THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
!
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
Lifestyle Rollin' Cobras Tur%
Disability into Team
r\?? n ?i_ /-? * 1- "' ?
win- iMJucsuii vouniy oasKeioan
team is proof that a disability need not
be a liability. The Lifestyle Rollin"
Cobras, are partially funded by the
Southeastern Lifestyle Center for Fitness
and Rehabilitation, placed second
in a Division 111 Tournament in
Colombia. SC on October 9th.
"We are trying to bring a Division
II National Championship to Robeson
County," said Coach Randy Ward,
who also plays on the team. He said
that although most players are experienced,
this teams's first season.
"Some of us were playing for other
teams, but wanted to bring a team into
Robeson County because most of us
live in this area," he said. "A g oup of
the guys were working out up here at
the fitness center and had been in
rehab up here, so we asked Southeastem
Lifestyle Center to sponsor us."
Kathy Hansen, manager of fitness
services at Southeastern Lifestyle
Center for Fitness and Rehabilitation,
said that the team is performing
a needed service for the community'.
"We are proud to sponsor them," said
Hansen. "They are really like a support
group." She said that even though
the center does not perform inpatient
rehabilitation for spinal injuries, some
outpatients there are in wheelchairs
and the team serves as inspiration to
them.
"We show them how we've come
from a tragedy to a victory, and if a
newly injured person comes in, we
can go to them and try to help them
get back into the mainstream of soci
eiy, w aru saia. I nis can give them
another activity to help keep them
from feeling sorry for themselves."
Wheelchair basketball is organized
similarly to college basketball and
played according to NCAA rules and
regulations. The sport is divided into
three divisions and has a "Sweet Sixteen"
and "Final Four" competition at
the end of the season to determine the
National Champion. According to
Ward, the sport is also an Olympic
event.
Not only do members of the team
inspire others by playing basketball,
they also speak to students at area
schools about the effects of drugs and
alcohol. According to Ward the team
is effective in spreading a safe driving
message to teens. "We tell them that if
you drink and drive this is what can
happen to you." he said, pointing to
his wheelchair. "We also play games
at the school and talk w ith kids about
disabilities. We show them that we
are just like anyone else. This teaches
them that they don't have to shun
people just because they're different."
Ward said that wheelchair basketball
is a great equalizer. "Michael
Jordan played a wheelchair basketball
team, and once he got into the
wheelchair, he was no better a player
than them. When people who aren't
physically disabled get into the chairs
to play us. they become the disabled
ones, and we have the advantage."
Although the . Southeastern
Lifestyle Center for Fitness and Rehabilitation
partially sponsors the
Lifestyle Rollin Cobi^sl, \4arJ^A1fcl
that it takes about S10.000 a Kason to
operate the team Currently USMMTft
is seeking additional sj?onsotRKw(W,
one interested in in il ill i 111||| IIiini
to the team should conral'f w ard at
(910) 655-8553.
On October 30th the Rollin Cobras
will be in competition with several
other teams. The Halloween Shootout
will be at the Lumberton Junior High
School at 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. and
Sunday October 31 from 8:00 a.m. to
12 p.m.
The guys on the team have expressed
a desire to have more community
support in regards to their
needs financially and emotionally. As
the first Native American Wheelchair
Basketball Team they feel strongly
about having more input and support
from the Native American Community.
They stated that they would like
to hear from the Native American
Organizations that oould help them
with the funditlg^r they are in need
of and also to hear from the six tribes
that are in the Carolina area.
Being handicapped is not a limitation
as to what can be accomplished in
ones life is the message they would
I ike to convey to the youth of Robeson
County. Coming up on Friday at the
Pow Wow in the late afternoon at the
opening ceremony the basketball team
will be present to speak and mingle
with everyone who is there. If anyone
has any ideas or would like to offer
any assistance please feel free to write
to Del Lambert at P.O. Box 1304,
Pembroke. NC 27372.
VA/HUD Appropriation Doubles
Budget for Indian Housing Council
Washington, D.C.. The VA/HUD
Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2684)
signed into law by President Clinton
last week allocated an unprecedented
$4.2 million to the National American
Indian Housing Council's efforts
to improve housing in Indian Country.
This more than doubled funding
forthetwenty-five-year-old groupthat
represents tribal housing authorities
and also provides technical assistance,
training and research to tribe.
"The housing and economic development
problems faced by Indian
tribes are unique because of the special
status accorded to reservation
lands. NA1HC has proven technical
assistance and training program that
the conferees believe could be a valuable
tool in addition to HUD's existing
technical assistance programs,"
the Conference Report for H.R. 2684
noted.
Funding Aids Implementation of
Native American Housing and SelfDetermination
Act (NAHASDA).
"The money Congress entrusted to
N AIHC is an indication ofhow effective
Native American technical assistance
has been. This is really what
NAHASDA was intended to do," said
Chester Carl, NA1HC Chairman and
Navajo Housing Authority F.xecutive
Director.
Since the passage ofNAHASDA,
tribal officials have had to learn new
rules and develop more sophisticated
funding strategies to leverage their
block grant funds. Carl aid, "Congress
has recognized what tribes need
to make the transition from 1937
programs NAHASDA. By prioritizing
technical assistance we'll have
success stories."
"We thank Congress, especially
Senators Bond, Mikulski and
Campbell and Representatives Walsh
and Mollohan, for acknowledging that
capacity-building is best done by tribes
and tribal organizations," said Christopher
D. Boesen, Executive Director
of NAIHC. "This funding is an important
symbol of the increased trust
Congress has placed in tribes." Boesen
said.
NAIHC programs respected in
Indian Country
Of the $620,000,000 approved for
the Native American Housing Block
Grants program for FY2000, NAIHC
received a total of $4.2 million to be
administered through contracts with
HUD. Boesen said that in addition to
expanding existing programs, increased
funding enables NAIHC to
better serve small tribes.
"Tribes are comfortable coming to
N AIHC because our sole mission is to
help them." Boesen said. "We have a
good relationship with the tribes."
Lui Young, Interim Director of
the Housing Authority for the Yurok
tribe said " the Yurok IHA is a new
housing authority and NA1HC technical
assistance staff has provided us
with invaluable training. We are always
impressed with the commitment
that NA1HC staffhave to housing
in Indian County."
Tribally - controlled Organization
at Work throughout Indian Country
NAIHC is a tribally controlled
organization dedicated to improving
Indian Country housing, which is the
most overcrowded and substandard
in the nation. NAIHC technical assistance
special'sts travel throughout
the country helping tribes to implement
housing programs that will best
serve their members. NAIHC also
works to dismantle the barriers to
lending in Indian Country by educating
lenders and tribal leaders about
making conventional mortgage loans
on trust land and by establishing conventional
mortgage lending partnerships.
Pembroke Housing Authority
Receives $492,012 Grant
Pembroke -The U.S. Department
of Housing & Urban Development
has awarded the {Pembroke Housing
Authority $492,012 under the Comprehensive
Improvement Assistance
Program for FF Y99. These funds Were
awarded based upon the number of
Ii dwelling units currently under new
management by the Authority and
the aggregate total number of bedrooms
for all the units.
According to staff reports, these
funds will be used to complete the
replacement of the heating systems
and installation of central air conditioning
units at all four-bedroom units
located in Strickland Heights. "This
grant will provide for us an opportunity
to outfit our units with central air
conditioning; thus allowing us to provide
comfortable homes for our residents
during hot summer months",
states Lemark Harris. Executive Director.
"We will also be able to replace
the badly worn, old heating
system with an energy efficient forced
air furnace. These improvements will
Hirectly benefit our residents by making
their homes comfortable and liv\
In addition, the Authority will use
icse funds to install replacement
windows in many of its units. "We arc
eager to begin this project", states
Harris. "For some time now we have
been trying to address our most critical
needs with respect to our housing
stock. Now that we have all but eliminated
the risks associated with combustible
air. we can continue to make
our units both energy efficient and
less susceptible toIburglars by providing
state-of-the-art wmdows for all of
our resident's homes."
These modernization programs are
directly related to the management
focus of the Authority. Through it's
ability to increase the effectiveness of
the housing assistance program for
the Town of Pembroke, the Authority
has been able to bring in several
hundred thousand dollars that might
not have been available otherwise.
"We want to thank our residents for
their help and assistance with the
planning of this grant as well as all
the others in the past. We recognize
the effect our performance has upon
the families we serve and take this
objective to heart in all that we do"
states Harris.
For more information about this
program, the public is invited to contact
the Central Office of the Authority
at (910) 521-9711.
Indian Heritage
Month Celebration
begins Sunday
Governor Jim Hunt has proclaimed
November as Indian
I leritage Month in North Carolina.
This celebration will begin on Sunday.
October 31. at 2 p.m. at the
North Carolina Indian Cultural
Center in Pembroke. The even is
sponsored by the North Carolina
Commission of Indian Affairs and
the United I ribes of NC.
Activities will include the reading
of the official proclamation, the
presentation of the 1999 poster by
artist Karen Harley.
Greg Richardson, executive director
ofthc Commission of Indian
Affairs, stated that this kick of!
celebration and the month of November
is very important because
it will be the last celebration of
Indian Heritage Month inthisCentury.
The event is being held in conjunction
with the L.limbec Tall Pow
Wow which is also being held this
weekend at the Cultural Center.
Ray Littlcturtle will serve as Master
ofCerentonies and will introduce
the various triors and groups in
attendance.
Coach Randy H ard
Lifestyle Rollin Cobras, from left are Eddie McMilliun (Whiteville), Dale
Lambert (Pembroke), Joshua Nance (Whiteville), Randy II ard (Buckhead),
Bradley Council (White Oak), Helton Lock/ear (Pembroke), Nick White
(Bladenboro), Mark Sutherland (Buckhead), and Jeff Lowry (Pembroke).
Not pictured are Jerry Jacobs (Buckhead), Steven Jacobs (Buckhead), Gary
Jordan (Chadbourn), and Charles Lee (Parkton).
LRDA 's Energy Office to Begin
Taking Applications Nov. 12
The Energy Unit for the Lumbee
Regional Development Association,
Inc. will begin accepting application
for one time energy payment for fuel
assistance to low income Indian
households on November I through
November 12, 1999.
Eligibility is based on income,
number in household, heating source
and region households lives in. All
eligible households will receive a
check in February. 2000.
Please bring correct information
to expedite processing applications.
(I) Social Security Cards for household
members. (2) Verification of
income for all household members
for October Only. (3) Bank Statements/Stocks
and Bonds. (4) Date of
Birth for all household members. (5)
Telephone number where you can be
reached. (6) Picture I.D. with current
address listed.
If you have any questions, contact
the Low Income Home F.nergy Assistance
Office at (910) 738-7906.
Offices for taking applications are as
follows:
Energy Office. 2207 W. 5th St..
Lumberton. N.C. 28358. 738-7906.
Monday - Fridav 9:00 A.M. v 4:00
P.M.
Hawkey e Sands Community Bldg..
Hwv 211 W.. Raeford. N.C.. Thursday
ONLY, 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
LRDA Tribal Enrollment Office.
Union Chapel Rd.. Pembroke. N.C.
28372. 521-2462. November 10,
Wednesday Only. 9:00 A.M. - 4:00
P.M.
LRF.MC.205A Fairlcy St., Laurinburg.
N.C. 28352. Tuesdays Only.
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
UNCP to Host Parents
Weekend Nov. 5-6
Pembroke, N.C. -- The Capitol
Steps will be a feature attraction at
UNCP's first-ever Parents Weekend
on Nov. 5-6. Admission is $5 to the
public for the concert on Saturday.
Nov. 6 at 7 P.M. at the Givcns Performing
Arts Center.
Billed as the?only group in Washington
D.C. funnier that Congress
itself. I he Capitol Steps are political
satirists who sing and perform. They
have recorded 18 albums and made
numerous television appearances.
Parent Weekend is loaded with
activities including a cookout and a
midnight preview of the Braves basketball
for the 1999 - 20000 season,
according to Dr. Diane Jones, vice
chancellor for Student Affairs.
"We're excited about this special
weekend we've planned, but the real
centerpiece attraction is family togetherness."
Dr. Jones said. "We believe
it is important to bring parents
and family together on campus."
Registration fo,r the weekend of
events is $10 and will be 6-8 p.m.
Friday at the University Center, is
S10 person, livents arc as follows:
Friday
Registration ? 6-8 p.m. at the
University Center.
Movies and Munchies ? "The
Phantom Menace" at 8-10 p.m. at the
University Center lounge.
Midnight Madness basketball ?
10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Saturday
Late Registration ? 9:30 - 10:30
a.m. at the University Center
Tour of the Native American Resource
Center ? IU:30 - 11:15 a.m.
A Carolina Cookout - 11:15 a.m.
12:30 p.m. on the Quad (free) followed
by coffee and dessert at the
Bookstore.
Concert by the UNCI' Music Department
? 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at Moore
Hall
Social with Students. Faculty &
Staff- 2:30- 5 p.m. at the University
Center
Photo exhibit -- 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.,
2nd floor University Center.
Family portraits & Caricatures -- a
photographer and an artist will be
available.
Robeson County
Museum to honor
veterans Nov. 4
I he Robeson Counts Museum
\ssociaies invite all citizens to attend
in evening of patriotic music-bonoring
Robeson County's veterans tin
fhursday November 4. at 7 p.m. in
[he courtsard of the public library
fhe event also commemorates
Veteran's Das.
Fort Bragg's popular 82nd Airborne
Chorus will perform in conjunction
with the conclusion on November
I Ith of the Museum's military
exhibit which has been on' display
since summer. In the event of
rain, the performance will be held in
the Osterneck Auditorium.
A reception will be held in the
Museum immediately following the
show.
Pembroke City Fire
Dept. to sponsor
fund raising event
The Pembroke City Fire Department
is having a special fund driver
for the next several weeks in cooperation
with Community Support Services.
Families will be contacted by
phone and asked to make a pledge.
Each family that pledges receives a
beautiful 10x13 Canvas Mount Portrait.
compliments of the Fire Department.
Proceeds are being used to help
pay for the new Fire Truck. For any
additional information call 1 -800-2532638.
They appreciate your past support
and look forward to your help this
year.
Contribution to
Church of God
Harold Dean Demery of the Deep
Branch Community attended homecoming
on Sunday at his home church,
Pembroke Church of God. Demery
presented more than S500 to the church
in the Homecoming offering. Demery
stated that he collected money all the
year from friends and businesses and
saved it to make large contribution to
his church. The church presented
Demery a certificate of appreciation
for his dedication to his church.
Demery . 41, is a life long member of
the Pembroke Church of God and is
the son of Mr. Ernest Demery and the
late Eunice Demery.
Democratic Women
to Meet Nov. 8
Robeson County Democratic
Women are having a dinner meeting
on Monday, November 8, 1999 at
6:30 PM at the Quality Inn and Suites,
Kahn Drive, Lumberton, NC the guest
speaker will be State Senator Beverly
Perdue. L.t. Governor Elect. Call 521 9960.
521-0045 .or 628-6642 to reserve
your meal.
Everyone is welcome. Thank You!
If you have any questions, call 5219092
or 628-6642.
Freeman appointed
to Commission
Leroy Freeman ofFairmont was
recently appointed to the North
Carolina Justice Education and
training Standards Commission by
Attorney General Mike Easley. His
appointment will expire in June
2002. He is serving as the attorney
general's citizens' appointment.
In making his appointment. Attorney
General Easley stated. " As
you know, this Commission is very
important to the citizens of North
Carolina as well ac the law enforcement
officers across the state. This
Commission's importance is increasing
dai ly as we try to deal with
the crime issues in our state. I know
that you will serve the citizens of
North Carolina and the law enforcement
officers of this state
well."