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tlders and Traditionalist) ^ Corner k.w n "Wi," Lecklesr Oueofourpoliiiciaascamainthe store the other day, and he wwned to know oi Wiz's thoughts oo one of them paid advertisements the LRDA boy* look ot? is thafLumbenao paper. Com**, I tokl bin thai I thought they ought to be giving our Indian money they're holding to our Indian paper He promised me that he would look talo it aad aee what he could do about it. But.you kaow bow poUticiaa* are. Miss Coo nee When they git to (netting soaiethiog, they likes to stir around*. So, we ant down and chewed the ftdatpeli Now, I reckon you kaow Miss Coanee, moat politician* can talk all day aad when they're through, you aia't heard nothing thai you au t heard before. Moat likely, if you ask them something, you ain't going going to git a straight answer; and if you ain't careftii. they'll talk you out of a dollar or two. They say that's a smart politician. Miss Coanee. So. 01 Wiz figured he would talk like one of them smart politicians and we must have set there an hour before he got up and said. "Now. Wiz, I've been setting her near an hour and you aia't told me athiag.''Well, I said to him,''It's like this, ine people here are going to take them a vote on their constitution and about all them boys at the LRDA can do is nuse a btg stink, but that's about all they can do." Now this here politician aaid he agreed, but he wanted to kaow ifl'd be a go between with out delegate* for them LRDA boys According to him, the LRDA is ?coking for one. But. like 1 told hun. MissConnee. OI Wiz is loo old to be a running here and there, so about the only dung he can do is stand; and that's what OI Wiz is a doing, Miu Conaae. be * standing with the people But, I got to studying about it. Miss Coanee, and the more T thought on it, the more I got to thinking on this go between job. I've been a wanting to git me anew suit, and I figure that this would be as a good a reason as any to git one. Well, when 1 told my wife about becoming a go between: she sold me thai the only place 1 needed to be going was somewhere lo git her Tmsiifi machine Axed. She said our delegates weren't needing no go between and the LJU>A weren't going to listen to a thing OI Wiz had to say 00 anything Well. I reckon she's as. Miss Coonee, but for a short le there I had myself pictured as being a go between with a new suit. But I heard the LRD A boys are still looking for a go between. Miss Coonee, cause they're wanting to set up a meeting with our delegiues. The only trouble is they want 4 or 5 of them to meet with 4 or 5 of our delegates. But 1 heard our delegates have voted to meet with them and anyooe else providing it ain't no secret meeting, like the one they had up in Washington with Mr Charlie Rose And, 1 heard them delegates say it had to be open to all delegates and all the people. Now these ain't people. Miss Coonee. that sound like they are needing a go between. But these LRDA boys are a needing one and I reckon if anyone out there is wanting the job, they can go see one of than LRDA boys I reckon they might even pit paid a little piece of money for their trouble If I could be a go between. Miss Coonee. I would like to be one up there in Washington on this Whitewater thing with our President. Now, I reckon go between* in thai situation git paid some big money, if they can bold on to their jobs long enough. But down bete in Robeson, our race of people don't cotton too much to go bet weeus. Out people tend to believe that our people generally know what they're wanting and what tbey ain't wanting. They also believe. Miss Connee, that any man who can't speak for himself and what he's wanting, ain't worth much as a man. So. I reckon anyone needing a go between betwixt themselves and the people is holding oo a position that can t be defended Ana if he can't defend his position. I reckon he shouldn't be expecting OI Wiz to defend something he can't. But if y'allknowsomeone our there wanting a go between job, they need to git in touch with the LRDA Now I heard that if this go between person can't talk our delegates out of our constitution, thev're going to need what Ol Wiz calls a holding up person to go in. Now this is the way it works, MissConnee. First they send in this go between person, his job is to talk our delegates into putting aside our constitution. Now if that don't work, they send in this holding up persoo. His job. they way I understand it, is to talk our delegates into holding up on putting our constitution to the people foravote. HE'Uhaveagood sounding reason, but he won't be up to anything good for the people. Miss Connee. Now. Ol Wiz ain't worried too much about that go between, but he worries about that holding up person. The way Ol Wiz looks at it. Miss Connee, this is the person that's got our country in the shigie it is in today. When we know what needs to be done, someone comes along and says "Boys, we need to hold up and study this matter " Then by the time the people decide to do what should have been done ages ago, it's too late. But, I reckon if the LRDA is a needing the, a go between person, they're needing them a holding up person to go follow behind them. A smart man might could figure out bow to git double pay there. Miss Connee, if he had a mind to. But. it's like my Pa said many years ago. Miss Connee. He said, '' Son, if you're wanting to see the sun rise, don't don't look west." Now them LRDA boys will be sending in their go betweens and their holding up people to point our people to the west.w hen we need to be looking to the East foranewday. But, I thank the Lord for our delegates coming from our churches. They are fortified with the truth. Miss Coonee, and a man and a woman with the truth cannot be fooled by slick talk and fancy words. And, when they're standing for the people with the truth on their side, ain't nothing Ol Wiz can do but back Cwoltea ladiaa Voice it pubinhid CMfy Thundiy by FlntAwirianmrwtoi 304 Normal St - CoBage Plan Boat Office Box 1075 Pmbrakt, North Carotna 28372 Phono (919) 521-282* Pax (919) 521-1975 Cormea Brayfooy, Edaor Nolan Loddaar. Office Manager One ymrk\NC$20.00 Out of km, $25 .00 Second CJus Postage Pud it ? ? ?-- hi/* rcmoroKe, inl Traditionally Speaking JHfl I ^ Ucm etM+fK, Turtle) WHAT PATH WILL THE LUMBEE-CHERAW TRIBAL MEMBERS FOLLOW AFTER THE UNITY CONFERENCET 1 was 1* attendance at part of the Umty Conference this past week and people the current issues facing the LUMBEE CHERA W people The comment that] I heard mart wet that now is the time for all of us to work together for the greater good of otr people This statement really good when we hear it, but the real test will be in the imptementadon of this concept We as knowledgeable people should have figured this out a long time ago We all are aware of the old adage that " United we tUmd ami divided we fmff \ so I hope we will now begin to work together for the betterment of our people. Now that the Unity Conference is over, we should work with one another for action not rhetoric. How can we accornplidi this desired state where all of us are working for the good of the L VMBEE-CHERA W people. In my opinion, this can be members of the tribe have talents which would be helpAdm our eflbst to establish a tribal oonatitutioa and to secure Federal Recognition regardless of our affiliation ?ith other NATIVE AMERICAN organisations. The one requirement that needs to be present in our personal point of view is a commitment to promote other NATIVE AMERICANS when they I ate qualified as business owners, V political candidates,profeasianab and in the spiritual realm. Those ofus who * are afraid of losing our power or control need to understand that the real power lies in the collective wisdom of the L UMBEE-CHERA W people As long as we have the peoples concerns at heart, we will have the support of most of the people. So, 1 welcome this new ere of cooperation between all fitctions of the L UMREE- CHERA W people because it is through the spirit of working together that we can make great progress. Loca'E Essila'kv (Painted Turtle) Robeson Health Care Corporation Is Pleased to Announce The Associaiton of Joseph T. Bell, M.D. with the Julian T. Perce Health Center East Wardell Drive, Pembroke, NC and Maxton Medical Services North Florence Street, Maxton,NC In the Practice of Pediatrics by Appointment: 910-521-2816 A Few Comments on Things Happening to us here in "Indian Country" ^ WU4 Turkey Ansel Wings For Sate , I wonder how many will read this simply because of the headline'' Surely this must seem sacrilegious to many. How many would buy the feathers plucked from wings after the angel was murdered? How many would buy the "Chalice" that Christ served the water he had turned into wine? How many would buy the various oils, herbs, and objects that the Creator has put on the earth to cure the afflictions that more has wrought on our great "Mother Earth". To me this is what is happening to the traditional religion of the Native Americans. It seems to me that it is becoming the current fad. a money maker to further divide our people. From the current fad of Circus Pow Wows, flea markets, discount outlets, etc., people are flocking to them in hopes of buying a Taiwanese rubber Eagle or head dress or ceremonial pipe. Just knowing they will get a blessing or it will fill an empty hole in their decor. To these people their money was wasted. Blessings are not bought they are requested from the Creator and with enough faith and doing the proper lifestyle. All things good take time. To many think that " Indian medicine" and Blessings happen right now. They don't. Even though the majority of the medicines cannot be overdosed mote is not always better. In recent travels many things were offered to me. all for money and I felt a hard jab to my heart It seems to me that if these sacrilegious actions were taken by me toward a Christian, Jew. Moslem or any of the other recognized religions. I would be incarcerated, burned at the stake or some other life taking action all in the name of their "god". It seems to me that I wish to hard for an "idealistic society". One where the word RESPECT would take the place of the Bible, Koran, Torah or any other book or set of laws that confuse the peoples ideas of die way the Creator means for us to live and survive on Mother Earth. The only rule should be All Respect No Greed Every one could live with this, there would be no need for churches, banks, grocery stores, judges, police or any of the many things that greed has placed on us. Let me close this by saying 1 understand that many of our brothers and sisters make a living from manufacturing Indian artifacts, to them folks the responsibility not to sell spirituality at any price Indian artifacts profits should profit Indian people. Not some oppressed family on a far off island that is contributing to the greed of some power brokers. We have to slop buying ceremonial pipe. Eagle feathers, spray cans of blessings anointing oils and artifacts that are not contributing to the well being of Indian families. Buy articles that you know are Indian made, Indian sold. He has them for sale and he is selling you a part of himself. Frankly Iprize the smallest part of me that the Creator gave to me to much to sell out for something that is just going to line some greedy persons pocket. Along the same line I have been looking long and HARD at the Lumbee Constitution committee. 1 have made meetings, met some very fine people and I hope I have left them with the idea that the traditionalist needs a place here too. From the many conversations with the delegates I have come to the conclusion that we can live with what they have done. I particularity like the peoples protection clauses, recall and term limits. If you can't or won't do the job, more over I am sure at least for the first hundred years there will be a line of people who are willing and able to represent the people. Term limits also serve the same purpose. There will be a lot of able people wanting to make a contribution and they should have a chance to without having to compete with an entrenched money bagger who owes to many favors to do the job properly. The only part, from a traditionalist view, that I would like to have seen was spending limits and serve without salary, just per diem!!! Serve the people with pride not for a inflated salary. Lastly, We of the "Intertribal Council of Elders invite all to visit us at the "Indian Cultural Center" for our I st Gathering in many, many years. It will definitely not be a carnival, there will be no rubber eagles or spirituality for sale. Actually nothing will be for sale. So for some Spiritual, fraternal and social times come visit the many tribal displays, demonstrations, lessons in all sorts of "Indian Things." Talk with Elders and leaders from all Indian groups, bands, clans, tribes, etc., from all over the Carol mas Til the next tune. It was not meant to hurt any one by this article. At least no more than it hurts me to see the, wrong doings going on. Wild Turkey Intertribal Council of Elders ? I a '' Say you read it in ~ the Carolina Indian Voice f f The Way I See It 1^?gy ' ky Dr. Dmm Chirm, Pmltoi % (join off from Robeson County was almost like a theme in the I950's. when I was growing up in Pembroke. There were colonies of Lumbees in Detroit and Baltimore, and later there were colonies in Greensboro and Charlotte My cousin told me the other year that Lumbees in these times who work way off. even m other states, will not move there They will commute to South Carolina, to Greensboro, to Raleigh, every day, to work, and come home at night My okfbooes ache just thinking about the 200 or 300 mile commute I would move. But then I have a different perspective When I asked my cousin Theresa 33 years ago if she was going to leave home, she said "No. Lord I couldn't leave my momma ." I have often thought about that, and I'll bet she has forgotten n. But I have often thought Theresa may have been wiser than I I couldn't emit to leave. I always wanted to get out into the world, and see das things that Mark Twain. Herman Melville, and others wrote about. 1 never wanted to be a sailor, or be in the Navy, but I wanted to do about everything else. Three (tones, or jokes, come to mind about going off Johnny Chavis told me the first one. It teems this girl was walking up and down Mam Street of Pembroke one Saturday afternoon, talking proper Other people would call it putting on airs, but we called it talking proper. Finally, someone asked her if she had been up North. "Yes. I have." she said "Where you been?" they asked "I been up to Fayetteville." she replied. It is funnier if you tell it out loud, and say Fet-Ville instead of Fed Vul Another one Ken Maynor told several years auo It seems one of the local boys had been off to Detroit for awhile, and hadn't been home for a couple of years When he finally came home, some asked him why he hadn't been home in so long. He didn't give a good answer. I guess, because his questioner then accused him of trying to pass for white. "Thai's a lie." he retorted "I been trying like hell to pass for Indian." The third one involves another person, who will remain nameless, who also went to Detroit. He had been to school a couple of years, but didn' t start school until he was about 12. He never learned to read. About all he did in school was try to get some of the girts to go behind the school with him to the woods. On his first night in Detroit, he went to a restaurant with some people he was living with until he could get a job The waitress put a menu in front of him, and he pretended to read it. When she finally came to his table to take his order, he was all frustrated He had no idea of what was on that menu Everyone else ordered When she asked him what he wanted for dinner, he just blurted out.'' Bring me a Pepsi and a Nab There was a reason we had to go off-lack of work Imagine my surprise when I read in an education study of the Lumbees thai half the Lumbee people were tenant farmers 1 had thought most of us owned our own land All the time it was the Pates, the Britts, and the McNairs who owned it. The Intertribal Council of Elders F is looking for members from all Carolina tribes, ^ groups, and bands to aid in Traditional Heritage, | Cultural, Spiritual Gatherings. For More information call Spotted Turtle at (910) * 521-4178, PaintedTurtle at (910) 521 -0020 or Wild TUrkey at (910) 521-2826. Or write in care of the Carolina Indian Voice, P.O. Box 1075, Pembroke, ^ NC 28372. Fax (910) 521-1975. '
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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March 31, 1994, edition 1
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