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Editorial and Opinion Page The Tribal Government Supports Tribal Unity, According to . Speaker of Lumbee Tribal Council, Lance Harding, Jr. Dear Editor In June or this > car members of the Lumbcc Tribal Council and the I ribal ( hairman. along with other tribal members met with U S. Rep Mike Mclnlsre to discuss federal recognition Two bills were discussed One bill, stronglv favored bv LRDA. would grant federal recognition while naming LRDA asthc tribal governing bods This bill was sponsored by Mr. Charlie Rose in 1996. but died in the Congress The other bill, strongls favored bs the tribal government. is the original Lumbcc bill that grants federal recognition ssithout naming a tribal governing bods the tribal gos eminent spoke in behalf of the original Lumbcc.bil! which extended recognition to the Lumbcc people Without naming a tribal governing body Thisisthc bi 11 that has previously passed tw ice in the U S House of Representatives and. until a couple of years ago. had the support of LRDA That bill. loo. died in the Congress. hav ing failed to w in passage in the United Slates Senate. 1 asked Mr. Mclntyrc aboul.lhc possibilities of gelling anv bill through the Congress, given ihc long slnnding opposition of Senator Helms Mr Mclntyrc slated that he thought he could get a Lumbcc bill through the House but fell that the bill would have great difficult) in the Senate The meeting ended with a consensus that it would be unproductive to attempt passage of a Lumbcc bill in the Congress, given the political make up of this .Congress. There is another option. For the past few years the Lumbcc Tribal Gov ernment has supported a general recognition procedures bill sponsored by Rep. Eni Falcomavcga. Tliis bill is also supported by 90% or more of those tribes that arc seeking federal recognition This bill changes the BIA process for federal recognition bv making that process more sensible and.workable It also creates an independent commission to review petitions for federal recognition Some time ago. we asked Mr. Mclntyrc to co-sponsor that bill, and encouraged his Office to get LRDA on board to support the bill As your readership alrcadv know s front previous new s coverage. Mr. Mclntyrc is a cosponsor of that bill. We arc concerned about the progress of the general recognition bill This Congress w ill adjourn at the end of next year Am bill not passed at that time will have to be reintroduced when Congress coin encs in IW) Senator Daniel Inouyc. ranking minorits member of the United Slates Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs.-also supports reform legislation on the BIA process Wcbclicvc that there is significant support in the Congress for reform legislation We arcoptimistic that legislation w ill bcc\ cnlually passed to correct the existing flaws in the BIA process We believe that this bill may olTcr the best opportunity for Luntbccrecognition, given the position of Senator Helms Mr Helms is opposed to the recognilionof Linnbcc by legislation He prefers the tribe to go through the BIA process Should the bill be enacted the tribal government would have no objection to going through the BIA process as desired by Mr Helms. The Tribal Government supports tribal unity We believe that when the overwhelming majority of Lumbcc people v otc in fav or of something, it should be upheld In 1994. Ihe Lumbcc people adopted a tribal constitution by a \ote or 81)40 Tor and 221 against In Luntbcc Tribe\s LRDA. lne the Lumbcc Tribal Government has asked the Court to issue a declaratory ruling 011 the 1994 tribal election LRDA asked the Court to dismiss the ease, and the Court refused Ordinarily. the next step would have been the trial of the ease. In this instance, however. LRDA appealed to the NC Court of Appeals. In the LRDA brief to the Court of Appeals. LRDA contends that it enjoys tribal immunity from lawsuits The Lumbcc Tribal Government agrees that the Lumbcc Tribc is immune from lawsuits as a sov crcign state rccogni/cd tribe However, the lawsuit is brought against LRDA. fnc . a priv ate nonprofit corporation, and not the Lumbcc Tribc We bclicv c priv ale corporations, including those of charitable intentions, do not hold the sovereignly of an Indian tribe The tribal government is willing to work with any private corporation or organization where there is respect for the sov crcignty of the Lumbcc people. We must never forget that a crucial element of that so\ crcignlv is the right of the Luntbec people losclf-go\eminent All negotiations done bv the tribal government is done under the authority that has been specifically granted to them by the Lumbcc people This authority iscxprcsscd in the Lumbcc Tribal Constitution That authority docs not empower the Lumbcc Tribal Government to change or amend the will oflhc Lumbcc people, as expressed in the Lumbcc Tribal .Constitution. We continue to look for ways that buildsunity among our people That unity must be based upon respect for the rights of the Lumbcc people. When the Lumbcc people speak through the democratic election process. aslhcy did in 1994. we arc honor-bound to listen, to heed, and to obey We encourage Dr. Dean Chavers and Mr. LconJacobstohclpusthrough these difTicull times. Both men have given a lot toward the recognition of the Lumbcc people, and deserve our respect and thanks. Sincerely. I ance Harding, Jr., Speaker J.umbee Tribal Council t] Cultural Festival ' Sept. 26-28 I | Metrolina Native American Assoc. Non-profit (3C) Organizalion, serving 10 counties in the Metrolina Area, proudly presents the 14th Annual Indian Trail Pow-Wow September 26-28.1997. at the Indian j Trail School, in the lndianTrail. NC Over twenty-five Artist and Tradcrs. Dancers. Singcrsand Drummers from all over the US and Canada wi.ll be performing through out the event the Pow -Wow opens Friday. Sept 26 front 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.nt. on Saturday we will openat 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. On Sunday, open at (I a.m. to 6 p.m. Donations at the gate will be appreciated Thank You in advance for your support in the effort to inform the public. Carolina Indian Voice is published every Thursday by First American Publications 304 Normal St.-College Plaza P.O Box 1075 Pembroke, North Carolina 28372 Phone: (910) 521-2826 Fav (910) 521i 1975 I .S . Con nee Bray boy, Editor One Year In NC $20 Out of State $25 Second Class Postage Paid at Pembroke, NC Reader says LRDA should focus on educating others about Lumbee Dear Editor: I hope that you have full intentions of publishing the following argument that 1 have with Lumbcc Regional Development Association (LRDA) 1 a full blooded Lumbcc Indian I was not born in Pembroke. NC and all my life I have been exposed to the threat of discrimination by only oncmain group of people, my own Because .jdon't have the Old English tongucSlhat most Lunibccs carry. I am labeled as an outsider and a fake Through my college years at Pembroke State University, now UNCP. I gained knowledge that lead me out into the w orld, as well as respect w ithin the Luntbee community But I still faced (heburden of being ridiculed and degraded for not being from Pembroke. NC. but instead my homclow 11 of Charlotte. NC. Th3?olhcr day I called LRDA and asked for a listing of powwows that were beginning in the area I was given to a particular member of LRDAvvhoby the sound ' of my voice decided not to send me information on pow-wovvs since, and I precisely quote "sounded like a white girl " Once this person got my name and knew who I was. she then decided to send me the information requested But she also continued to degrade a society of people (Anglo Americans) because of their skin color, claiming that they didn't need to be a part of our culture, our celebration, the powwows of North Carolina I told this person that the whole purpose of pow -w ow s w as to cdu-,. calc the public that Native?pvcricanf still exist in the twentieth century. But how can we do that if we keep our Lost Colony lost? I am disgusted by theway thai our people cry for federal recognition, explode when people have never heard of Lumbcc Native Americans, but at the same timcarcquict in showing the world who and what we arc I have dedicated my entire life around Native Americans Youth Organi/ations. Native American Student Organi/.alions. PowWows. and currcnth I go around to Soufh Carolina Regional Schools to relay the message that Native Americans exist i n the twentieth century. But still I am criticized and ridiculed by one group of people, my own This ignorance has toccasc. The time has conic to throw down our weapons and lobe the people that we should be Our stcrcolype is people of the earth, who love cacn other, despite the color of one's skin, despite the language spoken by others, and despite the locality of one of our * own 1 ath prtnfcWoT.Bc V Lumbcclndian. but I am not proud of some of my people and the ones I am focusing on arc the \ cry ones who need to promote and extend our culture to society. l.RDA. your focus needs to be on cducat i ng the world that we exist, not keeping the world from knowing who we arc Sincerely. I)uiui I.onvry (ireen ville, SC Some Thoughts From Derek Lowry: Watching Other People Dear Editor. Well, it's me again, with just a few things to think about for all of those who.arc willing to+cad this: It sure was a summer to rfcmcmbcr In some ways it was mild, and in others it was hot We went through periods of hardly any rain, but in the end we got just enough to get by Funny how that works out If we have a good understanding of Who is really in charge, we know ifw orks out the w ay He w ants it to After all how many limes ha\c we said not our w ill but" Thy be done on Earth as it is in heaven?" I like to watch people It's a hobby of mine. Do you c\ cr notice pcopic when they don't get their way ? It is never a pretty sight for those w ho think every thing should be the way that they think. They forget who is really in charge I think (hat it is time that we ask ourschcs Who is the captain of our ship I'll say it again I'm not perfect just forgiven And it seems sometimes I have to ask for alol ol forgiveness. Have you ever noticed those pcopic who arc perfect''They act like they have never done w rong in their lives and they sure can poinlottl t he wrongs you've done Then again, if those are quick to point would slop for a second they would see they might needtoask forgiveness also Ifyou think about it the world needs to sec a sermon, not just hear one I always smile inside at (hose who think their right all the time ]( musl be a hard life for llicm. Becauscjust when you think you've got it all figured out life has a way of handing you a curv e, or worse, a set back Once again it's just a reminder, who is really right all the time'' Now if you're into action 'type people, watch those who arc alwaw exercising. You can tell wK they arc because they arc jumping to conclusions They seem to be rushing into this cause or jumping into this fight, before they know what it's all about I wonder if they have ever heard" If you're quick to fight your own battles the Almighty steps aside and allows you to iastc defeat". May be they also need to hear" Not every war cry is a reason to rush into battle " It might be nothing more than a need to draw your attention to something Then there tire people who say one thing arid do another Maybe they have never heard "To an Indian his word is like a rock, it never changes" I must confess I. have had a hard lime dealing with these kind of people Most of the'time I like alol of space between them and me It's simple it \pur yes can't be yes all the time then don't say anything at all No one makes friends by giving their word and doing something else It just goes to show, you can have faith in the Creator but man will let you down But deep inside us all is the desire to be a better person. As a matter of fact. I wish I had a sign that reads: Warning, perfect person under construction". I've learncda great deal from the Schools, of Hard Knocks. As a matter of fact. I've just about finished a PH. D (Piled High and Deep). Well to be perfectly honest with you. there arc days when I feel like I'll nfcvcr learn .of worse. I've only half learned a lesson Take for instance forgiving and forgetting I can forgive but I don't always forget what they hav e done to me Well anyway the next lime you gel fed up w ith someone, make the decision to change because you arc the only one you can change If you can't get oxer it. at least gel around it Thai's what most of us simple minded pcoplc'do After all. you know they say. "Other people's people arc a mcssandyou know we can be too Maybe what we need to do is not to expect loo much out of some people and others we just need to simply leave alone because it takes all kinds to make this world So instead of galling upset w ith someone, look first at yourself Maybe the problem is yours and not theirs. You can call me the Bible Thumper or what ever, slicks and stones may break my bones, but names will never huri me It's getting up in the morning that really docs that Hope I've given you some things to think about And. by the way. they are only my opinions I'm sure you have yours In the True Way . IV.?I. I ^38 Py I -?-?- i/tTt'? i.tnvry America's Hottest Supplement! Incredible 2 For 1 Offer! St. John's Wort: Recently featured in Newsweek Magazine as the "premier herb for treating moderate depression " This natural alternative is the treatment of choice in Germany and the European countries, and is now available in America. Swanson Health Products: serving AmerlcaS health rare need* with the hif(heat quality product* at discount price* since 1969. We curry all name brand* including Nature's Wiiy. Sclliff. ItoinLtth, Kyalic. anil Nature'.* Herb*. Every Product fhscounted Up To 50%! Call loll Free: 1-800-437-4148 7am-MMnlRh( CST, 7 Days A Week. Ask for Dept. 500. - s /? ^ Along the Robeson by Dr. Stanley Knick I Director, UNCP Native American Resource Center (Author's Note: After this timely. announcement, we will return to discussion of the prehistoric context of the Lumbee.) Many times we have been asked here in the Native American Resource Center for recorded oral histories from Lumbee elders. Although our budget has not allowed us to pursue the collection of Lumbee oral history as A much .as yc.vfopld lil^e to, we realiz? i that such recoVcings call 5e extrpmely' valuable in reconstructing Lumbee history and in understanding Lumbee culture. Now a group of such recordings has become available to us, and because of a generous donation to The Center we are in turn able' to make them available to the general public and to researchers interested in study of the Lumbee. These recordings were made in the Lumbee community during the period 1969 to 1971, and consist of interviews conducted by Professor Adolph Dial. The recordings were on reel-to-reel tape, and have recently been transposed to CD format by the staff of the North Carolina Language and Life Project (led by,Dr. Walt Wolfram of NC State University). Dr. Wolfram graciously donated a copy of these thirty-six CDs to us. Because they are in CD format, they will last a much longer time than taped recordings would. But we had no way to play them. When Mrs. Mary Doris DialCaple, daughter of the late Professor Dial, learned of our predicament she came to the rescue. She has donated a CD player to The Center, so that these significant recordings can be shared with the public. Her gift of this equipment has unlocked a door to the past ? a door which opens the way to a better understanding of Lumbee history and CUlttinJ. Through this gift, she is continuing in the best tradition of her father, who was well known for bis generous support of this institution. The recordings cover a great many topics, including a few excerpts relating to other tribes in North Carolina and even one about Creek Indians in Oklahoma. Following is a list of the persons interviewed by Dr. Dial in this series: Colon Brooks; Rosetta Brooks; John W. Dial; Mrs. D. E. Lowry; Willoughby Jones; Pearson Lock!ear, James E. Chavis; Mrs. N. H. Dial; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Lockee; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Chavis; Mr. and Mrs. James K. Brayboy; Claude Lowry; D. F. Lowry; Daniel jidwin Lovyery; Lloyd Lowry; Nancy Lowry Revels; Fuller Locklear, Dannie Chavis; James Chavis; Mabe Sampson; John Godwin; Clifton Oxendine; C. E. Locklear; Early Bullard; Gaston Locklear; Bessie and S George Ransom; Mary Lowry Jacobs; Elisha Dial; Betty Rogers; W. R. Richardson; Charlie Oxendine; Herbert Locklear; Randolph Smith; Rosa Hunt; Elizabeth Locklear, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bell; Dophus Brewington; Danford Dial; Robert Mangum; Mrs. Willie Locklear, Henry Long Cree (Oklahoma); Nancy Chavis Lqcklear, Mrs. Charlie H. Moore; Rose Sampson. Carter; James Allen LOckVarr^Jdikneir Moore; MijCes S. Jones; Henry Moore; Andie L. Lowery; John L. Carter, Rand B ullard: Charlie W. Oxendine; Mrs. Willie C Chavis; Danny Lowry; and Dawley Maynor. There are also passages of discussion by Dr. Dial. These recordings are of interest from several perspectives. As Dr. Wolfram has shown, they !)&ve linguistic importance. They also &ave historical and cultural signific&ce. They also allow descendants and dther family members of the interviewees an opportunity to hear a recording of their relative. Anyone who wishes to hear; one ormore of these recordings should call us here at The Center (521-628?) to arrange, an appointment Fpr fonrr. information, visit the Ndtive American Resource Center in hisloric Old Main Building, on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. .? . ? * Injured At No Fault Of Your Own? Immediate Help Is Available Your Winning Team Locklear, Jacobs & Hunt is only a Phone Call Away! Attrorneys Committed to Your Interests 203 SOUTH VANCE STREET - PEMBROKE, N.C. 521-3413
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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