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Page 2-Car()lina Indian Voicc-Thursdav. January 7. 1993 Conq czR. option ^xaiC on^ m o If ^tan lf(nicC, ^ixceiot ^NaHvl cAtnt\l&An aouxcc Centex Us Andy Rooney, famous for his brief humor at the close ofthe TV program 6U Minutes, wrote last year in his syndicated newspaper column that "while the American Indians have a grand past, the impact of their cul ture on the world has been slight...There are no great Indian novels...” At the time 1 pointed out that Pulitzer-prize-wiiming novelist Scott Momaday (who is a Kiowa Indian) would probably take exception to Mr. Rooney's statement. Of course there are a number of other fine Na tive American writers whose works also demonstrate that perhaps Mr. Rooney needs to read a bit more widely before making up his mind. Since then, another especially wondrous example of Native Ameri can writing has been published which Mr. Rooney and a lot of other people ought to read. It is the new novel by Gerald Vizenor, called Dead Voices, Professor Vizenor is a Minnesota Chippewa (Anishinabe) who also happens to be on the faculty of the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of California. He also happens to be General Editor ofthe prestigious University of Oklahoma Press's American Indian Literature and Critical Studies Series. He has written a number of other books, in cluding The People Named ths Chippewa and Bearheart: The Hetr- 1. and a great deal of poetry. But the new book. Dead Voices, stands out as an especially "Indian" novel. By that I mean that Vizenor uses the traditional Indian art of storytelling to its maximum effect. The stories become the novel. On the surface the book is a series of stories about people who turn into animals(orisittheotherway round?). In each story we magically see the world through the feelings and per spective of the animals (bears, squir rels, crows and so forth). The stories in the series are tightly woven to gether by images and little repetitions that make reading the 144-page bookflowby like a friendly brookhurrying downtojoin the river. But just beneath the surface of the book Vizenor shows us the world as it is divided between Indian and Eu ropean points of view. He calls the Europeans "Wordies" (surely an ap propriate name), and illustrates one of the major differences between modem American culture and tradi tional tribal culture-the difference between written culture and oral cul ture: "She was a bear and teased me in mirrors as she did the children, and at the same time she said that tribal stories must be told not recorded, told to listeners but not readers, and she insisted that stories be heard through the ear not the eye. She was very determined about the ear in spite ofthe obvious inconsistencies. The tribal world was remembered in the ear...She even encouraged me to tell my own stories, but my stories were Reflections by Alta Nye Oxendine This time I got behind on Thanks giving and Clu-istmas thoughts and now it's past New Year's' Gordon and .leff But I'd like to talk a little about my "baby", Gordon. Each year I find it harder to realize how old he would be, ifhe was still here with us. Well, believe it or not Gordon would have turned 28 on December 28th. I had planned to write more about my third child. But I want to go back to Christmastime and pick up where I left off last time. In the meantime, a belated "Happy Birthday to my son-in-law, Jeff, who was bom on that very same date. "Thanks-eiving" at Christmas Since most of us are so busy rush ing around before Christmas, per haps this after-Christmas season is a good time to stop and reflect about some of the things we tend to over look in the story of the first Christ mas. Because I began at Thanksgiv ing time, looking for "Songs of Praise" m the Book of Psalms, I've been amazed at how many expressions of praise are to be found in both the Old and New Testaments. This year I've become more aware than ever of this powerful "Song of Praise" proclaimed by the angels a5 they announced the birth of Jesus (SeeLuke2j. And I've became even more impressed with the "Song of Praise" by the young maiden chosen by God to be the mother ofhis earthly divine-human. Son, Jesus Christ. Wouldn't this be a good time for all of us to read Mary's song in the first chapter of the Gospel of "Good News" written by Luke, a doctor and followers of Jesus? More Songs of Praise and "Thanks giving How about joining me in the ad venture of looking throughout the Bible for songs of praise and Thanks giving"? One of my resolutions for 1993 is to learn to praise the Lord at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and in between, even when things around me are not all that cheerful. I hope this season of Thanksgiv ing and Christmas will have taught me about Thanks-Living as well as Thanks-giving! Say you read it in the Carolina Indian Voice m Pictured left to right: David O'Neil General Manager Maxton & Sanford Plants, Harry Reed Owner of Harry Reed Homes, Billy Woolard Sales Manager of Maxton & Sanford Plants, Pictured with keys to the 1000th Redman Home Manufactured from the Maxton Plant sold in Robeson County to the Randy Hunt Family in Fairmont, NC. Harry Reed of Harry Reed Homes has been designated by Redman Homes as an Outstanding dealer achieving over one million dollars in wholesale purchases from the Redman plant in Maxton, N.C. and Sanford plant. Mr. Reed has been in mobile home retail sales for 26 years. Mr. Reed has earned numerous sales and service awards and is a highly recognized volume Redman retailer. Redman Homes recently awarded Mr. Reed and his wife Lynda A. Vacation to Puerto Rico for outstanding sales and lectures, or dead voices, so she told me to imagine in my own way the stories she had fold me. "I imitated her voice at first, prac ticed her hesitant manner, and re peated the sounds ofher animal char acters. The secret, she told me, was not to pretend, but to see and hear the real stories behind the words, the voices of the animals in me, not (he definitions of the words alone.. .She said there were tri cksters in our voices and natural sounds, tricksters who remembered the scenes, the wild vi sions in the shadows of our words. She warned me that even the most honored lectures were dead voices, that shadows were dead in recita tions. She said written words were the burial grounds of shadows. The tricksters in the word are seen in the ear not the eye." Vizenor proves what a masterful writer he is in the telling of these stories( "in spite of the obvious in consistencies" of writing about tell ing). Dead Voices is a delightfully hu morous and sometimes grippingjour- ney into tribal world view, brought to life through tales of survival in a modem city. The book is available from University of Oklahoma Press, and could be requested at any good book store or local library. Oh, and Mr. Rooney, this one's for you! For more information, visit (he Native American Resource'Center in Old Main Building, on the campus of Pembroke State University. Call 521-2926 to Subs''nhe Pat Hunt-Tanner Invites You to Bullard Furniture! Pat Hunt-Tanner, a native Robesonian. invites you to stop by Bullard Furniture any Monday.Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday and take advantage of her decorating, financing and general furniture expertise. So. ask for F^t! She’ll be happy to help you with all your home furnishing, needs! Kenda Bird, Junior Miss Lurabee is shown beside Rep. Adolph Dial She was among the special guests attending the 70th birthday celebration of Kep. Dial. Mrs, Hamet Dial is shown left. Kenda is the daughte rof Glenda R. Bird and the late Kenneth Bird. She IS the second Junior Miss Lumbee. iSj^ROGRESSIVE SAVINGS & LOAN, LTD. *100 minimum checking account ForCheefc^ Allows You To Write Checks WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE As Long As The Balance Does Not Fall Below $100.00. II The Balance Does Fall below $100.00, A $6.00 Monthly Charge And 30« Per Check Is Necessary This Account Does Not Pay Interest. \ PROGRESSIVE SAVINGS & LOAN, LTD. 308 N. Chestnut 4400 Fayetteville Road Lumberton.N.C. l.umberton N r ^3®-1478 738-14i6 720 HarTi.$...t.„t, Raoford, C 875-2488 ■ilO K. ;ird Street i’embroko, N. C. 521-4206 The call came at 4 o'clock in the morning. My aunt had died. The only question was when I was going home, not if. I made the necessaiv arrangements and departed the next Genealogical Glimp S( by Elisha Locklear Upon arriving in Pembroke, 1 was immediately .struck by the feeling of comfort and familiai ity that came over me. I was home! My father, older brother, and 1 wailed for my younger brother to arrive. He arrived, we got dressed and went to the funeral home where the service was to be held. My aunt had died in Michigan and had been flown home to rest beside her mother. 1 could not help but think of the special place that Pem broke must be for someone who lived 87 years to be drawn back to. to rest forever. After a brief service, we went to our cars for the trip to the grave site. During this trip I noticed a phenom enon that I have not observed any where else in the world. As the funeral procession passed, each and every automobile approaching it pulled off the road, stopped, and waited for the procession to pass. The men removed their hats and talking in the vehicles ceased. A motorcyclist stopped and removed his helmet. This honor for the de parted soul is deeply rooted in our ancestry. It is something instilled in us from birth. We honor our elders and the ones, young or old, who leave this physical world. I was touched beyond words and will always remember and treasure that moment. My aunt was honored by persons who did not know her personally, but because she was one of US, she was given the respect we as a people hold so dearly. Red Turtle Rhoda by now has Aaron away from the fire and has begun to make him as comfortable as possible. She begins to survey their predicament. By now they have put several miles between themselves and the soldiers. The air is blustery, cold, and icy, and they are surrounded by hungry wolves. Tocompoundhurtwithmis- ery, the leader of this party is even now lying, for all she knows, par tially blinded by the fire. SabraAnn ismendingthe fire while Rhodakeeps vigil over her son. She peers out into the rim of darkness but is unable to make out the forms of any wolves. cold, wet hillside mail feet of them are Pfotnidiriu With questioning eyes, Sabra Ann touches Rhoda's arm and motions out into the night. She understands. For a long while now she has not heard the cry of a wolf and now she is unable to see one either. For the first time in what seemed like ages Sabra Ann notices what looks like a smile playing at the comers ofthe old lady's mouth. Rhoda knows that the wolves are gone, but why? Leaving without takingaprey, without being fed. She had never heard of such. An eerie sound in the trees, the wind seems to cut to the very bones. The fire helps, but it was beginning to get low, Sabra Ann does not dare let it bum out for fear that the wolves will return with a vengeance. "If only we could make a small wind break, we could save some of our wood and prevent our fire from be ing seen by anyone in the west", the old lady mutters to herself as she pilfers through the small packages she has earned with her. Ideas begin to take shape in her mind as she shakes out a few pieces of rawhide and cloth. Sabra Ann watches as she breaks some slender green limbs, pressing one end of them into the begins at one side, lacingll,:, ofmaterial to the sticks. finished she has a half-moon enclosure around the fire ne,!j„ feet high. The heat is easier-^ tain now and the wood « )r through the night P( Aaron has begun to stir,;§ ( wife and Rhoda are hoveriurs him like two mother hens, li-en afraid of what she will see arjtei Ann is afraid to look at all. of an owl is heard in the treiU head, and then a horrible raitra gins. It's as if a whole drove 3ei are screeching and flying ai in circles over the small parly o'sit ers. Isthisanomen?Tomac'.}he people the owl is a bad otwi others a good one, Rhoda marvels at the strathe penings that they have enco la on this dreadful trip, Ifoin Great Spirit would remembn i party tonight and bring goo ha to their little side of the ra Ini Rhoda sits down beside herlir begins to muse over the evetl, v pastfewhours. Sofilledwii2a hension, so much danger :-rc family. Maybe she shouldked her family to the west? 'fibn owls a BAD OMEN? \(it- turas to look at Aaron's bitht notices that the air has tumiloc and it has begun to snow. ' u A look of peace has coda Aaron's face. Rhoda andS:idi senses this and sits down iic rest. It will take the rest oftlin to warm up and to dry out as.'f. their things as possible. For'or tonight Sabra Arm is awaiiioi children have been whiraptJre some time. The wind cesn o cry shrilly as the snow stai> s YOUR BIBLE AND vr: by Daniel Davis Public-opinion polls have revealed that the average persoo'skooa'^^' of the Bible is extremely limited. Few of those questionedcould dozen ofits leading characters. Fewerstillcouldlistitssixty-sabbbfo^ ‘ in the "Bible-belt” things may be a little better, yet there is aproblec*^® There must be millions of Bibles lying around in Christian unopened and unread, save possibly on special occasions such as wr*"®' and funerals. Some people, especially this time of year, start out inS to read the Bible, only to give up after glancing at the first few chapter a r to music videos, video games, movies and our fast-paced life style tliiorti seem little in the Bible to compete. u F Unable to find anything of gripping interest, or bored by some uji:h te phraseology, many set the Bible aside as if it were completely beyosor understanding. God's word is rich in its power to change lives. rtC written word to a fallen creation. The Bible was meant for you a;. T1 common folk. Not for the few who can study Greek and Hebrew. Triop] letter was inspired by the Holy Spirit for all of God's children on ll) Nl How is it with you and your Bible? Do you read it? DoyouenjoyOIN not start the new year right...in prayer with your Bible and you. DCI iTii Til TlTi if % I M Types of incontinence Defined as "the involuntary loss of urine s severe as to have social and/or hygieni consequences/’ urinary incontinence affects at leas 10 million adults in the United States. Those with some conditions may need only If sneeze, cough, or laugh to lose urine. Thougl some cases are serious, for the majority of Ihost affected the treatment is often as simple as e^^rcise- To learn more, get a FREE BROCHURE at our R) Counter describing several types of incontence And don't hesitate to ask your doctor about this condition- the cure for you may be quite simple- l=A«k Tours ri- MeatUv Eamitv Pharmaeh to Answer Your Questions_ j l(^ ^lyor ';! 01 BECK SLKVING WSESOH C® Sad OVEU 15 yEWS ES-1 ’ _,idull CHIROPRACTL SPECIALIZING IN AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED CENTER "APPOINTMENT PLEASE" X iJlicati labrok EMERGENCY HOME NUMBER . lU R' DR,WOODROWW8£CK,JR.738-3126 OFFICE 739-5751 FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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Jan. 7, 1993, edition 1
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