*?" I Published Each Thursday Since January 18,1973 iyiMLiM Indian Vnigi I cm, NC Robeson County i?? IH i n 7} 1 I >j m 2 * "Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting" I J -- ? 'III North American Native writers to gather for "Returning the Gift" event at OU NORMAN-Established and aspiring North American writers of Native American descent will gather for a four-day event titled "Returning the Gift: A Festival of North American Native Writers" July 7 through 10 on the University of Oklahoma's Norman Campus. Some 200 writers, including Pultizer-Prize winning author N. Scott Momaday and novelist Leslie Marmon Silko, will attend the festi val at the Oklahoma Center for Con tinuing Education, 1700 Asp Ave. The festival is co-spoosored by the OU College of Aits and Sciences. The festival will feature writers of North American Native descent from Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America. J. Riifus Fears, dean of the OU Col lege of Arts and Sciences, has adopted the "Returning the Gift" project as pait ofan effort to promote American Indian research and awareness at (XJ, said Bartnra Hobson, project coordi nator at OU. The first two days of the festival will be exclusively for die Native Writers feMttkdv^HBIIlobaon, a Comanche working on her doctoral degree at OU. The third and fourth days, open to die general public, will bring in non-Native supporters ofNative writ ing, including critics, publishers and teachers ofNative American litera ture. The festival agenda includes writ ing workshops, panel discussion, seminars, working sessions, readings and performances. The event is part of an overall "Returning the Gift" project to highlight the contributions of North American Native peoples. A central mission of the project is to strengthen the role played by Native writing and Native wirtere in educat ing and providing role models for Native youth. The project also includes and out reach education program to bring traditions of Native literature to na tive American students at all levels and their teachers; the publication of a "Directory of North American Na tive Writers"; and the formation of a North American Native Writers Asaociaitoo. In addition, the outreach program will foster development of writing workshops; establish a clearing house to help Native writers publish; dis seminate information about contem porary Native writing and writers to libraries and bookstores; and publish an anthology of Native writing from writers at foe festival and other docu mentation of the project through a written history, audio, film and video. Joseph Bruchac, aa Abenaki story teller who is serving ss editor and chair of tbe steering committee forth e"Returaing die Gift" project, said social concerns and a sense of re sponsibility for coming generations are major elements of contemporary Native literature. "There's no question that education is a great problem in this country today, and perhaps no group is more i n need of better education and stronger, more positive role models than Native American youth," Bruchac said. He said the United States and Canda "have a long history of government imposed systems meant to destroy ( Native cultural heritage and glorify Western civilization in a totally un balanced way. Such education made people feel confused about their iden tity, even ashamed ofbeing Indian or Eskimo." The idea of the artist being isolated from the people doemt make sense to most Native American writers," Bruchac continued. That is one of the reasons why our project is called 'Returning the Gift*. The ability to write well, to tell stories or make poems is regarded by us as a special gift. "This festival, with its strong em phasis on the place Native writers can holds mentors and educators, is one way of our returning the gift and keeping the balance. It is a means of giving beck, as writers and as human beings, something useful to our com munities, to our young people, and through our kng-stending concerns for the health of our environment, to mwLEarti," Bnsehec mid. In edition to the OU College of Am and Sciences, the event is sponsored by the Greenfield Review Literary Center, Gerakiine R. Dodge Founda tion, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, State ArtsCouncil of Oklahoma, Bay Foun dation and the New York Times Foundation. Conference registration is $85.00. To register, call (405) 325-5102. The toll free numbers are 1-800-522-0772, Ext. 5101, in Oklahoma and 1-800 523-7363,Ext. 5101,outndeofOkla The mind of man is capable of anything? because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future. ?Joseph Conrad Distinguished Service Medal presented to Velasquez and Walker Robot Walker, a 1982 Sewart High graduate, recently received a Distinguished Service Medal from the Kansas City, Mo. Police Depart ment. The department awarded Walker and his partner for their suc ceasftil handling of a July shootout During the altercation Walker's part ner suffered a bullet wound to his hand Walker is the son of Rev. and Mrs. David Walker of Seward and has Robeson County family connec tions. The commendation follows: At time o'clock in the afternoon of July 26th, officers David Velasquez and Robert Waiter were rent to invaMfftfe a suspicious car parked in the lot at independence avenue and Proapect. When the officer* anived they found two men atand-'V fog outaide of a white limouafoe. Two other* were in the back eeat Beginning their in veatigation, back aeat occupants were told to get out of the car. Ae the one who wee ahtfog in the rear pamenger aeat began moving oat of the car, he pointed a .43 caliber handgun at officer Walker. Alert to this, Offi cer Walker (lammed the car door onto the armed man and warned officer Velaequez of the danger Comfog out of the car again, the "?pact find foa gun at Officer Velaequez, who almoet (imulta neoualy returned fire Officer Velaequez waa foot twice, once in foe gun hand and onoe in hia cheat TW foot to the hand not only ?"?nded Uat, but aleodiaabled hit """for lla ballet fired at foa cheat was Mopped by his bullet resistance vest. Officer Walker also find his weapon, hitting one of the suspects. Two of the men were taken into custody at the scene and two, including the one that was wounded, escaped. Even during this dangerous situation, both of ficers maintained their composure and wer able to provide to the dispothcer a complete description of the two that escaped and their get-away car. The wounded sus pect was soon arrested when he ?ought treatment at ahospital. The second man, during an operation 100 several months later, took his own life instead of surrendering to police. Officers Velasquez and Walker displayed courage, team work, and sense of responsibility wen confronted with a very dnagvous situation. For their ac tions, an behalf of the Board of Police Commissioners and myself, 1 am pleased to present the distin guished service medal to officers DAVID VELASQUEZ AND ROB ERT WALKER. Say you ritd It in Tt? OhiHm Mtaa Valaa To Subscribe Call 521-2826 Today! Fourth of July Celebration Planned in Lumberton The North Carolina Indian Busi ness Association will meet oo Sat urday, June 20,1992 from 10: 00a.m.-12:00 noon in classroom 222 and 223 of the Education Cen ter at Pembroke State University, Pembroke, North Carolina Agenda items will include: A presentation from Greg Richardaon, Director of the North Carolina State Indian Housing Authority an an up coming con struction bid (see attachment). The Small Business Administration's Native American Initiative. Native American Marrow Donor Awareness Program List ofNarth Carolina Indian Busi ness Membership is open to owners and operators of Indian businesses, organizations and thoee interested in assisting the assaocistion achieve it's goals and objectives. Please plan to attend and bring a friend. A S5.00 registration fee will be collected at the door. For more information contact Wanda Bums Ramsey, Economic Development Specialist for the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, at 919-733-5998. K*" Hunt, a Beater afGaldea Heart* 4-H Club 4-H activity day held One of the major events in the Robeson County 4-H members present presentations on 4-H projects, says Vernon E. McHam, Extension Agent, 4-H. Presenta tions normally last from five to twelve minutes with the exception of outdoor cookery projects. Pre sentations am a special kind of activitywhich help 4-1Ters