/ I ' ^ C6
TH r ' JNA INDIAN VOICE
Published each Thursday by First American , 7V<7
VOLUME 26 NUMBER30 THURSDAY, AUGUST S, 1999
Strike at the Wind! Ends Season Successfully
By Vlnlta Maynor-Clark
The outdoor drama "Strike at
the Wind! has ended one of the
most successful seasons since it's
opening in 1976. An estimated
1,500 people packed the Adolph L.
Dial Amphitheater at the North
Carolina Indian Cultural Center for
the last rvvo performances of this
century.
Friday night the newly appointed
Secretary of the
Department of Transportation
David McCoy was the drama 's special
guest. He was introduced to the
audience by State Representative
Ronnie Sutton. McCoy told the
audience about a telephone call he
had received several years ago in
regard to the $25,000 of vandalism
that had been done to the amphitheater.
During his comments he stated
that he was very impressed by the
remodeling and repairs to the amphitheater.
He told the audience
that he was proud to be there.
Many elected officials including
Pembroke Mayor Milton Hunt
were in attendance. Even with temperatures
of over 90 degrees the
cast of the drama braved the heat
KjraHrr"
and humidity and performed.
Saturday night the drama play ed
to another packed audience. The
Stage Manager of the drama Steve
Tyner informed the cast at 7 P.M.
" We are on hold as we do not have
a Shoemaker and he does not have
an understudy."
Miss Indian North Carolina was
a special guest and David Oxendine
the Director took to the stage
where he began his acting career in
1977 as Steve Lowrie and sang
several Elvis songs. While all of
this was going on several of the cast
members were praying that Robert
Bryant who plays the role of Shoemaker
John would be able to leave
the bedside of his wife who was a
patient in the Emergency Room at
Southeastern Regional Medical
Center in very critical condition.
Around 8:30 P.M. the word came
that Robert was in route to the
amphitheater. Ken Freeman, President
of the Joint Venture
Committee, walked out the end of
the gate and with his head set on,
awaited the arrival of "Shoemaker."
The members of the
Pembroke Fire Department were
I
on hand directing traffic and were
making sure that when "Shoemaker"
arrived inside the gates of
the North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center he would arrive safely to
the dressing room area. Upon the
arrival of "Shoemaker" he was
escorted to the dressing room by
several of the cast members.
Ken Freeman presented Bryant
with the gift of a wrist watch that
came from a fan who wanted to
remain nameless and wanted to
thank Bryant for the 21 seasons
that he had never missed a night.
The last performance began at
9 P.M. with the audience greeting
the cast with a thunderous applause.
VanColeman.CamellLocklearand
other cast members from the documentary
"Through Native Eyes"
were in attendance for the last performance
of this century. When
Coleman was spotted by cast members
and word came backstage
Stephen Pate spoke to the cast along
with several others that were in the
movie saying "let's show this
movie director exactly what we
can do!" One cast member who
/
was in the documentary walked up
to Micah Sampson and said "ifyou
have never played Henry Bear before,
we want you to play him now.''
The same person spoke to the
Leader Carol Oxendine and said
"Carol we want you to show those
folks out there who distorted the
facts on Henry what a Leader is all
about!" Another cast member
looked at Faline Locklear and said
"you go girl!"
When the last song was suftg
and the lights dimmed for the final
curtain many of the cast members
embraced each other and some
raised their hands to the sky and
thanked God formakingthe drama
once again a reality when others
said that it could not be done.
Certificates of Appreciation
were given to the cast and technical
crew by the Joint Venture Committee.
The lights were taken down from
the towers, costumes and props
were all accounted for and secured.
The cast went over to the pool and
said their "good-byes" until next
season.
This season was a family affair for Randolph (left) and Corbin
Eddings. Randolph played the role of Donahue, the bounty hunter and
was also the Armorer. Corbin played the role of Steve Lowrle and also
served as an assistant to the stage manager and the armorer.
Patricia Bray boy, Executive Director of the Robeson County Chapter
of the American Red Cross stands with VlnltaMaynor-Clarkafierthelast
performance. "I'm impressed" is a quote that was repeated several time
by Ms. Bray boy.
Rowland Family Practice
Center Adds New Physician
Scotland Health Care System and the staff of the Rowland Family Practice
Center are pleased to announce the addition of Deborah Greimel, M.D. to the
medical staff. Dr Greimel's arrival increases the number of providers to two
at the Center. She joins Ruth Ann Docrman, PAC, who has provided medical
coverage at Rowland Family Practice Center since 1993.
Dr. Greimel, an internist, comes to Scotland Health Care System following
completion of her internal medicine residency at East Carolina University
Graduate School Medicine in Greenville, NC. She is a native of Norfolk,
Virginia and attended Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and East
Carolina University Graduate School of Medicine.
Dr Greimel is very excited to begin taking care of the people in the Rowland
community, stating, "I am happy to be coming to an area that needs more
medical care and I look forward to not only taking care of patients medically,
but to educating them as well." As an internist, Dr Greimel is a physician who
deals with the diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical diseases. She is the first
female internist to join Scotland Health Care System's team and the only
female internist in our area. Internal medicine is the basic training of all subspecialities;
thus Dr. Grciincliswcll prepared to provide medical management
of most adult diseases. She will practice with an emphasis on adult medical
conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, while Ms.
Docrman will continue to see patients of all ages.
Open House
Rowland Family Practice Center opened its doors in 1988, offering the
community access to quality primary medical care services and treating all
members of the family. This summer the Center underwent extensive renovations
To introduce Dr. Greimel tothe community the Center will host an open
house on Tuesday, August 17 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. All Rowland Family
Practice Center patients and community members are encouraged to attend.
The office is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Mondays and Fridays, *;00
am to 7 pm onTucsdays and Thursdays, and 8:00 am to "noon on Wednesdays.
The office is closed for lunch from noon until 1:00 pm each day. Office
appointmcntsarc preferred, but staffis always available for emergencies. Nonurgent
w alk-ins will be accommodated as ihe schedule allows.
The cast of the outdoor drama "Strike at the Wind! " and the staff of
the Carolina Indian Voice wish to express their sympathy and love to
Robert Bryant our "Shoemaker John " on the departure of his beloved
wife Mamie.
Robert Bryant is presented a watch by Ken Freeman, President of the
Joint Venture Committee.
News from the Pembroke Housing Authority
Pembroke- (3n\ Wednesday July
28, 1999, the Pembroke Housing
Authority, North Carolina Commission
of Indian Affairs (NCCIA), and
Robeson County Mental Health Department
teamed together for a meeting
to discuss how we could better
serve the Pembrokecommunity. Some
of the topics that were addressed
included youth center;, activities;
health issues; family matters; substance
abuse, and special needs for
families. The meeting was held at the
security office in Strickland Heights
with an overwhelming response from
both the adults and youth
I
Suzettc Salicido. Interim PHDEP
Coordinator, and La-Meecha SwettLocklcar,
Youth Coordinator, shared
with the residents the activities that
Were being sponsored by the Pembroke
Housing Authority Youth Center.
These activities include tutoring;
drug prevention; and cultural activities.
Darlene Jacobs. Community Service
Director, for the NCCIA. educated
the groupas to the various tribes
of Indians of North Carolina and the
many functions of the NCCIA Janic
McFarland, also of NCCIA Spoke of
gadgets that were available by the
organization for people with special
needs. Elaine Gillespie. Robert Smith.
,
and Yolanda Lewis, Substance Abuse
Counselors with Robeson County
Mental Health Departmentexpressed
in the meeting if there was anyone
with or they knew someone with a
substance abuse problem they could
be contacted at the Department of
Mental Health. All information is
kept confidential.
The Youth Center held an appre-.
ciation luncheon on Friday, July 30th
for the LRCOG Summer Youth Workers.
The staff at the center would like
to thank Tanya Scott and Richard
Cole for their dedication |o their job
and the volunteer work in the fall at .
the Youth Center. Richard is a rising
freshman at Purncll Swell High
School Good Luck! Richard and
Tanya in your upcoming school year.
During the summer, many of our
youth participating in various sum'
mcr camps conducted throughout the
countj Some of these camps were
sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club.
Robeson County Parks and Recreation;
as well as UNCP swim camp
These campsoffcrcxcitingchallcnges
to an ordinary summer. Many of our
youth greatly enjoyed the swim camps
offered by UNCP We wish all of our
children well during the upcoming
school year as well.
Dodgers T-Iiall Team
Chaplain serves as coordinator of Native American spirituality
By Christy Hardee
Medicine bags, smudging, pipe ceremonies
and sweat lodges - understanding
Native American Indian religion can be a
real challenge for those outside of the Native
American community. Yet, the Division
of Prisons has a responsibility to provide
spiritual and ministerial services to
all inmates incarcerated in our prisons,
including Native American inmates.
With more than 550 different tribes of
Native Americans in existence today - all
1 with their own unique religious practices,
j coming up with one set of approved
i guidelines for the practice of Native
I American Indian religion within the context
of the prison system has proven to be
a difficult task. Needing some assistance
establishing such a set of guidelines, the
Division of Prisons turned to Ray Littleturtle
for help.
A member of the Lumbce and Creek
tribes. Litllcturtle has served as an advisor
for the Division of Prison's religious services
for the past 13 years, offering insight
into Native American spirituality. However.
as the Indian inmate population continues
to grow - there are now around 650
Native American Indian inmates in our
prisons - it became clear that the Division
needed more than just an advisor to handle
the practice of Native American religion
within the prison system. In January,
Littleturtlc joined the Division's religious
services staff as a contract chaplain in
charge of Native American religion.
"In my new role. I'm serving as the
coordinator of Native American spirituality
for all the prisons," he said. "Native
American religion is unique in that it
brings with it a certain symbolism not as
prevalent in other religions like medicine
bags, braids, headbands and other things
that identify one as a Native American.
My wish is to educate prisoners on how to
properly avail the religion and educate the
staff, so they can have an appreciation and
understanding of why the Indian inmates
do the things they do while practicing
their spirituality."
In an effort to promote understanding
of the Native American Indian religion,
Littleturtlc has narrated a video on Native
American faith practices and developed
"A Uuide to Understanding
Native American
Religion." In the
booklet, he explains, in
detail, the meanings behind
the various practices,
methods and sacred
items used by Indians
practicing their
faith.
For example, sage,
tobacco, cedar and
swectgrass are considered
sacred by Native
Americans These four
sacred plants arc used
ior puruicanon. ncaiing
and as a medium for
prayer. A bundle of the
four sacred herbs is used
for smudging, a process
in wnich the herbs arc lit until a smoke is
released. The individual then cleanses
himself with the smudge by allowing the
smoke to pass over his head, body and into
the heart.
Another ceremony, the pipe ceremony,
is used as means through which Native
Americans send their prayers to the Creator.
The individual begins his inward
prayer while smoking the pipe, and the
release of the smoke carries the prayer to
the Creator. Other items such as medicine
bags contain herbs, dirt, stones, hair and
other various natural items, representing
sacred memories and reminders.
Another common practice used in Native
American religion is the sweat lodge.
\
Sweat lodges are not currently allowed
within the prison system for security reasons
but are used to unify the body, heart,
soul and mind. During a sweat, individuals
enter an enclosed area that contains a
rock pit to produce heat and steam. The
individuals sing and pray as the steam
creates an atmosphere that opens the body |
to cleanse it of impurities
through the skin, the
heart by prayer, the soul
by spiritual communication
and the mind by the
unification of the whole
person.
It is Littleturtle's job as
chaplain to identify the j
various faith practices
used by the different
tribes and pull out common
elements that can be
used within the confines
of a prison.
I "I'm trying to develop a j
comprehensive directory
of services for Native
American inmates who
want to practice their
faith," he said. "With
more than 550 different tribes, each with
their own ceremonies and practices, it
ieaves me with the problem of coming up
with a middle-of-the-road approach, so we
don't have inmates trying to do 550 different
things. I'm trying to pull out the common
elements and come up with one set of
approved guidelines for the practice of
Native American spirituality within the
entire prison system."
Littlcturtle's office is based out of
Robeson Correctional Center, but he travels
to the various prisons across the state.
Anyone needing Littlcturtle's assistance
can reach him at Robeson at 910-6185535
or through the Division's religious
services office at 919-733-3226.
Ray Uttleturtie recently Joined lha
Division of Prisons religious servicer
staff as a contract chaplain In charge
of Native American religion.