services, those members of the tribe residing in Robeson
( and adjoing counties. North Carolina, shall be deemed to
be resident cm or near an Indian reservation..."
The Bill requires the Tribe to adopt an Indian
Reorganisation Act Constitution. Members will decide
who serves on the tribal council, how long the terms are,
how much power the council has, and other standard
Constitutional questions.
Under the requirements of the BUI it could be as long as
three years before funding begins. The first stop
following Federal Recognition would be a needs
assessment for services conducted by the Secretary of the
Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This needs
assessment will be conducted to determine which eervices
are seeded and a rsqusst for the monies wfl] bs made
based on the assessment of nesds.
lbs Sec retry of the Interior will review the tribal rolls
for the purpoees of verification. The Secretary wfll also be
available to assist in the process of the adoption of a
Constitution. A referendum vote wiD be required on the
Constitution and the constitution wfll specify the process
for the election of tribal oouncB Members, the tribal
chairman or chief. Every enrolled member wfll he eligible
to vote on the Constitution, as wefl as on the tribal cause!
itself.
Appropiratioas for the Lumber would be in a block
grant to the Bunas of Indian Affairs and all funda set
aside to be aibnlniaterart by the tribe itself. This
procedure wiO eliminate the BIA from reeievisg
administrative costs from the "line item" monies.
Upon mtiflmdlsa of the Isimboa BUI the tribal rolls will
be re-opened for a stated period of time (180) days psior to
the vole on the Consttution. This wfll give parsons
enrolled hi otitor tribal groups tr organ iastions an
opportunity to suroil is the Lnmbee tribe, If thsy meet the
criteria of the tribe.
TV Bill does not sNmiuato the opportunity for other
groups in til# eounty from petitioning the Ifopartment of
the Interior for separate rssognltion. but allows It IV
asms aneluaioe that apptios to Lsmboa Indians also
appUna to stiwr hdlna groups In tV snunty. IV biaanga
oTthe Umbo# Bill would in fort mnV It aaritf for other
groups In the arsa to rasoivo rseagaltien.
TV trito would hara the gmuramsntni powssa to
ragulats tones and to rafultto laws to
r>v?m "our MM pMfW." MMrilng to H.R 1418. 1
||| in^ fof* pi*ijtjun |||^ j||y
tJ l>hHk ^irniiia In innifAP i?lv4l aiiH MimiiiAl kii4irfi#tiAn I
Mto *MM***to*^*v WtV 888*88 toMwWW* 8*8^88
li Uto MR*.
Atomy lMto**r I* ipUwltoii *>?> llto Lntoh*? ML i
?to I* "*MiUMt" Utat to* an wii mm ?ii of Mi* i
Iniii. Tkam an 100 liMtnn in Ik* United SutM aad
II m MtM ItptMllM LiimbM aui.
14 mi ban of lite Lm*m 1Mb* ?4 i^pirtew m?
u?fd te iawU?i ilteir Imiiiw ?4 iniwmi n?i te
MlfPMt lite Ua*M nil.
Mitchell Lock/ear considering bid
for board of education J
Mitchell "Bosco" Locklear of the Prospect community
has announced his intention to seek a seat on the board of
education of the Public Schools of Robeson County in
1992. Always concerned with statistics, Locklesr said that
the drop out rate for local students was astounding.
"Whan you hear that 720 students have dropped out of
our schools and 450 of them are Idian, it ia time for all of
us to become mom involved in the educational process."
Locklear has long been active in the Native American
Political Action Committee. The organisation was the first
to address the issue of re-districting of the board of
education. In addition, NAPAC spoke publicly for the
elected positions as opposed to the appointment process
that was teehidi die the merger of the Jive school systems
In the cau?y;!39"orK?ni^on saw the need/' Locklear
said, "lor taxpayers to be allowed to vote for those
persons who make decisions governing the education of
their children "
Locklear continues to be very vocal on the issue of
electing representatives, and extremely vocal about the
re-districting process. He believes that the re-districting
should be done in accordance with the racial percentages
as documented by the 1990 Census figures.
The re-districting plan submitted to the U.S. Justice
Department by the board of education waa presented to
the board by NAPAC. If the Justice Department approves
the plan, eight members wiH be sleeted by districts, four
of them in 1992. District 4 which presently has no
epresentative residing in the district is comprised of:
Jurat Swamp, a portion of North Pembroke,
%fladelphus. Red Springs # 1 and Red Springs 0 2 and
Shannon, North Smiths and Sooth Smiths.
In announcing his intention to seek election to District
i, Locklear stated that many many people had encouraged
lim to ran for the position and to announce his intentions
ariy. " As a parent of a student in the public schools, I am
naking myself available to serve. Quality education for all
hildren is my primary concern," he said. "Our children
re our most valuable resource, to quote an old adage,"
e said. "I have a problem when I read statistics that say
ur children are at the bottom of standardized test scores,
here is nothing wrong with our students. There is
omething wrong with a system that continues to score
>w on academic tests. Our SAT scores are at the bottom.
>ur drop out rate is astronimical. Something is wrong.
Lnd there is a reason for it It appears that somewhere in
lie administration there is a break down between the
entral office and the classroom. We have 15 board
lembers and none of them, thus far, have addressed the
roblem publicly. The problems must be identified before
olutions can be set forth. I would recommend dealing
nth the problem and laying all politics aside. Whoever
ets hurt in the process will get over it if changes have to
e made administratively."
Locklear is forceful in his expression of educational
concerns. "I know that I won't be popular with those
politicians who are only concerned with ensuring seats on
the board of education.- But I am not concerned about
that. I am concerned that none of our students receive less
educationally than they are entitled to."
Locklear is presently employed with the Robeson
County Department of Social Services. Prior to his
employment there he worked as a community organizer
with the Rival Advancement Fund.
Civic affiliations include serving as a member of the
ftoepect Volunteer Fire Department. Chairman of the
Prospect School Advisory Council, member of the N.C.
House, of Representatives District Executive Committee.
Chairman of South Smiths Precinct
He is a past member of the Rural Advancement Fund
Fuatice Project Advisory Board; past chairman of the Four
}ounty Head Start Jtolicy Council and past member of the
Joard of Directors of Prospect Volunteer Fire Depart:
nent ; ;
Hie 31-year old Locklear, his wife, Doris and da ugh tec
Jessies are active members of Galilee Baptist Churehr *
CUMMINGS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
Dmbtrton, NC-Fnnces McArthur Cummings. a candi
date for the North Carolina House of Representatives,
District 87, formally announced her candidacy to
seek election in the May 5,1998 Democratic Primary. Ma.
Cummings spoke to the Robeson County, Hoke Countv.
and Scotland County Black Caucuses in their meeting on
Saturday, October 12. 1991 in Fairmont, NC.
hi her statement, Ms. Cummings said, "My Campaign
Advisory Committee, representatives from their counties,
other leaders, and interested citizens--tri-racial-- from
across North Carolina met over a June 22.1991 brunch to
make the decision and lend support"
Ms. Cummings was a N.C. House District 16 candidate
in May 1990. "I was extremely pleased to have these
individuals look at some of the May 1990 primary election
results in making the vital decision," she said. "The fact
that I won a seat in Hoke County, came within a run-off in
Robeson County, was fifth in Scotland, and ended an
eighth-person race gaining a fourth place status, some
2,000 votes short of a House seat is indicative of my
etectefaihty.
"This date along with the continuous grassroots
support and suoouragement indicates that I am s viable
and electable candidate and that I should make another
attempt in 1992," she concluded.
Cumminga is a Hie-long resident of Robeson County, a
member of the HIHy Branch Baptist Church and Hvee in j
Lnmberton. Currently she is employed by the Public
Schools of Robeson County as Assistant Director of i
Vocational Education. She holds a B.S. degree from
liviagatooe Collage, a Master's degree from N.C.
Central IMvesky. aad Vocational Education Director's
Certification from UNC Greensboro.
Cummmgs is an active member of several local and
national association. Some of which are American
Vocational Association; NCVA; NC Council of Local
Vocational Administrators; the Robeeon County Black
Caucus; the Robs son County Democratic Party; and the
..esters Woman's Program Council. She is currently an
Aaasdatioa of Executive* Sponsored Fellow in the N.C.
Institute of Political Leadership and was rocentiy
appointed to tha Lumbar River Private Industry Council
by the Robeson County Commiaoionen (July 1991). "I
feel vary comfortable offering myself aa a public servant.
My tdtuhi rayartaaoea. training, leadership and
rapreiaatoUoa span from tcoal organising to leprneatiag
including Nairobi. Kenya, Africa fd Canada," aha said.
"Hie people of N.C. House District 87 and the state
need a representative who understands the problems of
today, who cares, and who will engage in and provide,
strategic planning to bring about positive changes an$
solutions for the people. I can lead and follow. And strong
leadership is needed as we move into the 21st Century.
"1 am committed to helping improve the quality of life
for all people. I honestly and sincerely believe and feel
..xifident that I have a new insight of director; a proven
method working with, for, and representing the ethnic
diversity at people in District 87 and across North
Carolina," she stated.
"My campaign strategies will include well- organised
cmapaign; hey issues; campaigning door to door and
media. My emphasis as a N.C. House of Representative
candidate are education, economic security and job
opportunites, health care and prenatal services, elimina
tion at crime, violence and drugs.
"The people of District 87 can be assured of
representation of integrity and competence. I will work to
see that all children are educated; that people are on jobs
and off the streets and that they re in their own homes. I
want to so# taxpayers' dollars apent wisely. Taxpayers
deserve a strong econmic base and peace of mind that
somebody cares. I cam about the suffering people of our
state and those who wish to move progressively in the
Future.
"My leadership is positive and progressive, and I feel
that I held a 'hey to pragma."'