(Elders and Traditionalist
^ royn^f < ?
i can barely remember Pa. He was
on his death bed, in 1944, when I last
remember him. He was in Aunt Dimple
and Uncle Lonnie'sbouse. I was three
years old.
His name was William Henry
I Godwin, and be was my grandfather
Purcell's father. He and Kitty Ma had
seven children?Purcell, Rudolph,
.Dimple, Leonard, Lankfbrd. Garfield,
and Stella.
They lived on the Union Chapel
Road, just outside Pembroke, all their
lives. Pa's father was Quinn Godwin
a white man. Quinn and his brother
Bany came to Robeson County before
the Civil War
Barry married a white woman in
Lumberton, and Quinn married an
. Indian woman, Mary Sampson. They
had five children?Henry, John, Bud.
Sis, and Rittie. Rittie married a man
from across the river, and lived over
there She had a daughter Mary Bowen,
who had a son Willie Bowen. Willie
used to own the Amoco station in
Pembroke.
Grandpa used to tell me about
. going to Lumberton to play with his
* white cousins Quinn and Barry had a
half brother who went to Florida and
> married, and became lost to the family.
The name "Godwin", according
? to Winston Churchill, means "good
- wine" to Old English One Harold
Godwin was King of England for a
short while in the 1200'sifmy memory
is correct. (It has been years since 1
read Churchill's "History of the
English-Speaking Peoples ''>
Our family legend is that the
Godwin brothers came to Robeson
County from Wake County. Where
they were before that is unknown.
When they got to Robeson, however,
they stayed
Pa was a leader in the Indian
community all his adult life. My Aunt
Chns, who gave me many ofthe details
for this column, remembers that he
was on the school board when she was
graduated from high school; he was
sitting on the stage.
He was also on the board of the
college; Chris says the minutes at one
point call him a "radical" He wanted
Indian people to make progress, and
was not satisfied with the status quo.
He was a farmer all his life People
would come to him for advice. I think
of him as a highly intelligent man.
He and Kitty Ma live on one side
of the swamp, and the C havers family
lived on the other side, where the
Medical Center is. (At one point, the
Chavers family owned all the land
from the Coast Line Rail Road to
Moss Neck, and from the Seaboard
Rail to the swamp.)
So it was natural for Purcell
Godwin and Jesse Chavers to fell in
love and get married. Grandma and
her brothers and sisters all inherited a
farm each when her father Angus
died. Purcell and his brothers and
sisters ill inherited a farm each, too.
Pa was on the Blood Committee
for yean. This Committee checked on
the Mood lines of people, and verified
if they were Indians or not. From time
to time, people would move into
Robeson County and try to claim to be
Indians. The Committee would
investigate them, and if the claims
were false, most of them moved on.
Chris told me.
Pa was an outstanding Christian,
from all I have ever gathered. He
would line the hymns out in church.
That is. when people could not read,
he would say the line of the hymn, and
the congregation would echo the line
by singing it.
I have been inspired for a long
time by the leadership of this man
Even though 1 don't remember him
much, I remember his spirit. That
lived through his children and
grandchildren. Thank you. Pa.
i
On The Pow
Wow Circuit
I UhefttherTl
Like Son
CHOOSE Jfj
^HQIADDKJIOH
' i
Chapin Advises Students
on Prom Promise
The Alcohol and Drug Defense
Program of the Public Schools of
Robeson County assisted Fairmont
Hwh Scbgoi in bijggwg a nationally
. motmmmd ?luiiiartaniKipwlin to
? participate in the school's. Prom
Promise Program recently.
The purpose of Prom Promise is to
motivate students not to drink and
drive during prom season school
officials said.
Phil Chap in, from Los Angeles.
Ca.. travels nationwide, speaking to
students. He shared his testimony
about overcoming adversity by making
'right choices."
Chapin told the gymnasium of
900 excited and enthusiastic students
that alcohol, drugs and premarital sex
were "bad choices "
He told of his childhood
experiences of being raised by a drug
addicted prostitute-his mother- and
eventually being abandoned.
He talked about a young life of
? juvenile delinquency which led to the
: door of death after he robbed a
neighborhood drug dealer.
Chapin, 26, says that he confronted
" and broke the chains that once had
him bound. In convincing, emotional
tones, he spoke about his commitment
to help today's youth struggle to do
the right thing and make the right
choices.
"Just because your mother made
wrong choices, you don't have to, "he
said
"Just because your father is in
prison, you don't have to end up there.
"Just because you don't have the
support crftwop?w*s.ypHde8'tEl?w
to despair fend give up hope * The
majority of the youth in society today
only live with mama, or grandma, or
some other relative
'' Believe in yourself. W hen mama
walks away and daddy is no where to
be found, just have faith and
confidence in yourself. You're still
somebody," he exhorted
The Reverend Dennis Harrell. a
spokesperson for a county-wide
ministerial group, invited the students
to hear Chap in during the week of
May 16-19.1994 in a series of rallies
and pizza blasts to be held throughout
the county
According to Harrell, local clergy
and churches will sponsor Chapin and
his wife Kim fora week-long effort to
encourage county youths
Harrell said that the theme for that
week is "Breaking the Chains."
"We're trying to encourage our
youth to'break the chains'of alcohol,
abuse, drugs and wrong choices of the
past." Harrell said.
Ronnie Chavis. Alcohol and Drug
Defense coordinator for the Public
Schools of Robeson County, is
assisting the religious leaders in
organizing Chapin's visits to other
schools in the system
Say you read it in
the Carolina Indian Voice
??????
The following list of upcoming powwows is not intended to be a
complete list. Anyone having information about upcoming powwows
not listed is encouraged to send them to: Wild Turkey, P.O. Box
1075. Pembroke. NC 28372 or fax to (910) 521-1975.
?May 13-15 LumbeeCheraw Spring PowWow, KobesonCounty
Fairgrounds, Lumberton. NC. For info. (910) 521-8602
? May 21-22 Richmond Community College (919) 582-7071
? May 21-23 Tuscarora Nat ion PowWow. Tribal Grounds, Maxton.
NC Info : 910-844-3352
?May 28. Upper Mattaponi Spring Festival. Sharon School, King
William, VA. Info 804-769-2408
?June 3,4,5th 2ND Annual NAIA/Loretta Lynn Pow-Wow
Waveriy, Tennessee. American Indian Vendors/Traders & Dancers
Welcomed For more info, call Native American Indian Aaao.
Georgia Magpie at 615-726-080*.
?June 4-5, Machapunga Tamtam Indian TnhaJ Aaaoctarttan
First Annual Native American Pow Wow, Moratoc Park on the
Roanoke River, Hwy 711 S Business. Williamston. NC. Info.: 910
793-6117/910-975-1473 after 6 p.m.
? June 16. 17, 18. & 19. Rebirth of the Traditional Spiritual
Gatherings, aTribute to the Great Spirit, Father of all Indian nations.
North Carolina Indian Cultural Center Call Spotted Turtle (910)
521 -4178. Painted Turtle (910) 521 -0020 or Wild Turkey (919) 521 -
2826.
? June 24-25 Allentown, PA, Pow-Wow (410)788-0689.
?July 15,16,17-Charlotte Native American Festival, First Union
Atrium and Plaza 301 South Try on St. Charlotte, NC. Info. 704-588
5870.
? July 15-17 Howard County. MD (410) 788-0689, (919) 257
1720
?July 24, Cherokee of Hoke County and Maxton, NC T uscaroras.
Intertribal Festival, at Rockfish near Davis Bridge. NC. Contact
Chief or Mrs. Edgar Bryant (910) 875-0222.
?July 29-31 Virginia Beach, (410) 788-0689 or (919) 257-1720.
?July 30-31. Third Annual Pow Wow and Festival. Rising Water
and Falling Water. Showplace. Richmond, VA. 804-769-1018.804
443-4221
? August 26-28 Baltimore American Indian Center Pow-Wow
(410)675-3535
? September 9-10. Cohane Pow Wow, Clinton, NC Contact (910)
564-6909.
? September 15-17 Guilford Native American Association
(919)273-8686
?September 23-24, Native American Festival, Durham Technical
Community College, 1637 Lawson Street, Durham, NC. Call (919)
598-9188 or (919) 479-8000
?Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Indian Trail Pow Wow, Indian Trail, NC. Call
Metrolma Association: 704-331-4818, Kingston Sanderson, 704
821-6361
?October 7-8, Cumberland County Native American 13th Annual
Pow Wow. Memorial Indoor Arena. Fayetteville,NC9l0-483-8442.
?October 14-15-Wacamaw-Siouan Pow Wow, Bolton, NC. For
info: (919) 655-8778
? October 14,15,16. 13Tb Annual NA1A Pow-Wow & Fall
Festival Nashville. Tennessee for mort info, call 615-72*0806.
American Indian Vendor&Traders & Dancers Welcomed. 211
Union St Stahlman Bldg Suite 932 Nashville. TN 37201-1505
?October 21-22-Mehemn Indian Tribe Pow Wow. Winton, NC.
? November 7-13 Great American Indian Expo (410) 788-0689
? November 21-27 Native American Pow-Wow. Baltimore, MD
(410) 675-3535
Dear Mm Connee
You can't do wrong and git toy
with it Now, you might for a white,
tout aoonar or later, it'll calcto up with
you Now, I've beard that them REA
boys are going to have to pay Itav
Elias Rogers for the wrong they done
him. Miss Connee Well, they ought
to. cause wrong is wrong and lfvou do
wrong, you ought to pay for it But,
1 wouldn 't count on the money coming
out of those boys' pockets. Miss
Coenee Its going to be the people
who will have to pay. Poor people like
me, Miss Connee. thai pas s them high
light bills over there at the REA.
Now. when all the money's added up
that them REA boys is wasted a
fighting Rev Elias Rogers, just to
have the "big court" in Washngton
tell them that they was wrong and he
was right, it's gonna coat we poor
people a pretty penny. Some folks
have speculated. Miss Connee. that
the total bill on that fight was close to
S200.000.01 Wix, don't know, but he
intends to write them REA boys a
letter and ask for that public
information.
If 01 Wis had his way. Miss
Connee. he would pui an extra charge
on some of those RE A boys for putting
the people in this situation. Maybe,
the next time they would think twice
before they done somebody else
wrong, if ttoey had to pay for it our of
their pockets, instead of the people's
Now, the latest news on them
LROA boys is that they're sending
out letters to our preachers and to
them Senators up there in Washington
They're telling our people down here
that we're confused about our right to
have us a constitution Then, they toid
them Senators up there in Washington
that they're head of all us Lumbees .
1 ain't smart like some ofthem LRDA
boys. Miss Connee, but it seems to me
that they've put the cart before the
boss If we're wanting them boys at
the LROA to be head of us. we'll take
a vote and put them in as our tribal
council. That election will come
after we vote on our constitution
Course, if there's someone else out
there the people is wanting for their
tribal council, they can put them in
that office. that's the way a
democracy works. Miss Coonee. and
it makes Ol Wiz proud to know he
bvewm s free country where be has
mirf|pRK.
Now. that seems pretty straight to
Ol Wiz but sometimes the plainest
thing can trip up some folks. But. 1
reckon, when them boys at the LRDA
think about it hard enough, they'll see
that what's going on here is good old
democracy.
Course, Miss Arlinda says the
BIA has told them this, but they just
aiai wanting to believe it, Miss
Coonse. 1 reckon by ths time our
cuosututtoe is altucd. they still ami
going to believe it But. we have to
Sees o*. kteCMaoe We cert hold
ep because of a few wantuw to be in
charge of the people without fee peop k
having aoy say so in the matter If the
pev>ple are wanting to put them in
charge, theyll put thorn u? charge If
not. then the people Will be hear.1
That* what that bl A triad to tell them
but the > don't hear too well, Mies
Connee. They're hard-headed and
about all we can do about them is put
them oo our prayer list. And whilst
we're a previa* foment we needs to he
calling thai there Dspnmeat of Labor
and other government agencies and
ask them bow come we can't have a
fell ncouuting of our tax money they
keep aSvasting and keep on buying
them ads in that Lumbeerton paper to
tell us how smart they are Am how
dedicated to the good of Indians they
are. Why dont they spend that money
on some of us poor people? i know
lots of our people could sura use some
help with them <kug store btlh. Course.
Miss Connee. them LRDA boys is
IdoM proved that they ain't studying
no poor peopla
Now. my preacher, he got n holt of
one of them letten them LRDA boys
sent o the churches, Mias Connee, and
he was a might put out. Them LRDA
boys was a talking about division in
the church . Weil, my preacher he said
the only discord he has seen was by
them LRDA boys Now, Miss Connee.
I don't know much, but my Pn told me
years ago, don't be a messing with
them church people. Some of em he
said, knows how to get in touch wiht
God. So I guess. Miss Connee, what
them LRDA boys is done now, is got
more people oo their knees That'll
bring about a swift change
Nex week. Miss Connee, Ol Wiz is
gonna try to show you all the
connection between that REA and
that LRDA You'll be amazed, Miss
Connee, it's down right interesting
But my brother Elias Rogers won
his case against them REA boys, and
I'm glad to bear that justice has come
for him There ain't no other place for
them REA boys to run now thatths I
But. there^anotber tater cooking
in the oven called our constitution
When its done. Miss Cm?i, we're
vote on it and there wont be no other
place for them LRDA boys to run.
But. if they want to run for our tribal I
council, they need to quit fighting the
people so hard or no one will wnnt
them on any council.
Opera Overture by Composer
Rice to Be Performed
An opera overture by North
Carolina Composer Martin R. Rice of
Pembroke win be performed by the
Wectern Piedmont Symphony
Orchestra at a public concert on June
16 Rice, the new Director/CEO of the
North Caroiina Indian Cultural Center.
is an experienced arts administrator,
arts critic, and a published composer
He resided in Hickory for some six
years
Conductor John Gordon Roas
directs the Symphony Orchestra, its
Chamber Orchestra and Youth
Symphony, all based in Hickory The
June 16 program at the Catawba valley
Arts Center auditorium will feature
original works by two other North
Carolina composers as well
Each composer will attend a
twenty-minute rehearsal of his piece
prior to the recorded performance,
and be presented with a tape recording
of the Anal public performance Ross
hat long been an advocate of
performances by living American
composers
''The reading and performance of
the overture is essential to completing
the orchestration of the two-hour
opera.'' Rice stated It serves as a
guide to the piano-vocal version "
Rice's full opera is entitled "The
Devil Comes to Wittenberg." and is a
contemporan version of the famous
Faust legend The librettist, George
Hitchcock, is an award-winning poet
and playwright now retired Mduving
in California
Several yean ago. the Penaacola
(Fla) Symphony Orchestra performed
another work by Dr. Rice, his overture
lo a concert-opera "RUTH", the
biblical story of Ruth. Boa/, and
Naomi that contains the famous
declaration of love and loyaltv
-Whither Thou Goest. I will Go "
t ??: .
The Intertribal Council of Elders
is looking for members from ak* 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.