THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6 ' THURSDA), FEBRUARY 11, 1WV TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
Indians Lose Chance atthe UNC-Pembroke
Chancellor Position Unless...
....They rise up in righteous indignation!
There is a mean political streak iii thcLumbcc camp, as we see it. We just
don't seem to feel good about ourselves anymore. And we have begun anew
to beat up on one another. Maybe success (sic) has gone to all of our heads
You know about the mess concerning the Lumbce Tribal Council/LRDA
debacle We cannot even agree to disagree, and psy chologically need to have
someone like Jurist Howard Manning, a conservative and white superior court
judge, sort out our differences. My God. what in the world is wrong with us'.'
Why can't Ave just get some Indian preachers together to serve as an ad hoc
election commission and have a referendum about what we want to do as a
people'* Well, as we see it. that's asking too much fora Lumbce. ifyou ask us
Too. did you notice how many non-Indian lawyers were helping we poor
pitiful Indians fight among ourselves? LRDA had a passcl of" bite lawyers,
and the Lumbce Tribal Council did too. although one'Ltnnbcc. Arlinda
Locklcar. w as involved on the tribal council's side. Where in God's name w as
the other Indian lawyers? It's just not in their best interest to get involved, as
we sco it. Ditto for Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Dexter Brooks!
And now the Chancellor's Selection Committee at UNC-Pembroke has
seemingly flipped its gourd too The Indians have lost it. and it makes us mad
as fire, editorially speaking of course What in the world is wrong with we
Indians? Education has seemingly driven some of us to ethnic paranoia We
have turned upon omselves We arc politically devouring one another We
have met the enemy and it is US!
Roger Oxcndinc local tobacco man also doubling as chairman of the
UNC-P Board of Trustees, chairs the Chancellor's Selection Committee We
want to introduce you to the selection committee lie picked Yeah Rogei
Oxcndinc will have to share some of the blame for this fiasco because he's the
one who picked (his collection of nay stivers. We remember when Bruce
Barton, our former editor, for instance, asked to be on the chancellor's
selection committee lie was turned down because, as some saw it. he was too
out spoken and controversial; It might have been good to have someone on
the selection committee who was not afraid to speak out for the Indian cause
Every oncon the chancellor's selection committee is so nice, and so proper and
so umnuiinim1 :
Through Native Eyes Cast Meets
In an undisclosed location in a neighboring county tins past Saturday the
cast and crew of the movie Through Native Eyes met for ihe first time. The
nicetingbcgan w ith the joining ofhandsand a snort pray er Everyone was very
glad to see who made the final selection and others were surprised that their
friend had not Director Van Coleman took center stage and welcomed
everyone, congratulating thent that they were going to be a part of history. "Ifyou
have an ego. an attitude or a chip on your shoulder you need to leave it
at the door" he said to the actors.
" This is going to be some hard work and it is not going to be easy but the
end will truly justify the means." staled Robert Locklcar who has been cast
in the role of" Henry
"1 want all of you who have been in the outdoor drama to help the others
who do not know the ropes." said Harliss Smith who is a Strike at the Wind
veteran who went on to say "you know what it is like to face the mosquitoes,
stand in I'M) degree heat and not get paid for it "
Making the final cast selection out of the ov er 375 (hat auditioned were
Strikcal the Wind veteran cast members Robert Lock tea i (Henry) Mychalcne
"Deese (Rhoda). Janet Graham. Harliss Smith. Marcus Locklcar. Chris
Hardison Teresa Cummings. Margaret Freeman. Carncll Locklcar and
Vinita "Cookie" May nor-Clark
The first reading of the script prov ed to be interesting to every body Many
details that have been ignored in a historical prospective arc found in this
script All of the cast members had a good feeling about the movie
Readings will continue in a closed rehearsal until the actual filming of the
movie later oil in the month
hy V'initu Muynjur-Clark
The selection committee is nuidc up of 6 whites. 2 blacks, and six Lumbcc
Indians (sic). It makes you wonder what is happening in the Indian camp Tw o
or more of them, if we arc reading the political tea leafs right, voted against
adding Indian candidates to the list of twelve that is now on the table It would
have taken a vote of 5 or more for one or more of the I ndian candidates to make
the cut. None did If no Indian made the cut. then some of the Indians on the
chancellor's selection committee voted against their own people That is mind
boggling Can you imagine this happening at any other school in the
university system? We'll answer for you Heck no! Faycttcvillc Slate will
always have a Black Chancellor and N.C. State will always have a w hitc one
Only UNC-Pembroke plays these silly mind games in which the end result is
tokickyourovvnpcoplcinthcirpoliticaltccth How^ad! How pitiful! Neither
candidates Dr. Ray Bray boy Judge Gary Locklcar. Dr Ruth Dial Woods or
Dr Freda Porter Locklcar rcceiv cd enough votes to make the cut to 12 viable
candidates Notice that three-of these Indian candidates have doctorates
REAL ONES! Have we all lost our collective minds? Arc we going to allow
this miscarriage of justice to stand.'
What ev er happened to Indian and Black causes! If we arc reading the
action of this committee c orreclly. neither of the Iw o blacks on the committee
voted for an Indian candidate either Ev idently some of the people on this
board did not think that any of the Indian candidates were suitable or qualified
to be chancellor of UNC-Pembroke. the only school in the system with a
sizable Indian student population According to information we have been
able to obtain, the Indians on the chancellor's selection committee are Roger
Oxcndinc McDiifncCtumniiigs Di Zoc Locklcar. Dr LindaOvoidm: Di
Cheryl Locklcar and Ms Anuie Revels If you see any of these Indians over
your morning cup of coffee, oi elsewhere ask them how they voted They
ought not to mind telling then constituency how they voted, either for or
against the Indian candidates
One of the members on the selection committee was even heard to exclaim
during the process that "I am apolitical" That is so hard for us to believe You
can't brush your teeth in America without being "political" The late and
esteemed and very political Dr Adolph Dial believ ed that politics was the art
of the do able WE DO TOO'
Of eourse people have a right to vote hkcthe> want to It still makes us sad.
and we arc concerned that the sis Indians on the board did not see fit to keep
an Indian(s) on the selection list What's wrong with us as Indian people'* We
can remember when we had nothing, audit looks like we are busy giv ingback
all of our recent good political gains because we arc more comfortable
psychologically as a people with nothing!
The only remaining solution is for the UNC-P Board of Trustees to refuse
the winnowed dow n list unless it has\ table I ndian candidates added to it Why
Not'' They do have that right Will they have the courage to do it? Probably
not That's the sad part Ourlndian leadership is tired of the fight and wishes
to throw in the towel How sad!
Nevertheless, we publicly call 011 the UNC-P Board of Trustees to reject
the winnowed down list of twelve, or at best, add one or more of the Indian
candidates to it It's the only fair and reasonable way to do it Which of the
Indians vote^ to keep Indian candidates on the list, and w hich ones voted not
to'.' Did they have a political a\ to grind'* You do have a right to ask them'
While y oti're at it. ask the blacks on the boa rd to cxplai n thci r \ otc too They
are Thomas Jones. Jr and Larry Rodgcrs Jones works for an all Indian board
(his company is owned by Luinbce Riser EMC), and Rodgcrs. a track coach
at UNC-P. has li\cd in the Pembroke area most of hisadiill life even serv ing
a stint as President of the Pembroke Jayeccs It seems like they would have
been sensitive to an Indian candidate, ihey were not' ...
The whites 011 the board arc Dr George Wallet. Di Snellen Cube. Bob
nicecker. BonOicrsh Mclean Hodges and Thomas Martin They awe iW an
explanation too
In the meantime contact the nientbersol the UNI -PBoard ol Trustees, and
ask them to dothc right thing ADD INDIANSTOTHE SHORT I.ISTTHAT
Wil l BP SUBMITTED TO CHAPEl.-Hill Attend the next meeting en
masse Raise sand about (Ins terrible turn of events I et those in positions of
powci know how you feel about it Or just do nothing. Remember that EVIL
MEN triumph when good people do nothing Bad policy results Poor
selections arc made We've told you about it. to the best of our ability. as we
see it Now what are you going to do about if'
New Officers Named at Pembroke
Housing Authority
Pembroke - The Pembroke Mousing Authority elected nc\\ officers oh
Thursday. January 28.1999. for the calenderycar 1999. Elected to the position
of Chairman was Joel Garth Locklear Of Pembroke. North Carolina
Mr.Locklcar was original!) appointed to the Board of Commissioner on
January 17. 1993. and successful!) re -appointed on January 17. 1997. for a
five -year term ending January 17.2002 Mr Locklear was previously elected
Vice - chairman and served for calender years 1997 and 1998 Mr Locklear
is owner and operator of Ggrlh's Detective Agency of Pembroke. North
Carolina
Elected to the office of Vice - chairperson was Olivia M Revels of
Pembroke. North Carolina Ms Res els was originally appointed to an
unexpired term that ended January 17.1995 . at which lime she was reappointed
for a five year term to expire on January 17. 2000 Along with her
husband. Mrs. Rev cis is co-owner and eo-opcratoi of Rev els F.uncral Home of
Pembroke. North Carolina
Outgoing Chairman William B Locklear served as Chairman during the
years (993 through 1998. Underbid Ividei ship, some of the Authority's major
accomplishments included adding two-units for the elderly: converting four
units to handicapped accessibility, iiislulliiigcenlral HVAC systcmsin ninety
- eight units, mostly for the elderly establishing on - site security for
Strickland Heights, and many other accomplishments loo numerous to list
Underscoring his appreciation for the support received from his fellow
commissioners. Mr Locklear gracefully turned the gavel over to Mr Garth
Locklcai. pledging to continue his support and work for Pembroke Housing
Authority -
Cutting the Ribbon and opening the
Doors to Education and a Brighter
Future at the new Pembroke Library
On February 5. IV9V a Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony took place in front
of the new Public Library oft he T o\\ n
of Pembroke Their was a variety of
representatives front various organizations
who were present to be their
as the Mayor of Pembroke. Milton
Hunt. Secretary Betty McCain. Head
Librarian Mrs Mattie Locklear. Director.
Robeson Public Library Robert
Fisher. Pembroke Tow n Manager
McDuffiC Cummihgscul the red ribbon
tied across the doors of the library
As we walked into the.library
tjjcir was a sense of welcome and the
desire to browse and enjoy the surroundings
The inside of the library
was easily understood as the open
space made it easy to find what yon
were looking for The overall message
from the indivdnals w ho spoke
wtrs~fbr children and parents to con
linue a productive relationship with
education and doing activities together
such as going to the library
together. Education was com cy cd as
the key to alleviating the darkness of
ignorance
Diverse Groups Pledge to Help
Increase Indian Housing Lending
National Coinmunity Reinvestment
Coalition and National
Association of Affordable Housing
Lenders agree to partnership with
National American Indian Housing
Council to jumpslarl mortgage lending
in Indian Country.
Washington. D C. (02/04/99) At a
news conference hosted by the National
American Indian Housing
Council (N AIHO. the National Community
Reinvestment Coalition
(NCRC) and the National Association
of Affordable Housing Lenders
(NAAHI.) joined in a commitment to
partner with NAIHC to help reverse
Third World housing conditions in
Indian Counlrv
"The time is right for such a partnership."
said NAIHC Chairman
Chostci Carl "Between 1992 and
1996.only 91 t?>m cntional mortgages
were made in Indian Country .and not
many have been made since Compared
to housing nationally. Indian
Housing i H' limes'as overcrowded
and61 imesas substandard." he added
Willi Ni.'Rt NAIHC announces
two initiatives
Joml it lining for Indian Housing
officials on u?c of Community Reinvestment
Act
Joint .idvocacv efforts to preserve
CRA
NCRC will work with NAIHC to
train tribal housing entities on the use
of the CRA as a tool for making banks
accountable for lending in tribal communities
Willi NAIHC. the National Association
of A ffordablc Housi ng Lenders,
w ill launch a t-pnri program
educating bankers about successful
models of lending on tribal land,
including the creation of a clearing
house of information
Creating emphasis on the importance
of this market through
conference panels and through publications
Providing technical expertise to
NAIHC from its members
Carl, who is also Executive Director
of the Navajo Housing Authority
said. "We welcome the expertise of
both MAAHI and NCRC and their
member-) Wc hope this collaboration
will be a catalyst for the changes
necessary to make mortgage lending
routine in Indian Country 1 pledge to
help tribes remove those barriers that
exist on our side of the fence "
NCRC CEO and President John
Taylor said "Wc pledge to help Native
Americans in their quest for
decent safe and sanitary housing,
utilizing-the Community Reinvestment
Act Other groups have used it
cffcctivclv to ensure that mortgage
lending and housing development
happen where it is needed most."
NAAHI. President Judy Kennedy
said. "Our mcmbersarc expert in cornmunitv
lending and wc arc dedicated
to expanding our efforts in Indian
Country We hope our collaboration
with NAIHC will break down the
barriers that have impeded progress,
in the past
Statistics show that although a few
lenders have begun to make loans in
Indian Country, the opportunity is
there for much, much more loan activ ity
The nded for homes is also
undeniably great
* The i9?>7 Home Mortgage Disclosure
Act data, which tracks loans
by ethnic group, showed that Anicri)
can Indians were the ONLY ethnic
group that registered a decline in the
rate of mortgage lending for home
purchase loansextended in 1997 compared
to 1996 increased 12% for
Asians and 4% for Blacks and Hispanics
while decreasing 1% for
American Indians
* An astounding 40% of the Native
American population on reservations
lives in substandard housing
* NAIHC estimates that more than
2(H).()()() housing units arc needed
immediate!) to prov ide adequate housing
in tribal areas Carl, continued.
"Together with tribesand tribal housing
entities, we can help make
mortgage lending happen in Indian
Countrv. We can answer the prayers
of families that hav e waited for years
to have a home of their ow n We can
help families w ho live in overcrowded
homes We can help alleviate the despair
of families who live in homes
without plumbing, without running
waterwithout insulation Main tribes
and tribal housing entities have made
great strides toward housing their
people: to make even more positive
and lasting changes, we need the support
of partners who will work with
us We arc looking forward to working
with NCRC and with NAAHL."
The news conference took place
during NAlHC's 5th Annual Legislative
Conference at the Grand Hvatt in
Washington D C
The National American Indian
Housing Council is the only national
adv"ocac) group representing housing
interest of tribes and tribal housing
organizations across the countrv .
NAIHC provides research, training
and technical assistanccand publishes
Native American Housing News.
Joel Garth Locklcar
Olivia M. Revels