^ UNCP
Published c.uli Thursday m Pembroke. N.C. H 00079
Caro lina Indian voice
"Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting"
Volume 27 Number 19 Thursday, May 11, 2000 25c
Lumbee Self Determination
Commission to conduct survey
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The Lumbee Self Determination
Commission has finalized plans to
survey at least 500 members of the
Lumbee Tribe to find out if they want
tribal government. According to Jim
Lowry, Chairman of the 39-member
Commission, the consensus of the
Commission from public hearings and
talking one on one with tribal members,
is that the tribe wants tribal
government. The Commission agreed
to have the survey done and results
will be presented at the July meeting.
Helping the Commission with the
survey will be the Institute of Government
in Chapel Hill and the University
of North Carolina at Pembroke. The
survey will be conducted by UNC
students and will include the following
questions: Do you want a govern
ment or not? If so, would you like that
governmental body elected or appointed?
If appointed, who should
make the appointments? And do you
want to elect the government by districts
or at-large?
Lowry and the Commission are of
the opinion a referendum on tribal
government should be done by survey.
Others have a different opinion.
The Commission also agreed to
write to Judge Howard Manning who
established the Commission and ask
him to lower the thirty percent requirement
for voter participation.
The Commission met on Saturday,
May 6. Ironically on May 5th the Lumbee
Tribe of Cheraw Indians filed an
appeal with the NC Court of Appeals
They are appealing the Court Order
that established the Lumbee SelfDe
termination Commission to resolve the
issue of government for Luntbee. The
plaintiffs in the "Tribal Council vs
LRDA" lawsuit also disagrees with
the thirty percent requirement.
The Commission also agreed to file
a "friend of the court" brief with the
Court of Appeals to give the appeals
judges a status report on what the
Commission is doing and has done.
According to Lowry, the Commission
expects to hold an election in
November to elect a representative
body.
The Commission is comprised of 39
members appointed by Judge Manning
who required eight members from
both LRDA and the tribal council and
additional appointments that he named
himself.
Madie Rae Locklear is shown turning hot dogs at the Relay for Life fund-raising event for the Cancer Society.
Beside her is her daughter Selena Locklear Drakos.
Cancer survivors, relatives, friends and supporters are seen walking around the track at Lumberton High School
during the Relay for Life Fund-raiser for the Cancer Society.
Cancer Survivor and daughter among
those raising funds for Cancer Societv
The Sixth Annual Relay For Life,
the fund-raising event for the American
Cancer Society was held Friday
and Saturday. Cancer survivors and
supporters, friends and family members
gathered at Lumberton high
School's Alton G. Brooks Stadium to
participate in the 24-hour team walka-thon.
As many as 1,000 people gathered
as participants walked laps
around the track for twenty-four
hours.
The event was sponsored to raise
funds for cancer research. The Robeson
County Health Department
worked to raise funds for the drive. It
was of particular importance to Selena
Locklear Drakos, an employee of the
Health Department. Her mother, Madie
Rae Locklear, is a cancer survivor. "I
know how devastating cancer can be
to a family," Drakos said. " I wanted
to do my part. I am thankful for the
research that has been beneficial to
cancer survivors like my mother.'
Drakos and her mother raised
$1,358.00 for the event. They expressed
their appreciation to busi
nesses and individuals who contributed
to the cause.
Madie Rae Locklear was among the
estimated 250 cancer survivors who
made a ceremonial lap around the track
Friday evening. She has reached a
mile stone for victims of cancer. She
has passed the five year mark necessary
for the medical profession to
consider you "cured' if you have cancer.
Locklear was diagnosed with breast
cancer in February 1995 and underwent
a mastectomy. She has had chemotherapy
and radiation treatment.
She is now considered "cancer free"
and gives thanks to God. "Only trust
in God and a positive attitude can help
one survive cancer," she said. "1 thank
God for seeing me through this ordeal.
I have tried to remain optimistic
and positive," she continued. Locklear
admits that it is not always easy
to be positive and uplifted when you
have cancer. She is grateful to Brenda
Brooks of Pembroke, a cancer survivor,
who has been inspirational for her.
"Brenda has been a great inspiration
*
to me," Locklear said. "Whenever I
would get discouraged, I would call
her and she was always uplifting and
encouraging. 1 thank God for her availability
when I was so desperately in
need of someone who knew what I
was going through."
Locklear said the number of people
who helped her was almost too many
to enumerate. "Brenda was especially
helpful," she said. "And I will always
have fond thoughts of her and Gennie
Sutton, a registered nurse. "1 could
call Gennie and ask her questions
about chemotherapy, medicines and
treatments, and she was a tremendous
help to me."
Locklear and her daughter are looking
forward to participating next yean
in the Relay for Life. They encourage
others to contribute to the American
Cancer Society in the hope that others
will survive cancer. Cancer is a disease,
Locklear said, that does not discriminate.
It affects all colors, ages,
and sizes. She encourages women to
have a mammogram yearly. Thus far.
she said, early detection is the best
treatment for cancer.
Ten Star All Star Basketball
Summer Camp to be held
Final applications arc now being evaluated for The Ten Star All Star
Summer Basketball Camp. Boys and girls ages 7-19 can apply. Players are
selected by invitation only. Past participants include: Michael Jordan, Tim
Duncan, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Antawn
Jamison, Christian Laettner, Tom Gugliotta, and Trajan Langdon. Camp
locations include: Raleigh, NC, Boiling Springs, NC, Riverside, GA, Babson
Park, FL, Atlanta, GA, Champaign, IL, Fort Wayne, IL, Atchison. KS,
Georgetown, KY, Northfield, MN, Rochester, NY, North Canton, OH,
Commerce, TX, Farmville, VA. College Basketball Scholarships are possible
for players named to The All-American Team. For an evaluation form call
(704) 372-8610 ANYTIME.
Easter Cantata at First Baptist Church of Pembroke
First Baptist Church of Pembroke held its annual Easter Cantata on April 30, 2000. First Baptist Church of
Pembroke is located on Union Chapel Road in Pembroke, NC. Kent Chavis is the pastor and Diane Oxendine is the
Musical Director. Shown in the photo above are the participants in the Cantata: back row, left to right: Pastor Kent
Chavis, Gwen Locklear, Patsy Oxendine, Theresa Locklear, Charles Oxendine. Diane Oxendine, Music Director,
Chris Graham,. Narrator; front row, left to right: Deb lowry, Polly Hunt, Doris Chavis, Amira Hunt, Betty Brooks
and Ruby Revels.
Around OI'
Robeson
Last Kaw Indian dies
OMAHA, NEB.-It was surreal but
there it was in an AP release. The
Last Kaw Indian has died. The last
pure-blooded member of the Kaw
Nation, the tribe that gave the state
of Kansas its name, has died at age
82.
William Mehojah, who died Sunday
(April 23) was one of only about
2,500 people on the Kaw National
tribal rolls. Most have only a fraction
of Kaw blood.
It is a continuing story of betrayal
and arrogrance on the part of the federal
government. Sovereign nations
are dying. Progress is over running
the Indians. It's sad but would you
give up your television and frosted
flakes to save the Indians?
An Indian Tribe signs deal with
Trump
COACHELLA, CALIF.-It is ironic but
the Indians have discovered gold on
the reservations that they were once
so ignobly forced upon against their
wishes. The new gold mines are gambling
casinos on federal and sovereign
tribal nations.
The Twentynine Palms Band of
Mission Indians, 13 in number, have
signed a deal with Donald Trump to
turn their casino into a $60 million
gambling resort.
Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts,
Inc. will build the operation around
the existing Spotlight 29 Casino already
owned by the tribe.
It's just irony folks, just irony ...
and poetic justice.
Brayboy and Chavis honored at
annual meeting of
the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association
CHAPEL HILL-Robeson County Athletic
Director Ronnie Chavis and Tim
Brayboy, a Pembroke native and
former educator at the state department,
were honored at the annual
meeting of the North Carolina High
School Athletic Association in Chapel
Hill last Thursday (May 4).
Chavis was honored as the state
athletic director of the year; Brayboy
a UNC-P graduate like Chavis, was
honored as an all-time contributor for
his work in officiating and for his work
with middle and junior high athletics.
'Mrs. Fannie Hammonds
Blanks Celebrates
105th Birthday
Mrs. Fannie Hammonds Blanks celebrates 105th birthday with her
family at Ivanhoe, N.C. on May 5, 2000.
She was born in Lumberton on: May 5, 1895 and the wife of the late
llecktor Blanks of Lumberton, and the daughter of the late Willie Hammonds
of Lumberton, who lived to be 103. Mrs. Blanks is the mother offour
living children: Saomie Wade of Lumberton; Mrs. Tommie-Gean Brewer
of Ivanhoe; Mrs. Evader Durden of Lumberton; and Mrs. Mabee Brewer of
Lumberton. She has twelve grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren,
and seven great-great grandchildren.
The honoree lives with her daughter. Mrs. Tommie-Gean. It is believed
that Mrs. Blanks is one ofthe oldest persons in Robeson. She has a keen mind
and she remembers the names of all the children.
The following: is what the Bible says about long life. Children obey your
parents that your days may be long upon the earth. Eph. 6: 1,2A3.
Mrs. Blanks was a member of Ten Mile Center Church.
(Photo and Text by Technical SGT. William P. Revels Retired.)
Easter Egg Hunt at
Pembroke Public Library
The Pembroke Public Library held an Easter Egg Hunt for the younger
patrons on April 19,2000. Over 30 children participated in this event headed
up by Mrs. Mattie Locklear, Head Librarian. Assisted by Jo Tudor, children's
librarian, the children enjoyed a story before the Easter Egg Hunt. After the
hunt for the 70 eggs everyone was given an Easter treat from the Pembroke
Public Library.