Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C.
CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"Building Communicative Bridges In A Tri-Racial Setting"
VOL UME 2H NUMBER 17 THURSDA Y, APRIL 26, 2001 25c
Larry Chavis, left, is shown with his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Chavis (center) and B.J. Thomas, right, during
one of his many performances.
Anthony Locklear has been named
Executive Director of GEAR UP NC
Anthony Locklear has recently
been named Executive Director of
GEAR UP NC. Locklear has
served as the Interim Director of
GEAR UP NC since October
2000. At the conclusion of a national
search he was appointed as
the permanent Executive Director
effective March 1. GEAR UP NC
is part of the Access and Outreach
Office of The University' of North
Carolina General Administration
and directs its efforts at increasing
the college going rate in North
Carolina. The program specifically
targets low income families and
provides academic intervention
strategies to students and parents
in fifteen counties across the state.
Hoke, AnsonrtrrtcT Montgomery"
counties are three nearby counties
out of the fifteen total counties
served by Locklear and his staff.
This statewide initiative is funded
in part by the U.S. Department of
Education and by partnerships with
the State Department of Public Instruction.
The University of North
Carolina. The Independent Colleges
and Universities System.
North Carolina Community College
System, Pathways, The UNC
Council of Alumni Presidents and
the State Education Assistance
Authority.
Locklear resides in Cary, North
Carolina with his wife Felecia
Maynor Locklear and two daughters,
Anielica and Francesca Locklear
Since 1994,- Locklear served
as an Assistant Dean in the College
of Arts and Sciences at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. Prior to that time, he was employed
at the University of North
Carolina at Pembroke as Director
of Admissions. Locklear is the son
of Curtis and Margaret Locklear of
Re Springs and received both his
undergraduate and graduate degrees
from Pembroke State University,
And is a Doctoral Candidate
at N.C., State University.
Anthony Locklear
Pat Chavis to lead South
Central Region Prisons
RALEIGH- Secretary Theodis
Beck has named Patricia Chavis as
the new South Central region director
for the Division of Prisons,
effective April 1. In her new position,
Chavis oversees operations at
14 state prisons in a 12-county area
between Charlotte and
Wilmington.
"Pat Chavis is an excellent
leader, motivator and administrator,"
said Secretary Beck, "She has
served this department well over
the years and I know she will do an
outstanding job leading the prisons
in our South Central region."
Chavis is a 27-year veteran of the
Department of Correction. She
started her career as a program supervisor
of the old Richmond Advancement
Center in Richmond
County. She went on to work in the
South Central Diagnostic Center at
McCain and was the director of the
Robeson Treatment Facility for
Women. For 12 years, she served
as a program director in South Cen
tral Area prison adminstration. In
October 1990, she became the first
Native American female to lead a
state prison when she was named
superintendent at Bladen Correctional
Center. In 1994, Chavis supervised
the opening of Lumberton
Correctional Institution and
served as its superintendent
through March 2001.
Chavis is a lifelong resident of
Robeson County. She received her
bachelor's degree in sociology and
master's degree in educational administration
from the University of
North Carolina at Pembroke.,
Chavis and her husband Kenneth
have one daughter in college and a
son in high school. She is an active
member of Berea Baptist Church
in Pembroke. In her spare time, she
enjoys fishing and tending the
flowers in her yard.
Chavis replaces Bob Lewis who
was promoted to support services
director for the Division of Prisons.
Lumberton Junior High to
hold last Advisory Council
and PTO meeting for year
Lumberton Junior High School will be haviTlg its last Advisory Council
andP.T.O. meeting for this school year on April 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the
school auditorium. Elections for the 2001/2002 school year will be held.
All parents are encouraged to come out and support their children and
school:
Prsonal privacy should be
protected, Weinstein says
RALEIGH- Consumers would
enjoy sev eral new privacy protections
under a package of proposals
that NC Senate committees will
begin to review this week.
"The way we do busi ncss and t he
technologies we use arc progressing
every day, but unfortunately
sometimes your personal privacy
falls victim to that progress," said
Sen. David Wcinstein, D-Robcson.
"North Carolinians deserve their
privacy and their peace of mind."
The Senate's privacy proposals
include:
Stopping electronic information
about public school students from
being shared for busi ncss purposes
(SB 990);
Giving patients access to their
medical records (SB 992)^
Limiting unwanted telemarketing
calls to people's homes (SB 1003);
Banning retailers from selling
information on your discount card
to third parties (SB 1049).
Prohibiting insurers from sharing
their customers' bank account
numbers with other businesses for
marketing purposes (SB 461); and
Toughening the penalties for
"hackers" who break into people's
computers and use their personal
information to commit a crime or
identity fraud The bill also makes
it a crime for employees to steal
business information by breaking
into the business' computer system
(SB 1048).
"Consumers need to know their
rights as private individuals."
Weinstein said. "Your private information
should remain private
unless you say otherwise "
Larry D. Chavis, Drummer for B.J.
Thomas, returns to Native Pembroke
by Cynthia I.. Hunt
Lam D. Chavis, a Lumbee native
of Pembroke, will return home on
Friday, April 27 to perform at the
Givens Performing Arts Center on the
campus of UNC-P with B J Thomas,
a singer who became famous in the
1960s with hits like "Rain Drops Keep
Falling On My Head" Chavis has
been playing the drums for Thomas
since 1981. In addition, he also provides
back-up vocals for Thomas
Chavis, a 1970 graduate of Pembroke
Senior High School, is the son
of Mrs Gertrude Chavis and the late
Harvard L. Chavis of the St. Anna
community. According to Chavis, his
parents provided a lot of the inspiration
to fulfill his career in music. At
the young age of 14 while attending
school at Pembroke Graded School,
Chavis expressed an interest in playing
in the school band. His desire was
to play the trumpet. The school's
music teacher, the late Mrs. Daphne
Jones, explained to him that all the
instruments had been distributed. This
did not stop Chavis, however, from
joining the band. He recalls going
home and telling his father what had
happened and his father responded by
going out and purchasing an instrument
for his son to play in the school
band. However, to Chavis' surprise,
his father came home with a drum and
not a trumpet. Chavis was not discouraged
that he did not get a trumpet,
but instead began practicing the drums
in his every spare moment. In fact,
according to close family members,
the noise from his practicing was so
intense that his father actually built
Chavis a building in the back yard of
the family's home so he would have a
place to practice in, as well as give the
family relief from all the noise. Today,
though, he says it all worked out
for the best.
In 1969, Chavis began playing
drums with local bands including the
Reactions, Catiish, the QeorgePittman
Band and Willie Lowery. Probably,
his first big break would come when
he began playing with Joe Savage
from Charlotte. After serving as drummer
for Savage, Chavis would return
home to play drums with the local
famed Heiuy Berry Band for about 1
year, before rejoining Savage to again
play the drums Chavis went on the
road with Joe Savage and at the end of
the tour moved to Tennessee to further
his career in music It was theil he
auditioned for and became the drummer
for the legendary B J. Thomas
During Chavis' career in music, he
has had the opportunity to serve as the
sit-in drummer for such musical sensations
as Travis Tritt and Pat Benatar
While he is not playing the drums,
Chavis enjoys spending time with his
children, Trudy, Brittany, Larissa,
Shanda, Kim, and Lincoln.
Chavis discussed his future plans
by saying how he would like to possibly
venture into the recordingbusiness,
and yes, like all Lumbees, would eventually
like to move back home to
Pembroke. According to Chavis, so
many times when he is on the road
performing, it is not unusual to see
folks sitting in the audience from Pembroke.
Now he is glad to have the
opportunity to play for family and
friends without them having to travel
long distances to see him play. Chavis
says, it really feels great to come home
and perform.
Francesca Maynor Locklear honored
by Wake County Public Schools
Francesco Maynor Locklear uus honored as "Spotlight on Student: " by the Wake County Public
Schools. Francesco ?mos presented this honor by Bill McNeal, Superintendent of the Wake County Schools
at their monthly board meeting. Annually, "Spotlight on Student" recognizes one studentfrom each of the
119 schools in Wake County who display strong academics, positive character traits, and good physical
fitness. Francesco's teacher stated "Francesco is not only a strong academic achiever but also is a great
school friend to all" Francesco is the 11 year old daughter of Anthony and Felecia Locklear of Cary,
formerly of Pembroke, NC. She attends Charles R Bugg Creative Arts and Science Magnet School in
Raleigh. She is the granddaughter of Margaret and Curds Locklear of Red Springs and Kenneth and
Geraldine Maynor of Pembroke.
Chaplain serves as coordinator I
of Native American spirituality I
With more than 97.000 Native
Americans from seven different
tribes. North Carolina is home to
the largest Native American population
east of the Mississippi River.
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 incarcerated
inmates, including Native
Americans.
There are more than 550 different
tribes of Native Americans in
OKistence today- all with their own
umquc religious practices. So coming
up with one set of approved
guidelines for the practice of Native
American Indian religion
within the context of the prison
system was a difficult task. Needing
some assistance establishing
such a set of guidelines, the Division
of Prisons turned to Ray
Littlcturtlc for help.
A member of the Lumbcc and
Creek tribes. Littlcturtlc lias served
as an advisor for the Division of
Prison's religious services for the
past 15 years, offering insight into
Native American spirituality. How ever.
as the Indian inmate population
continues to grow- there are
now around 570 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 1998,
Littlcrturtle joined the division's
religious services staff as a contract
chaplain in charge of Native
American religion.
"Native American religion is
unique in that it brings with it a
certain symbolism not as prev alent
in other religions like medicine
bags, braids, headbands and other
things that identify one as a Native
American," he said. "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, Littlcturtlc narrated
a video on Native American faith
practises and developed. "A Guide
to Understanding Native American
Religion." In the booklet, he explains.
in detail, the meanings behind
the various practises, methods
and sacred items used by Indians
practicing their faith.
For example, sage, tobacco, cedar
and svvcctgrass arc considered
sacred by Native Americans. These
four sacred plants are used for purification.
healing and as a medium
for prayer. A bundle of the foui
sacred herbs is used for smudging,
a process in which the herbs are lit
until a smoke is released The individual
then cleanses himself with
the smudge by allowing the smoke
to pass over his head, both 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 unity 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 add the
mind by the unification of the
whole person.
It is Littlelurtle's job as chaplain
to identify the various faith practices
used by the different tribes
and pull out common elements that
can be used w ithin the confines of
a prison.
"I 'm trying to develop a comprehensive
director) 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 leaves 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."
Littleturtle travels daily to prisons
across the state. Anyone needing
his assistance can reach him
through the Division of Prisons
Religious services office at (919)
733-3226.