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! THE fcROLINA INDIAN VOICE
*
' Pubi ach Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
; _ ' >
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 JANUARY 15,1998 r; . ~ ) TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Occaneechi Banu j Saponi
Nation Denied State R ecognition
Raleigh--In a 9 to 1 majority vote,
the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs
voted Dee. 19 to dcn> official
recognition to the Alamance Count)
group known as the "Occanccchi Band
of the Saponi Nation."
The group initially petitioned the
state for recognition as an Indian tribe
in 1990 and was denied recognition in
1995. The 1995 denial was based on
the group's failure to meet 5 out of 8
recognition criteria and their inability
to trace back to the tribes indigenous
to North Carolina for at least the last
200 years.
Following the 1995 denial b> the
commission, the group appealed to
the Office of Administrative Hearings
(OAH). During court proceedings.
Judge Dclorcs O. Smith ordered the
ease to mediation and allowed both
sides to reach an agreement on the
process to be adhered to throughout
the mediated settlement.
o
"We hav reviewed material and
information from this group for seven
>cars. and the commission alTirmcd
for the second time in two years that
this group docs not satisfy the established
procedures to be rccogni/ed as
an Indian tribe." said Paul Brooks,
chairmanofthc North Carqlina Commission
of Indian AjTairs
The Occanccchis submitted a revised
and streamlined petition to (he
commission on September 10. The
commission agreed to review the additional
material and make a decision
based on its findings by the December
1997 quarterly meeting.
The mediator is now required to
submit a final report to the administrative
law judge regarding the case.
State officials say the Occanccchis
have the option of continuing their
appeal through OAH or initiating a
new petition for recognition through
the commission
Purnell Swett High School Drama students participated in the dinner
theatre production, "Home for the Holidays" Dec. II.
The Arts department organizers for the event Included: Steve Tyntr,
Del or a Cummings, Carta DtGregorio, Karen Paape, Ellen Jackson, Jamie
Palo, and George Mills.
Students of Purnell Swett High participated in Career Week as they
dressed as Professional of their interest 30-35 guests spoke to students
involving their jobs during the week.
Felicia Hunt organized the event.
The NASA Club held a special Pow- Wow at Purnell Swett High School
with traditional dancers, a grand entry, and various activities and crafts,
Robert ttrayboy is director of NASA.
I
Nominees Sought For Lumhee Homecoming
Pcmbrokc-Thc Indian Honor Association
of Robeson County. Inc is
seeking nominees to be honored during
the July 4 th edition of the Carolina
Indian Voice. The categories of nominees
arc as follows: Retired Educators;
Retired Military; Retired Pask
tors; Lawyers; Doctors of Medicine;
A and our Elders,
If you or anyone you know might
qualify for one of these categories, we
invite you to call and submit a nomiI
nation to one of the following persons:
Garth [.oeklcar (521*2614). Lcniark
Harris (521-0501); Pauline B
Locklcar (521-4277); Lee A Mavnor
(521-0174);Rev. WcltonLourv (5214.154);
or Jcannic D. Thompson (5 21 1114)
This is ihc second annual honoring
of our Indian rclirccsand professional
people. Please feel free to help us
identify all those eligible to be honored
Sutton Files For Re-Election To
The House Of Representatives
Ron Sutton is seeking re-election
to the House of Representatives. In
making his announcement he released
the following statement:
"My purpose in filing for a fourth
term in the North Carolina House of
Representatives is to continue my service
to the constituents of District 85
As I begin this final year of my third
term. I wish to thank all the citizens of
House District 85 for allowing me to
represent them in Raleigh. While
many good things have come to this
region from Raleigh, we still have
many pressing needs.
Our current legislative delegation
is working as a team for the betterment
of Robeson. Hoke and Scotland
Counties and all their respective districts.
Now is not the lime to disrupt
the process
As the senior member of the delegation.
currently serving as delegation
chairman. I have an outstanding
element of rapport with each member.
We work closely together yet we don't
always vote alike but we brief each
other on prospective issues ahcalT of
time.
This region is now receiving a
larger share of highway construction
and road maintenance money. Look
around and you will sec the work on I95
and 1-73 (US 74). bridge repairs
and intersections upgrading: this area
is on the move.
In a fourth term my seniority in the
House will be a tremendous asset to
-District 85 and the region. Of course,
my impact will be even more when the
Democrats lake back the leadership of
the House However, one of my most
important assets is the ability to coordinate
and negotiate with the members
and leaders of both chambers to
achieve my objectives. My training
and experiences as an attorney ha
aided in that endeavor.
1 appreciate the support and coofi
dcnce my family and friends h.n ,
shown nic in the past Although it
means long days and many nights
away from my family, my wife Genny
and other family members have understood
and accepted it. I could not
serve without their support.
I thank the voters of District 85 for
their past confidence in me and pledge
to you I will continue to represent all
ofy ou to the best of my ability, regardless
of the sacrifice My legislative
door in Raleigh is always open as is
that of my District Office located at
my law office on Union Chapel Road
in Pembroke. Call or visit me anytime
you have a concern. I'll help in any
way 1 can. ..."
My promise to you is 1 will continue
to represent you and vote on all
issues in the manner that I believe the
District 85 House Member should
vote. I solicit your support and prayers
as I move forward towards a fourth J
term."
Rep. Ronnie Sutton
District 85
NC House Of Representatives
(910 521-4797/Pembroke Office
(919) 733-5782 / Raleigh Office
Lumbee River EMC Scholarships And
Youth Tour Opportunities Now Available
Red Springs?Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corporation's (Lumbee
River EMC) youth program is
now underway, and is open to high
school students whose parents are
member-consumers of the cooperative.
Each year Lumbee River EMC
awards scholarships to local students.
One four-year scholarship is given in
- the name of the late Lucy .Smith who
was a long time mcmbcT of the original
board of directors from ncarb\
Hoke County ; another four-year scholarship
honors the memory of John S
O'Briant, a staff member for 22 years
prior to his untimely death in 1985.
Both the John S. O'Briant and Lucy
Smith Scholarships arc for seniors
planning to attend a four-year college
or university , and arc in the amount of
$2,000 each payable over a four year
period.
Seniors, who plan to attend a twoyear
college or technical school, may
be eligible for the J. McN. Gillis Scholarships.
Lumbee River EMC offers
two J. McN. Gillis Scholarships in the
amount of $1,200 each. Mr. Gillis,
one of Lumbee River EMC's original
board of directors, now 85, lives in
Cumberland County and is involved
in farming and merchandising.
Junior Youth Tour
Juniors may also apply to Lumbee
River EMC for a trip on the National
Rural Electric Youth Tour of Washington,
D C. in June of 1998. Up to
two winners may be selected for this
week-long, all expenses paid trip. Applicants
will be asked to write a brief
essay on selected cooperative topics or
issues.
Guidance counselors at area
schools will have applications available
beginning Monday. January 5.
1998. Applications arc also available
to Lumbcc River EMC's main office
in Red Springs, or at any of the district
offices in Laurinburg. Lake Rim.
Raeford, Lumbcrton or Fairmont.
For further information, contact
Linda B. Lccklcar. Lumbcc River
EMC's Youth Program coordinator,
at (910) 843-4231, extension 251.
Fairmont area members may call 6280056,
and those in the Laurinburg
area are asked to call 276-8802.
Lumbee River Electric Membership
Corporation (Lumbcc River
EMC) is a member owned, not-forprofit,
electric cooperative, ovorsccn
by a board of directors elected by the
membership, serving approximately
39,000 customers in Robeson. Cumberland.
Hoke and Scotland counties
Area Resident Selected As Finalist
In Statewide Coloring Contest
Six-year-old Red Springs resident
Heather Locklcar was chosen as a
finalist in Baptist Children's Homes
of North Carolina's third annual statewide
coloring contest.
Close to 300 children from across
North Carolina competed in the annual
contest in two age categories, 8lOand
seven and below. Eleven finalists
were chosen in each category with
a grand prize winner selected from
them.
This year's grand prize winners
were Rachel Holt. ofMalthcws, in ^hc
age 8-10category and Nicole Osburn.
of Clayton, in the age seven and below
category Each won a new mountain
bike, along with a specially designed
BCH t-shirt and certificate.
As a finalist Heather, daughter of
Freddie and Angclia Locklcar, re*
ccivcd a specially designed BCH tshirt
and certificate. Heather learned
of the contest while attending Galilee
Baptist Church. Red.Springs.
Baptist Children's Homes of North
Carolina was founded in 1885. Last
year, BCH served 1.560 children at 12
facilities statewide which include four
residential campuses, six emergency
care cottages, two homes for bchaviorally
troubled girls, a maternity
home, a home for teenage mothers
and their babies, therapeutic camping
and model day care.
Richardson Appointed To
Census Advisory Committee
i U S Secretary of Commerce William
M Daley has appointed Greg
Richardson, executive director of the
North Carolina Commission of Indian
Affairs, to the U S Census Adv isory
Committee on the American Indian
and Alaska Native Populations
The advisory committee will protide
ad\icc and recommendations
duringiltcdesign. planningand implementation
phases of the tear 2000
census During the research and development
phase, the committee will
prov ide advice on topics such as social
methods for counting the populations
and the race and ethnicity questions,
which will be on the census forms
The committee will draw on the experience
of the 1990 census committee,
current procedures, results of evaluations.
research studies, and the expertise
and insight of its new members to
provide and recommendations in
preparation for the year 2000 census
The committee, whose function is
solely advisory, consists of nine Native
American and Alaska Native
members, who arc appointed by the
secretary of the U S Department of
Commerce for two-year terms
"I am very honored to have been
selected to serve on this national com"mitlcc."
Richardson said He indicated
that he will be focusing his
interest and energy as a committee
member in the following directions:
An accurate census count for all
American Indians whether they live
on reservations, in rural or urban commtinitics
o(T the reservation
The inclusion of Indian communities
as enumeration districts throughout
the United States, whether on or
off the reserv ations
The appointment of American
Indians to policy-making boards and
committees with the U.S. Census
Bureau
Richardson has served as executive
director of the Commission of
Indian Affairs in the North Carolina
Department of Administration since
February 1995. He previously served
as a special assistant to the assistant
secretary for public and Indian housingallhcU
S. DcpartmcnlofHousing
and Urban Development in Washington.
D C.. and earlier served as executive
dircctoi of the North Carolina
Indian Housing Authority
1? ?
The Pembroke City Fire Department held their annual raffle December
24th and the proud winner of the New Moss berg 12 Gauge Shot Gun was
WUHam Cummlngs and his son. The Fire Department would like to thank all
persons who supported their fund raiser.
From left are newSRMC Foundation Board members: Claude Fulghum,
Randall Jones, Raymond Johnson, Faye Caton and Hat Sharpe. Not
pictured is Anne McQueen.
Five Elected To SRMC Foundation Board
j. Luckcy Welsh, Jr., president of
Southeastern Regional Medical Center,
and Dr. Bob Andrews, chairman
of the Southeastern Regional Medical
Center Foundation Board ofTrustees,
have announced the election of five
new members to that Board.
They are Anne McQueen of Red
Springs, Claude Fulghum of St. Pauls,
Hal Sharpc of Maxton, Faye Caton of
Lumberton. Randall Jones of Pembroke,
and Raymond Johnson of Fairmont,
Dr Andrews said that the SRMC
Foundation is actively engaged in
planning programs that will reach out
andbcncntthcentirccommunity. "We
are pleased to have such highly qualified
new board members," he said.
"And we are also pleased that these
new members come from all areas of
the county."
In addition to Dr. Andrews, other
officers elected were Evelyn
Williamson who will serve as vice
chairman and Horace Stacy. Jr.. secrctaiy.
Other members of the SRMC
Fburidation Board are Thomas G
Long. James R. Rust, William L.
Lcnnon. Joseph R. Thompson. Doris
C. McCormick. George D. Regan,
Albert M Sharpc. and Dr. Charles T
Johnson. Jr.
UNCP Homecoming February 6-7
UNC Pembroke and the UNCP
Alumni Association invitealumni and
friends to Homecoming Weekend
February 6-7,1998. Homecoming'98
begins with an alumni reception in the
lobby of Lumbec Hall from 7:00 P.M.
- 9:00 P.M. followed by the alumni
dance at 9:00 P.M. in the university
center cafeteria.
We will hold Soccdr, Basketball
and Greek alumni reunions at the
track and field complex on Saturday,
February h from 11:30 A.M. - 1:30
P.M.
The classes of'48. '65-nO, '73. and
ft
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'88 will be having class reunions. The
African-American Alumni Club and
the RN to BSN Alumni Club will also
have reunions. These reunions will be
held Saturday. February 7 at 3:00
P.M. in the Chavis University Center.
The awards dinner will be he'd on
Saturday. February 7. 1998 at 4:30
P.M. in the cafeteria. The UNCP vs.
USC - Aiken Women's Basketball
game will be held in the gym at 6:00
PM and the Men's Basketball Game at
8:00 PM Reserve tickets today by
calling the Office of Alumni Relations
at (910) 521-6213.