Reader says: "No
Recognition No Glory"
This letter you are now reading c
was whiten for two reasons. The first s
was because of the respect that 1 have <
for my fellow veterans. Teh second is ;
a request for grass roots support for <
the action 1 am about to take I
My name is Dennis Michael |
Wilkins. 1 am Lumbcc Indian from
Pembroke. NC. For years now 1 have <
sat on the sidelines and watched,
waited, and hoped, yes and ev en pray cd
that the politicians, lawyers, and In- <
dian chiefs would somehow, some
way, convince this Federal Government
of yours to grant federal recognition
to the Lumbec tribe.
I'm not looking for a handout, and
believ e it or not, I don't gamble. I just
feel its time for the double standard to
end and the respect to begin.
Here is a couple of examples of
what I'm talking about. When my
brother Craig finished his Master's
degree, he joined the Indian Health
Service as an "Indian," but when the
time cam for his transfer to another
post, he was knocked out of the position
by a quote unquote "real Indian."
(meaning federally recognized.)
The second example dealt withe
Department of the Interior. About six
years ago, I was given the opportunity
to belisted in the National directory of
Native American artists as an "Indian
Artist," but when I applied for an
Eagle feather permit from the same
department, 1 wgs told that I had to be
from a federafty Itcofenized tribe.
Well, I donfs know about anyone
else, but I'm sick and tired of someone
else deciding whether or not I'm In
lian. I'm also lircd of sitting on the
udclines waiting on someone else deriding
whether or not I'm Indian I'm
llsc tired of sitting on the sidelines
waiting on someone else to get the
federal government to recognize our
people
So here's my plan that 1 hope be:omcs
our grass roots plan
The International symbol of distress
for this country is to fly an American
Flag upside down. So there you
have it . From the time this letter is
published until w e are federally recognized.
I plan to fly my flag upside dow n
w ith one day being an exception, that
day being Veteran's Day out of respect
for all warriors -- Red. Black. White.
Brown, or Yellow -- who wereand still
are willing to give their lives for this
Great-Country that my family has called
home for thousands of years.
One more thing before I go out and
hang my flag. When I ask for grass
roots support. I'm not just asking for
Indian supporters. I'm asking that anyone
who understands what they have
just read to support this cause.
Just imagine you arc traveling from
New York to Florida for July 4th. As
you pass through Robeson County, all
flags arc upside down.
I truly believe that with enough
support this could have as big an
import as any petition thus far.
Sincerely. D. Michael Wilkins
P.S. 1 would like to thank every one
over the years who have helped with
our struggle for federd recognition.
No Recognition
No Glory ?? This is our cry.
Funding Cuts May Face Public Housing
Substantial reductions in Modernization
and Public Housing Operating
Funds has reportedly been recommended
by the White House Budget
Office for the Federal Fiscal year of
1999. It is said that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has
recommended $2.8 Billion for the
Public Housing Operating Fund which
reflects a loss of $100 Million compared
from this year.
With continuous costs. Public
Housing Authorities across the nation
are facing a critical crisis. Dwellings
and structures, in many cases, arc
deteriorating due to the lack of funds
needed for necessary repairs and pre
ventative maintenance.
Public Housing Authorities are already
hurting financially and continual
deeper cuts will undoubtedly accelerate
their slow death.The
need ofPublic Housing is critical
and important to the citizens of our
Nation. We must not let these valuable
assets become demolition material.
Speak to your local. State, and
Federal leaders. Ask them to support
Public Housingand increases in funding
in lieu of decrease.
Merry Christmas to vou all!!
John "Tall Bird" Marshall,
l.umbee
Attention Readers
Do you have something going on in
your family such as a Wedding, church
homecoming, special events, or yard
sale?
Whv not contact us at ThcCaroli na
hapdftflptlfy^articlgWffirpgper *
so that your friends and relatives will
know what is going on ?
Office: (910) 521-2826
Fax: (910) 521-1975
"No Room At The
Inn " to be presented
Pembroke First Baptist Church will
be presenting the Christmas play, "no
RqqntjAt The inn" on Sunday.Bccembcr
21 at 6:00 P.M.. The pastor.
Rev. Kent Chavis, and the congregation
extend a cordial invitation to the
public to attend.
Cookie fs
Corner
I In it a May nor Clark
4V
Happy Birth day Daddy
Chacy V Maynor
December 14. 1919 - March 14. 1992
THtTdvERHML
PREACHER
There once was an overhaul
preacher, with a song book in his
hand. He traveled all over Robeson
County and sang of "the Promised
Land." He loved to sing "Amazing
Grace" in the old time way. He'd sing
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"
and that would really make his day.
In November of 1991 the Preacher
became real sick. The Devil tried to
play his hand, "but GOD took over
quick!
Within 90 days and "the touch of
the Master Hands," he was behind
the pulpit of First Baptist Church singing
"Amazing Grace" once again.
The preacher hhs gone to heaven
for his work on Earth is done. He is
teaching the Angels how to sing
"Amazing Grace." His son Douglas
is on the keyboard and his son-in-law
Clinton and Dixie are singing in the
choir.
Until I get to heaven Pa, sing
"Amazing Grace" for me. I once was
lost but now I'm found, was blind but
now I see.
Thank you for being the "best
friend "a daughter could have. You
were there for me when my own
mother didn't even want me. For the
38 years that we knew each other." I
truly was Blessed"
You daughter Vinita
Has anyone told you today that
they love you, wejl I do. they love you
today? Well, I do!
Pembroke Kiwanis
The Annual Christmas party was
held Tuesday evening at the Jade
Garden Restaurant. The highlight of
Ifte evening was the solo singing of
Miss Charley Lowry, Junior Miss
""humbee. She is a student at Pembroke
Middle School. She sang "I Know the
Maker ofthe World," and "The Greatest
Love of All." Junior Miss Lumbee
has.a fine.soprano.voice and very
"gbod stage presence.
Presiding-Brian Brooks; Invocation
Albert Hunt; Program Chairman-Ed
Teets; Reporter-Ken Johnson.
Along the Robeson Trail
by Dr. Stanley Knick
Director, US'CP S'ativy American Resource Center y.
In our continuing effort to place
the Lumbee in a broad context, we
have been attempting to reconstruct
the past. In the last two weeks we have
been imagining the life which Lumbee
ancestors must have lived ? the life
of a village; the life of pimddaziwin [A
possible reconstruction of an Eastern
Siouan (Catawba/Cberaw) version of
the. concept of pimddaziwin is
yawahracha karee, suggested by Wes
Taukchiray.] Helped by evidence
from similar Indian cultures, we can
only imagine that life of the distant
past because the modem world in
~~wbichjnost of us live is so completely
differenTrrom the Woodland culture
of the Lumbee ancestors. We have
seen that the life of pimddaziwin was
the balanced life, the good life.
Imagine again your village. Here
is the woman who is your best
storyteller. She knows all the old
stories, the ones that are told in the
fields as the women plant their beans
and squash, as they harvest their
pumpkins, as they grind their com into
flour. She knows the stories of
Creation, of how things came to be the
way they are among the people. She
knows stories which have come from
other villages, too ? of great feats in
battle, of ball games played by the
ancient ones, of why the possum has
no hair on its tail. She knows these
things because her aunt knew them,
and her great-grandfather before
that. And when it is the middle of
winter and the nig]n is long and
sometimes the snow is o'tTthe lodges,
everyone will gather in the Jt>ig lodge
and she will entertain and delight them
with her stories. And even her stories
of pim&daziwin help to keep the
balance.
Even that time when your uncle
wandered off and got lost in the forest
as a young boy, and was found by the
hunting party from a far-away village
and taken there to live among a people
who spoke a different language, even
there it was a life of pimddaziwin. For
the people of that village also lived the
balanced life, the good life, and they
adopted him into the family and he
became almost as one of them. And
when he grew old enough he
wondered about his own people ?
your people ? and he left there and
returned to your village and your
family. Now he is the one who
interprets your language into theirs,
which is vital for the trade alliance
which now exists between the two
villages. And when a threat of war
arose from a third and distant people,
it was he who made strong the bond
between your village and the people of
his adopted village. In this way the
threat of war was averted, because
when the two villages allied they were
too strong for the third and distant
people to defeat. And his ability to
interpret from one language to another
also helps to maintain the balance.
And all throughout your village
there are people like these. This one
makes the finest stone tools. This one
grows the biggest sunflowers. This
one makes the tastiest venison stew.
The people of your village and their
ancestors have been living in this
forest, beside this river, for more
generations than anyone can
remember, since the mythical long
ago time. And living Mspimddaziwin,
this yawahracha karee, is the only life
anyone has ever known.
In the next segment, we will
continue to imagine pim&dazxwin in
our efforts to reconstruct the past. For
more information, visit the Native
American Resource Center in historic
Old Main Building, on the campus of
The University of North Carolina at
Pembroke.
Si This
Community
Just K^eps
Getting
Healthier.
| Robert R Earnest, M.D., has joined
he practice of Lumberton Children's
Klinic and the medical staff of SRMC.
Sle will also be the lead physician at the
ijew Children's Health Program at
tobeson County Health Department
Dr. Earnest earned his medical
Nfliegree from Emqry Univereity and
(Completed his residency at
:V?[anderbilt University Hospital and
;, he University of Virginia He is
*" flMtertified by die American Board
Vbf Pediatrics and has been
Hivolved in implementing a cone
nunity access to care program
^^ Jeveloped by the American
Jkcademy of Pediatrics, of
which he is a Fellow.
Robert R. Earnest, M.D.
We can all feel good about each new addition to the
medical staff at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
Every physician brings years of education, specialized
training and personal expertise to our highly diversified
health care team?and to our community.
We'd like to extend a warm welcome to our newest
doctor. With your arrival, there is a significant improvement
in the general health of this community.
SOUTHEASTERN
| REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER
300 West 27th Street, Lumberton, NC (910) 671-5000
In Loving Memory of Our Son
"Brincy Cummings Jr."
Born Feb. 25, 19-12
Died Dec. 20,1983
It's been 14 years since you went
away. 1 wonder why you could not
stay. Your love you gave was^morc
valuable than precious gold. The pain
and grief we felt in our hearts, its so
hard to think we had, its so hard to
think we had to part: But left here in
this life. There will be no other one
such as you. Our dear son.
Love and Miss You,
Mom, Sister, Brothers and Family
-v
g C died?o* tfo<"Uy
CHIROPRACTIC
CENTER
Specializing in Auto Accident Injuries
Most Insurances Accepted
OFFICE
739-5751
"APPOINTMENT PLEAS E"^
FREE INITIAL
CONSULTATION,
Emergency Home Number
sPr Woodrow W Beck, Jr. 738-3126
PE0P1E ARE
SWEET ON THE
FRESH TASTE
OF HONEYBEE
i
honeybee
wn^
^ ? WIQMl
NOW MPUSTK CANS.
?iwjm wwoJ?
( iwirXwvti \
I ??OTAIA/( I
WiiiMUTrvi nj
\mimrni/
^ Carolina Indian Voic e
is published every Thursday by
First American Publications
.104 Normal St -College Pla/a
P.O Bo\ 1075 i
Pembroke. North Carolina
28177
Phone (910) 521-2826
Fax (910) 521-1975
Connee Bray boy, Editor
One Year In NC $20
Out of State $25
Second ('lass Postage Paid at
^ Pembroke, NC
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^ .. 1..
Your Winning Team
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is only a Phone Call Way!
ATTORNEYS COMMITTED TO YOUR INTERESTS
203 South Vance Street-Pembroke, NC
521-3413