AS I SEE IT
by Bruce Barton
I
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Strike at the Wind!
returns for 24th Season
It's that time of year ... the time for the 24th season of
Strike at the Wind! Returning for his 12th season as
director is David Oxendine. He invites all his friends
out for another great season under the stars. Opening
night is July 6. Rehearsals are underway nightly. The
outdoor drama tells the story of Henry Berry Lowrie
and his white, black and Indian friends and foes during
the civil War era when a man "stood for what is right
around here" as Polly cries out in honor of her slain
husband, Sheriff Rueben King. More next week as we
begin to tell the storv of another season of STRIKE AT
THE WIND!
The popular show is produced along the banks of
the Lumbee River and U.S. Highway 74 at the Adolph
L. Dial Amphitheater on the grounds of the North Carolina
Indian Cultural Center in the Red Banks Community,
approximately Smiles west of Pembroke.
i =
Carolina Indian Voice
is Published every Thursday by
First American Publications
207 Union Chapel Rd.
Post Office Box 1075
Pembroke, North Carolina
28372
Phone (910) 521-2826
Fax (910)521-1975
Connee Brayboy, Editor
Subscriptions
One year in NC, $25.00
Out of State, $30.00
Second Class Postage Paid at
Pembroke, NC
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A Division of Children's Health of Carolina, P A.
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Saturday and Sunday
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In recent weeks, we have been
searching through the writings of
John Lawson for lessons about
the Native Americans of the
Carolinas early in the 1700s (in
his book, A New Voyage to
Carolina). Last week we saw
Lawson's description of their
philosophy of sharing resources
among all the people, and a
bit about their sense of
collective responsibility within
the society. This week we move
on to more of Lawson's
description of village life and
traditional culture.
"All their Misfortunes and
Losses end in Laughter; for if
their Cabins take Fire, and all
their Goods are burnt therein,
(indeed, all will strive to prevent
farther Damage, whilst there is
any Possibility) yet such a
Misfortune ends in a hearty Fitt
of Laughter, unless some of their
Kinsfolks and Friends have lost
their Lives; but then the Case is
alter'd, and they become very
pensive, and go into deep
Mourning, which is continued for
a considerable Time; sometimes
longer or shorter, according to the
Dignity of the Person, and the
Number of Relations he had near
him."
In this passage we gain
another glimpse into the system
of values which characterized the
culture of the Ancestors. First,
Lawson seems to be telling us
that they didn't lake themselves
loo seriously. Even limes of
'misfortune and loss' were viewed
as events which, if survived, could
be cause for laughter. Perhaps
this shows us that the Ancestors
realized what was really
important in life ? that material
goods were of much lower
importance than human beings
and harmonious relationships
among them. Even modern
medicine is coming to realize
that laughter is not only a "good
medicine," it is also a good
preventative against stress and
anxiety.
Of course, this does not mean
that the Ancestors were
completely careless about
material things. They did live in
a real world ? not in some
fantasy kingdom as some modern
folks have imagined ? and Uiey
had need of material objects. In
case of fire, as long as there was
any likelihood of a voiding further
losses, everyone in the village
would work to put out tire fire and
rescue whatever persons and
things could be saved. But when
all that could be done had been
done, they seem to have been able
to accept their losses graciously
and in good humor.
The obvious exception was
when someone's life was lost.
Lawson tells us that on such
occasions they would "become
very pensive, and go into deep'
Mounting." The fact that they
would give only limited thought
to the loss of material things, but.
that they would "become very
pensive" ? that is, they would
absorbed in thought ? at the loss
of human life, shows us another
important thing about their
culture. It is something which
has been described as one of
the characteristic differences
between traditional culture
and modern culture. The
anthropologist David Maybury- !
Lewis has said that "in ;
traditional culture, people have it
over tilings; in modern culture,
things have it over people."
While this may be a bit of an
exaggeration, it remains that in
the culture of the Ancestors,
people and relationships were
obviously the most important
parts of life. I wonder if we could
say the same thing of mainstream
life in modern America?
In die next segment of Along
The Robeson Trail, we will
continue our travels with John
Lawson. For more information,
visit the Native American
Resource Center in historic Old
Main Building, on the campus of
The University of North Carolina
at Pembroke (our Internet
address is www.uncp.edu/
nativemuseum).
Readers says American
Indian Mothers Group is
accountable to the public"
To the Editor,
It has been close to a month now since the American Indian
Mothers held their Memorial Scholarship Banquet at the Farmer's
market People have been asking if this group was above reproach then
"why did the majority of the awards and acknowledgments go to family
members of Beverly Collins-I lall?" Her siblings and even her mother got
an award. I guess the reason why the other siblings did not get one is
the fact that they did not attend You know there are thousands of good
Indian mothers in this county. So, why was the Collins family singled
out? What'have they done that is so great? If the news media thought
that'll-wasi'brgood Character then'we would have seen it pn the news!
...The. AIM-ran-news.articles-on .three events.and only one. was held.
Does the phrase "that your past will come back to haunt you?" have any
meaning to these ladies? There are many qualified and outspoken
people that could have received these awards in the Indian Communities.
And now this group has received over a thousand dollars from the
Lumbec Tribal Government of which one of their members just happens
to be the Tribal Administrator and makes several hundred dollars a day
just sitting there watching the Lumbec money?
They never gave any accountability for the money that they raised
from this banquet. I have yet to see anyone announce that the applications
were being taken for the money collected for scholarships And
I did not see a single newspaper or television station cover the event.
No one has printed a photograph of the art work that was suppose to
be done either.
We cannot say that their intentions are good or bad Mostly we can
state that we do not know what they are We do not know where the
money went. Or in fact is it being used to send relatives of Collins-Hall
to college?
So, I call upon the American Indian Mothers to speak up and let us
all know that this event was not a "farce." People will want to be involved
if the response to this is honest and proper
Vinila "Cookie" Maynor-Clark
Pembroke, NC
I
When A Heart Condition Caused Jack's Life To Come
To A Screeching Halt, Scotland Memorial
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his life, he relied on Scotland Memorial's technology, medical
staff and rehabilitation services to get him back in action.
In December 2001, Jack was alone when he felt pain in his chest. With
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difficulty breathing. That's when he called his wife, Ginger, who assessed the situation and took
Jack to the Emergency Department at Scotland Memorial where a team went to work to save
Jack's life. One of the hospital's cardiologists performed diagnostic tests that revealed a leaky
heart valve and an aneurysm on his aorta.
"There's something special about the staff at Scotland Memorial," says Jack. "They treat you
like family and show a genuine concern for your health and comfort. Everyone from the
Emergency Department and my cardiologist to the cardiac rehah staff worked together to help
ine regain my health. I wouldn't go anywhere else."
Today, Jack says he is feeling much better and credits his doctor and Scotland Memorial for going
the distance to help him recover. For more information on cardiac services, call 910-291-7550.
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