THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, |vCtK,0DICA|-S~ |
VOLUME 23 NUMbER 12 THURSDAY MARCH 21, IW<> | ^ ^ M
A Front Page Editorial of the Carolina Indian Voice I
Looking for Henry Berry
Lowrie And Crazy Horse!!!
This is the third in a series of articles about the stute of a/fairs in OT
Robeson from an Indian perspective, or "The World According to the
Robesonian 's Bill and O.H. Lewis and other items of interest.'' We also will
look at how O.H. Lewis wound up with our Indian business in his ear, then
printed it in the Robesonian; thinking, we suppose, thai it would split the
Indian community.
' Until recently, the Carolina Indian Voice was counted as a supporter of the
Lumbec Cheravv Tribal Council. No more. In the beginning. The Indian Voice
office was a favorite watering hole of the Lumbec Constitution enthusiasts, and
the vole for a Lumbec Constitution was conducted a lot of times from the office
Of this newspaper. The Indian Voice editor and others finally split because the
editor docs not believe that the destruction of LRDA or the takeover of that
agency is the reasoning for the adoption of the Constitution or the election of
a tribal council. The purpose and intent of that w as the establishment of tribal
government. Before that, in years gone by. this newspaper was a staunch
supporter of LRDA (Lumbee Regional Development Association). We have
been lauded and dammed bvboth sides from time to Umt^cr the last few years,
depending on the issue before the Indian electoral#: NSW seems that we arc
a pariah in both camps. We suppose that is probably the bcs$)lacc a newspaper
can be, an outcast and not tied to cither camp. Both of these Pembroke-based
organizations claim to represent the aspirations of the Lumbec. Both can claim
some legitimacy: but neither have been particularly heroic in attempting to put
their spin on things concerning tribal sovereignty. Recently, both organizations^
have boycotted this newspaper, although LRDA has warmed up a little bit in
the last few weeks
It All Starts With a History Lesson!
It all starts with a history lesson, and brings to mind the travails of Henry
Berry Lowrie and Crazy Horse. Henry Berry Lowrie. the local Indian hero of
the Civil War era. kept his ow n counsel and was. in part, betrayed by his ow 11
people, if the truth be known. It is good that he escaped to parts unkiiow n. We
are sure someone would.have turned him in. and it probably wbuRThav c been
one of his own. Crazy Horse, the great Sioux war chieftain, finally surrendered
to the overwhelming enemy, the United States Army, at rort Robinson.
Nebraska in 1877. Shortlv thereafter, his arch enemy. General George Crook
attempted to put him in the reservation prison because witnesses said, he did
not scciti to be a broken man. Crazy Horse carried himself with great dignity.
Somehow, in the scuffle to arrest him. Crazy Horse was bayoneted to death. It
is said that Indian tribal policemen might have been holding cither arm as he
was killed. Oneoftheotherchiefs. who had decided to compromise and appease
the whites, said, "Tt is good...he has looked for death and it has conic." The
thought seems to imply that Crazy Horse's death was his own fault.
There is an Indian type that loves to whisper in the white man's car. hoping
that they can manipulate him and wreck havoc on their Indian enemy Why we
fight one another is beyond our editorial comprehension. Aficrall. we arc not
ihc enemy. or arc wc? This is something that has been a pan or Indian history
since the beginning of lime. Recently the Robesonian and O H Lewis ha\c
been the recipient of this Indian phenomenon. Indians from both camps, for
some lime now . have bene planting information in the Robesonian in order to
try to gain the psy chological edge. These two camps arc the Luinbec Chcraw
Tribal Council and the incumbent. LRDA (Lumbcc Regional Development
Association), both headquartered in Pembroke. Both seem to have out done
themselves attempting to see who can tell the Robesonian the most about
"Indian'' business. Both need to be chastised for their unseemly behavior and
asked not to do it again.
About Wii Lovklear and 8,0-10 Jor and 223 Against..
LRDA started it in the summer and fall of 1994 when a constitutional
committee, seeded and initiated by LRDA. broke away from Iter corporate
master and took their campaign directly to the people and won. Indian people
in Robeson and adjoining counties decided to hold tribal elections and did so
successful in October of 1994. The first order ofbusincss though \\ as to approve
a referendum calling for a Lumbcc Constitution to govern the affairs of the
Lumbcc. Indian people v oted to approve the referendum by a margin of 8.040
for to 223 against during the week of June 27. 1994. LRDA actively worked
against the vole and was walloped in the process. In order to regain momentum,
andlhe heart of the electorate. LRDA began a scries of paid advertisements in
the pages of the Robesonian, totaling more than $8.<HH> over the rest of that
-summer and fall. It was not LRDA's finest moment.. $8,000 in an endowment
could have funded Indian scholarships, for instance. The point is. Henry Berry
Lowrie would not have done such a thing, as we see it
LRDA was mad. in part, with the Indian Voice because of a series of
editorials written by a character named "Wiz Locklcar" (a pseudonym of
course) in the Indian newspaper. Many believe "Wiz Locklcar" was a
disgruntled, former LRDA employee. The articles which began appearing in
the pages of the Indian Voice that frenetic summer questioned LRDA's role in
attempting to derail the vote on the tribal constitution and council elections and
more. The Indian Voice has never identified this indiv idual publicly , and does
not do so now. Still. LRDA probably had. in one sense, a right to be mad. it
was not t/re Indian Voice's finest hour either. In retrospect. "Wiz Locklcar '
in part, as we see it now . might hav c used the Indian Voice for a personal
vendetta against LRDA. Hindsight is a great teacher. If we had it io gc over
again, wc probably would have exercised more editorial restraint toward Wi/
Locklcar" because he/she spent too much time attacking LRDA and not
enough articulating the concern of the Indian people. Haslilv though, for the
record. "Wiz Locklcar" was an editorial expression of the Carolina Indian
yoice. Wiz appeared with our blessings that crazy1 summer of 1994. "Wiz
Locklcar " also said some things to the Indian community back then that needed
saying The record will show that James Hardin, the executive director ol
LRDA. and others responded forcefully in paid advertisements and letters to
the editor of the Robesoman to present their side ol the Issues Thty were not
coy in defending themselves.
Although we do not wish to fight with our Indian brothers and sisters, we
must note regretfully that LRDA has cancelled elections to her board, a
grievous error i n our editorial opinion. They have recently stated as one of their
goals that they will hold elections to that board using the tribal rolls. We
encourage them to do so. We also encourage them to do so in 1996.
On the other hand, the Lumbec Cheraw Tribal Council has been a public
relations disaster from the very beginning. They also seem to haVe a fixation
with LRD A and have not been magnanimous in victory. We do feel that they
arc scaled under the Lumbce Constitution that could work, but seems frayed
around the edges right how. We also charge some of the members of the tribal
council and their administrators with being the "Deep Throat" that has told
O H. Lewis everything there is to tell about Indian business, even going so far.
editorially speaking, as to tell our shoe size. We suggest that our readers mostly
ignore O.H. Lewis. He is reading from a prepared script. The tribal council has
filed suit against LRDA and it is now in Superior Court. The suit in effect is
an attempt to legitimize the tribal Council. Irony continues in this case because
long time Indianncnicsis Superior Court Judge Joe Freeman BritL is expected
to hear the case before too long. O.H. Lewis has been, in our editorial opinion,
duped by his handlers. There is little credence in what he has to say about Indian
business because he doesn't know much, only what he has been told. He
certainly has not been balanced in his editorials, and probably could not be. even
if he w anted to. One is what one is. Lewis, inaseries ofarticlesinhis "Reality
Check" column in the Robesonian has been decidedly One-sided in favor of
the tribal council. This is so because they are the only ones talking to him. We
have been asked over and over again about O.H.'s involvement in Indian
business. The question is. What business has he got in our business? The
answer, of course, is NONE! We don't delve into all white business and he
should stay out of Indian business.
We feci that Federal Recognition is the most important issue before us. not
whether LRDA or the tribal council will necessarily represent Indian people.
Our editorial opinion is that LRDA and the tribal council have a sit down
immediately and decide what is practical and right for Indian people,
collectively. Both arc legitimate. Both have distinct and separate responsibilities
One is government. The other is providing services. Neither arc going any
place. We believe the Constitution is sound and cannot be ignored by LRDA
The Chairman, elected under the Constitution. Dr. Dalton Brooks, is esteemed
within the Indian camp. On the other hand. LRDA's fiscal responsibility with
the federal bureaucracy is commendable. LRDA also controls the tribal
enrollment
Continued on Page 2
Share Life Foundation organized to help
with bone marrow transplant education
and financial needs
The Share Life Foundation has
been organized and is committed to
meeting the financial needs of victims
of Leukemia and other blood diseases
that require a bone marrow transplant
to extend life
As most everyone is aware,
whenever a major illness strikes a
family, it can become overwhelming
financially There arc many things to
be considered. For instances, the cost
of traveling aback and forth to the
hospital, the expenses incurred by
family members who feel a need to be
close to their loved one during their
stay in a hospital. Also, because the
idea of a bone marrow transplant is
still considered research because of
the low survival rate of those receivi ng
transplants, many times insurance
companies will not pay for the initial
search required to find a donor
Therefore, Share Life Foundation has
stated one of its priorities to raise
funds in order to pay for the initial
search for a donor.
Another priority is to encourage
and educate healthy persons to real izc
that it is only by the G race of God that
they are not victHTTT-vJn^ukcmta or
some other chronic disease. One way
that they can express their appreciation
for good health, is to be tissue typed
and become registered with the
National Bone Marrow Registry You
may be the person who can save the
life of a small child, a teenager, or an
adult. Only God can know how truly
grateful a recipient and their family
would be for the Gift of Life For more
information, call H.B. Bullard. official
spokes person for Share Life at (910)
73807335
The Share Life Foundation was
organized to meet the ever increasing
need for financial assistance for
victims of the more than 80 blood
diseases that can be cured with a bone
marrow transplant The most
recognized of these diseases is
leukemia.
Because bone marrow is genetic
like the color of one's hair or eyes, it
is imperative that minorities be on the
il(iAtl*A
National Bone Marrow Registry in
order for minorities to have a better
opportunity to receive a bone marrou
transplant. In order for a transplant to
be performed, it is necessary for the
donor and the victim to meet sev eral
matching requirements That is why
it is important lor minorities to be on
the National Registry, in most eases a
Native American, a Black or a Hispanic
has a greater chance of matching
anothcrpcrsonof the same Nationality
For more information or toanakc
a financial contribution, write to: The
Share Life Foundation. Post Office
Bo.\ 1765. Lumbcrton. NC 28359
Officers of the Share Life
Foundation include: Connec Bray boy.
president: H B Bullard. vice
president: Shirley Bullard. sccrctar.
John Bray boy member at large.
Patricia Bray boy and Patricia Bullard.
co-trcasurcs
Additional information is available
by calling: Conncc Bray boy at 910521
-2826(the Carolina Indian Voice)
or Patricia brayboy at 910-738-5057
(the American Red Cross)
Keith Dial honored at
Prospect United Methodist
Keith Dial (le/t) is presented With a plaque by H atle Hunt during a recent
ceremony at Prospect United Methodist Church. Dial is treasurer dj the
United Methodist Men of Prospect UM(' and he was honoredfor his role in
heading the efforts to pay for the church parking lot. (Photo by David
Malcolm)
Tribal Council to
sponsor meet
the candidates
event
Political candidates for Icdcral
state and local offices ha\ c been invited
to meet with the Lunibcc Tribe on
March .10. 1996. According to the
Lunibcc Tribal Government,
candidates arc looking forward to the
event and the opporlunitv to meet
with the Lunibcc people
Candidates have been asked to
address the people 011 two of the
lollowuig topics Federal Recognition
Tobacco.Taxes. Education. Abortion
Prayer in School. Foreign Trade, and
Economic Development growth 111
Robeson and adjoining counties.
The meeting has been scheduled
for Saturdav. March 30 at the Adolpli
L. Dial Amphitheater, home of " Strike
at the Wind" on the beautiful grounds
ofthcNC Indian Cultural Center The
program begins at 110011 that dav and
ends at 5:00 p.ni
Orgam/crs sav they will'have lots
of (ocd. gospel singing and arts and
crafts throughout the afternoon This
is a great opportumtv for Lunibcc
people to get to know the candidates
and hear what thev have to sav on
issues that affect Lunibcc people
There is no admission fee and all
people arc invited In ease of rain, the
event will be held at Piirncll Swell
High School
Clerk's Office M
seeks persons to
collect funds
Jo Ann Locklcar. Robeson Counts
Clerk of Superior Court is seeking to
locate the following persons entitled
to claim funds held by her office.
Claimants may contact the
Bookkeeping Department i n her office
at 910-671-3381 or may visit the
Bookkeeping Department in person
Mrs. Locklcar stated that if these funds
arc not claimed, they will be escheated
to the State.
Jeffrey Jacobs
George McNair
Teresa Sanccnbaugh
Kathcrinc Butler Herring
Peggy Sue Jacobs
Howard Monroe Livingston. Jr
Willie Paul Scott
Kim Yvonne Troy
Ronald David Wright.
Worth Junior Hunt
Willie David McBrydc
Michael McLean
Ruby Lapish Schneider
Sarah Wibcrt
Lollic McKov
Sally Wallers
Gaif Allen
Isniacl Scgurta Gucrrcrd
Sandy Chavis
Nathaniel L Solomon
Steven Price
Mary Ann.Pittman
Glenn Everett Locklcar
Robert M. Stanley
Corinthia Elaine Threat
Jonathan Elias Murray
Dock Locklcar. Jr
Michael Evans McMinis
Charles Gill McNeill
Linda L. Davis
Laura Welch
Jason Mitchell Deese
1,unibcc Car Wash
Eva Mac Evans
Rcnac Kahn
William Thompson
Betty Grahani
Marie B. Thomas
Billy Love
Michelle Morgan
Ann Marie Haggins
Robert Lance Ingram
Shown are Chris lllue, Rose M. Oxem/ine, and lirandon l.oiklear. ( hris
iwt first runner up in the Deep Uranch elementary Montessori School
Spi lling Dee. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mickey lllue and Sandra lllue.
lirandon l.ocklear. represented the sixth grade. He is the son of Mr. Hobby
l.oiklear and Ms. Phyllis l.ocklear. Ms. Rose M. Oxendine is thefifth/sixth
grade teacher.
Bob Bleecker appointed to
PSU Board of Trustees
Robert F Blccckcr was recently
appointed to the Pembroke State
University Board of Trustees
Blccckcr isow tier of Blccckcr CMC
Trucks in Faycttcvillc and Blccckcr
Oldsinobilc. Buick. GMC in Red
Springs He and Ins wife. Judyc. live
in Faycttcvillc
'' Bob Blccckcr has been a loyal
and generous supporter of PSU since
long before my arrival here seven
years ago." said Chancellor Joseph B
bxcndinc "I am thrilled with his
appointment to our Board of Trustees
alid have full confidence that as a
member of the University family lie
will assist us in our continued growth
in this region Bob's life is a genuine
success story and we arc more fortunate
to have Ins energies and ideas as part
of our team '*
Blccckcf attended Last Carolina
University and has been in the
automobile business his entire adult
life He is active in the Kiwanis Club
and the Knights of Pythias. Blccckcr
is a member of the board of directors
of First Cili/ciis Bank and of Coquiua
Harbor at Little River He is a past
Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian
Church.
He also served on the board -of
dircctorsof State Bank, the Faycttcvillc
Academy and Presbyterian First
School. Blccckcr was treasurer of the
carolinaOlds Network. He isa member
of the North Carolina Motor Vehicle
Advisory Board, the National
Automobile Dealers Association, the
North Carolina Automobile dealers
Association, and the GMC Dealer
Advisory Board Southeast USA