LUMBEE NEWS

Linking culture and education through heritage

            (November 2009) Tribal Chairman and the Department of Youth services kicked off the beginning of American Indian Heritage month at South Robeson High school’s 2009 Native American Program in Rowland, NC on Monday, November 2, 2009.
            “If you don’t have the educational background you will not be eligible for the jobs that become available,” forewarned Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins, “you must have discipline in your life— peer pressure is a hard thing to stand against but, if you’re going to make it in life you have to be able to stand up for the right thing.”
            Before each cultural presentation began, Youth Services Coordinator John Oxendine gave the origin and significance of the dance to be performed in relation to the regalia being worn by the dancers.  Lumbee Ambassadors; Mahlea Hunt, Madison Davenport, Alexis Locklear and Allison Mitchell along with Miss Indian North Carolina Mardella Costanzo, engaged in Women’s Traditional dance.  Followed by Men’s Traditional, Men’s Grass and an honor song attributed to the new Principal Mike Smith.
            The women of royalty closed out the cultural enrichment by having the students participate in a Round Dance with them. “The Round Dance represents friendship but it is also symbolic of what goes around comes around; as in with your school work—if you put hard work in, good grades are going to come back to you in return,” advised Oxendine. 
            “Babies, whatever you do in life, just do it the right way. There is no way to make the quick way the right way,” concluded Chairman Goins.
            These cultural programs are provided to the students through the Indian Education Association. “Each school has their own Youth Development Specialist, in this case Bob Locklear, who coordinates the events by working with Native American Student Association and American Indian Science and Engineering Society,” stated Indian Education Director Rita Locklear. The programs coordinated are for all of the students.“We have organized for the science labs to conduct soap making lessons into the curriculum for this month,” stated Youth Development Specialist Bob Locklear.
            For more information on programs offered by the Tribal Department of Youth Services please contact, John Oxendine at 910.522.2217 or for more information on the Indian Education Association programs please contact, Rita Locklear at 910.521.2054

CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Information Specialist
Office: 910.522.2202