I'llIMislicd each Thursday 111 Pembroke. N.C. H K
Car? una Indiai ' Voice
"Building Conuminiaitive Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting"
Volume 27 Number 32 Thursday, August 10, 2000 2gc
Community response
very positive at
LRDA public meeting
On Monday. August 07. 2000. Lumbee Regional Development
Association. Inc. held a community meeting at Fairmont Middle School. The
meeting was hosted by board members. James "Sonny" Sampson from the
Rowlcnd area and board Chairman Leroy Freeman from the Fairmont
community, to receive comments and questions from the tribal membership.
In addition to Freeman and Sampson, all board members were in attendance,
with the exception of Gwen Locklear of Hoke county and Roderick Locklear,
one of the at-large board members.
After opening comments from the Chairman, at-large board member Leon
Jacobs, who is also the Chairman of the Federal Recognition Committee, gave
an update on the tribe's efforts to obtain federal recognition. Each program
director was present and gave an extensive presentation on their respective
programs. They also provided those present with brochures detailing the
programs. Applications for tribal enrollment, as well as applications for the
Day Care and Flead Start programs were available for those interested.
Program Directors responded to questions from those present and
encouraged tribal members to feel free to contact them at their offices for any
needed assistance.
Tribal members were very interested in the Lumbee Housing funds and
asked their questions of Donald Locklear, Director of Lumbee Housing.
Questions were answered and two persons who questioned the status of their
applications were given special attention and their names and addresses
received by LRDA in order for the status to be given on Tuesday morning.
Joel Garth Locklear, recently reelected to the North Carolina Indian
Commission, was swom in at this meeting by District Court Judge Jeff Moore.
One of the responsibilities of LRDA is to oversee the election for a Lumbee
representative to the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs. Mr.
Locklear is being sworn in to begin his second term in that position.
There was approximately 300 tribal members present. A meal was
provided prior to the meeting. Tribal members in attendance commented on
the need for such meetings, and welcomed the opportunity to learn about
LRDA programs. The meeting was most successful. According to Chairman
Leroy Freeman, it is his intention to see similar meetings held in each tribal
community.
Joe/ Garth Lock/ear, left, is shown receiving the oath of office to the North
Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs from District Court Judge Jeff
Moore.
Dock Hunt, left, and his brother, Johnny Hunt of Rowland, were on hand
for the public meeting.
LRDA Board Chairman Leroy Freeman is shown at the podium. Fairmont
is included in his district.
I James "Sonny" Sampson isshown above. He mingled with the crowd after
speaking to them. He is from the Rowland area and has served on the LRDA
Board for twenty-five years.
Little Miss Lumbee Takonna Lynn Bullard is shown with Cat Littleturtle.
They wee both in attendance at the Fairmont meeting.
Photos by James n/L
Gathering Of The Eastern
Indian Nations At Sunset
Pembroke, North Carolina-The NC Indian Cultural Center will host the
"Gathering of the Fastern Indian Nations at Sunset" on September 2, 2000,
from 10 am to 9:00 pm. Activities will include Native American Arts &
Crafts, food, swimming, boat tours, canoeing, "free" fishing, volleyball, and
fireworks. Special guest appearances by Miss North Carolina I.oma McNeill
and several North Carolina Indian Princesses. An honorary ceremony will
be held to give special recognition to Korean and World War II Veterans. A
special ceremony will be held to honor all Veterans. Entrance into the park
and entertainment is free. Tickets for activities will be $20.00 for a Family
Pass (Parents & up to 4 Children (each additional Child $3.00)); Individual
Pass for $5.00; a Group of 10 or more will be $3.00 per person. A meal is
included in the ticket price and will be served only from 11:00am until
2:00pm. Vendors are invited to setup for a $50.00 fee. For additional
information, please contact Beverly Collins at (910) 521-2433 or Kara Jones
(910) 843-9484.
\udge Dexter Brooks Re-appointed
> tckthe Bar Association's Race
^Relations Implementation Committee
On 14 July 2000, the President of
the North Carolina Bar Association.
James B. Maxell, announced the reappointment
of Senior Resident Judge
Dexter Brooks to the Race Relations
Implementation Committee. The
Committee is charged with developing
a plan for the implementation of
the Final Report and Recommendations
of the Commission on Race
Relations in the Legal Profession
adopted by the Bar Association's
Board of Governors in April 1996.
Judge Brooks also served on the
Commission on Race Relations by
similar appointment of the President
of the Bar Association. The Commission
was created through joint
action of the North Carolina Bar
Association and the North Carolina
Association of Black Lawyers in order
to promote the elimination of
"both a perception and a reality of
continued racial discrimination in
the legal profession."
Although laws which formerly
mandated discrimination on the basis
of race are now illegal and laws
have been enacted prohibiting such
discrimination, the reality is that such
discrimination may stubbornly endure
in practice rather than in law.
For example, in 1995, a 53-year old
white male, serving his fourth term
as district attorney, was removed from
office for using a racially derogatory
term in referring to a black professional
football player while trying to
start a fight with him in a bar.
Today the primary problems may
be with officials and people who act
out their prejudices and racial attitudes,
often in a very subtle fashion.
In another context, according to The
Fayetteville Observer, a recent study
at Duke University Medical School,
"revealed that white male students,
when assessing identical coronary
conditions in a white male and a
black female, considered the man's
more severe and the woman's quality
of life less desirable. Minority and
female medical students, on the other
hand, rated the two equal." The
study concluded that "some medical
students show biases about patient
race and sex even before they begin
their clinical experience."
The progress in Robeson County,
however, stands in stark contrast to
the rest of the state. What has occurred
locally in the Sheriffs
Department, Clerk's Office, and with
judges and magistrates appears to be
unprecedented and unequaled
throughout the state.
Elvis To Appear For
SATW! Closing Night!
Artistic Director David Oxendine has announced that he will perform an
Elvis skit the closing night of the regular season of SATW! August 12, 2000
at 8:00 pm. After many request that he perform the Elvis impersonation he
decided to perform it on the closing night. Oxendine has directed Randolph
Umberger's Strike At The Wind! for 10 years this season and occasionally
performs the pre-show having not performed in the show since 1990.
According to Oxendine, "audiences get a big kick out of the Elvis performance
and really get a chance to get involved in the show." He also stated
this will coincide with the 23rd anniversary of Elvis Presley's death on August
16,1977 of heart failure. For the price of one show, audiences will relive some
of the magic of Elvis Presley and experience one of the best, if not the best
outdoor drama in the country, "Strike At The Wind!" with music composed
by Willie French Lowery. So come out early on August 12, 2000 to the
Adolph L. Dial Lakeside Amphitheater 3 miles west of Pembroke off
highway 74 near Purnell Swett High School. In order to get a good seat and
catch one of Elvis' scarves, audience members should arrive at the theatre
by 7:45pm. After the Elvis performance at 8:00pm SATW! will begin at
8:30pm. Ticket prices are S7.00 for adults, $5.00 for senior citizens (age 50
and older), and $4.00 for children under age 12. For further ticket
information please call 521-2433.
Every day is a new day to serve God
When we wake in the morning, we realize we have another day to serve
God. Some of us , shortly after waking sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee
and a little food. It's a pleasure to enjoy the taste of what we have. If we
are lucky, when we leave for work or another daily activity, we are amazed
at the sight of the rising sun. A little later we pause to enjoy the smell of
the summer flowers, a rose or the smell of the fresh air itself. As we stand
and listen to the birds sing, we wonder if they are talking to each other or
just sending up praises to God. As the day heats up from the late day sun,
we are pleasantly refreshed by a cool northern breeze. As the day draws
to a close and we return home, we pause to thank God for the simple
pleasures of life. Our five senses are a witness to the love and power of God.
So much more should we ourselves be. "Let everything that hath breath
praise the Lord - praise ye the Lord." Psalms 150-6 Thank God for Jesus.^4
Concerned Christian