Indian Times
Spring 2016 Edition
This issue is dedicated to the memory of Chairperson Ruth Revels
Mrs. Ruth Locklear Revels, Chairperson of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 14, 2016 at her home in Greensboro, North Carolina. Mrs. Revels was appointed to the Commission of Indian Affairs in July 2005 by Guilford Native American Association (Greensboro). In September 2013 she was appointed by Governor Pat McCrory as Chairwoman of the Commission. Originally from Robeson County, Mrs. Revels was a proudly enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and a 1958 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Mrs. Revels was a retired educator and a life-long advocate for American Indians and Indian issues in North Carolina.
NC Indian Unity Conference update
United Tribes of North Carolina held the 41st Annual N.C. Indian Unity Conference on March 10-12, 2016 at the North Raleigh Hilton. This year’s conference was titled Walking in Two Worlds and Preserving American Indian Heritage. Dr. Robin Gary Cummings , Chancellor at UNC Pembroke and member of the Lumbee Tribe, served as this year’s keynote speaker.
The quarterly meeting of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs was held March 10th at the conference. During this meeting the Commission adopted a resolution calling on the Governor to proclaim the second Monday in October as “Indigenous Peoples Day in the state of North Carolina.”
Awaiting our New Commissioner
With the sudden and untimely passing of Mrs. Ruth Revels, who represented Guilford Native American Association (GNAA) on the Commission of Indian Affairs, a vacancy was created in GNAA’s representation to the Commission, in addition to a vacancy of the Chairmanship of the Commission itself. Guilford Native American Association will select its new representative to the Commission to fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Revels. The selection will be made in accordance with the procedures previously submitted by the association and kept on file at the Commission. The Commission chairmanship will be appointed in accordance with state law.
Awaiting our new Chairman
Governor McCrory will soon appoint a new Chairperson of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs, to fill the vacancy in the chairmanship created upon the untimely passing of Chairperson Ruth Revels. Many inquiries have arisen about the process of appointing a new chairman. In accordance with Chapter 143B-407(b) of the N.C. General Statutes, the “Governor shall appoint a chairman of the Commission from among the Indian members of the Commission, subject to ratification by the full Commission.” While we are awaiting for the appointment of a new chairperson by Governor McCrory, the Commission’s Vice-Chair, Mrs. Shirley Freeman (Waccamaw Siouan) will serve in the capacity as Chairperson and handling business matters coming before the commission.
Energy Conference a Success!
Steve Maynor outdid himself this year in planning and executing the Energy Conference. The conference was held March 31, 2016, and had approximately 150 attendees. This years conference was titled Regeneration of Energy, and focused on ways American Indians can conserve energy, protect the earth, and provided effective energy-saving resources to each community. Special guest speaker Emily Whaley, as a leading tribal youth representative
from the Coharie community, spoke about the ways she will conserve energy, such as unplugging electronic devices once they have fully charged. Lisa Henderson and Marie Faircloth, Family Caregiver Support in Sampson County did two special presentations which put the audience in stitches from laughter.
Ms. Indian North Carolina, Samantha Lanning, attended the conference and spent time visiting the attendees. She is pictured here with Steve Maynor and Colmarene Wilson.
A good time was had by all in attendance.
Supporting Undergraduate Native Students (SUNS) Program;
Kim Hammonds, Program Manager
Application packets continue to arrive from new students seeking assistance for college. The program currently has 46 students participating in the SUNS Program. SUNS has exceeded its goals. With the approved amendment and increased allocation, the program has amended
The following Commission members term will be expiring in June 2016:
Gladys Hunt-Cumberland Co. Assoc. for Indian People
Isabell Freeman-Elliott-Coharie Tribe
Shirley Freeman-Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe
Julia Phipps-Guilford Native American Association
Jeffrey Anstead– Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
Connie Mitchell-Meherrin Tribe
Furnie Lambert-Lumbee Tribe
Daniel Locklear-President Pro Tem appointee
Commission member terms ending soon its goal to serve 50 students.
The program has received grade reports from students. The paperwork for approved services has been processed and submitted to our fiscal division for payments to eligible students.
The Annual Academic Success Workshop is scheduled for May 13th, 2016 at the Village Station Restaurant, Lumberton.
Community Development Program;
Steve Maynor, Program Manager
Through a collaborative effort between the Section 8 Housing and Community Services Programs, staff members worked with local Weatherization Assistance Program Service Providers to gain a full understanding of the program’s qualifications and guidelines. Staff
contacted landlords contracted through the Section 8 Housing Program with mobile units rented to our tenants. During the time of this contact, the staff provided orientation on the program and inquired about landlords applying for this service. This service will benefit the program participants by lowering the cost of their monthly utility bills, and in turn will decrease the number of monthly terminations due to utility disconnections.
The purpose of the assistance program was to lower utility bills for tenants by making homes more energy efficient.
Ethics Update: Statement of Economic Interest was due to be completed by April 15th.
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program: Lori McClain, Program Manager
Funding was received through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to establish a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program serving the Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Meherrin, Sappony and Waccamaw-Siouan tribal communities. Tribal organizations within the state were solicited as part of the grant and response was received from five of the tribal communities to participate in the program. The program recruits advocates from the communities
who will assist victims, build partnerships with community resources and law enforcement, and engage in prevention efforts in their tribal communities. Advocates have been recruited from all five tribes and in the process of completing training through the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) and the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA).
A new program director, Lori McClain, who is a native eastern North Carolinian, was hired in January and came on board with the commission in February. Ms. McClain obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College and continued on to finish her Master of Science Degree at the University of Cincinnati. She worked as the Domestic Violence Unit Coordinator at the Office of State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland, from 2006 until 2014, after which she pursed her passion to work in the child welfare field and she took a position as a Child Protection Investigator with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa, Florida. She recently returned to her home state of North Carolina to be closer to her aging parents. She has volunteered as a Guardian Ad Litem, Court Appointed Special Advocate, as a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has been a foster parent.
For more information, please call
Lori at 919-807-4448.
Census Update
The Census Bureau has contacted NCCIA to explore collaborating on the upcoming 2020 Census. A meeting has been scheduled for September in conjunction with the September Commission meeting. Further information will be forthcoming.
Section 8 Housing Updates;
David Grigsby, Program Manager
The Commission approved the Project Based Voucher (PBV) agreement in Raeford for Sandy Ridge Apartments during the commission meeting held in March. Additionally, the issuance of Section 8 emergency housing vouchers was approved for cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.
Workplace Development Program;
Elk Richardson, Program Manager
The Commission's workforce development program is authorized and funded under Section 166 of the federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). During this program year (PY 2015, 7/1/15-6/30/16) participation in our Classroom Training component has continued to increase through PY 2015. With the ongoing demand for skilled, job-ready individuals in the health, high-tech, and administrative industry sectors, we continue our emphasis on training for these career areas, and continue to be successful in these areas. Currently we have participants training in twelve different curricula at eight different community colleges near our tribal communities. Many of our previous classroom training enrollees have completed their training during the last school year and have secured employment in their occupational areas. We continue to enroll new students through the Spring 2016 semester. The following curricula are experiencing high enrollee participation this program year: Nursing (RN/LPN/CNA), Criminal Justice, Information Systems Security, Welding, College Transfer/General Education, Nuclear Technology, Early Childhood Associate, Medical Office Administration, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Lab Technology.
The Adult Work Experience component continues to utilize the tribal administrative offices and other local government and non-profit agencies as subsidized employment worksites when placing participants within the tribal communities in our service areas. These agencies continue to assist our participants in gaining meaningful work experience. Youth News
2016 NCNAYO Conference to be held at NCSU, June 14th to 17th, 2016
This year, the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization will host it’s 37th Annual Conference at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. This year’s conference is entitled “Tracking our Culture —Mapping Our Future” and focuses on American Indian educational and career opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles, inspiring American Indian youth to lead more productive lives, and promoting leadership development and positive self-esteem.
Objectives to be accomplished by attending this conference will be to: decrease high school dropout rate by providing students with skills necessary to be successful; increase college attendance rate by exposing students to life on college campuses; provide opportunities not often available to students in the program’s target areas.
Contact Cindi Harris at the NCCIA, 919-807-4440 for more information.
National UNITY Conference
The three Educational Talent Search Program Counselors along with 15 students from Columbus, Halifax, Hoke, Sampson and Warren Counties will be attending the National UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City, OK from July 22-26, 2016. The theme of this year’s conference is “Celebrating 40 Years of UNITY!”. The UNITY mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and to help build a strong,
unified and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement. The conference agenda includes several General Assemblies in which students will hear presentations by well-known keynote speakers, they will participate in personal development and leadership workshops and forums designed to address concerns and issues relevant to American Indian Youth. The students will participate in cultural exchange sessions, career and college preparation workshops, variety show, celebration banquet and a commitment ceremony. Students will have the opportunity to gain exposure to and learn about American Indian groups from all over the United States and how their cultural practices of those groups differ from their own. They will also have the opportunity to educate other about their cultural practices.
The rich cultural experience, conference workshops and training sessions are objectives covered in the Educational Talent Search Grant, which is funded by the US Department of Education and fulfills the Commission’s obligation to the US Department of Education, with respect to providing these opportunities for low-income, first generation students.
For more information, Please contact Ms. Cindi Harris at 919-807-4440. Indian Child Welfare News
The Indian Child Welfare Conference will be held at Western Carolina University (WCU) in Cullowhee on November 3rd. The Conference will take place at the new Human and Health Services Building on the campus of WCU. The conference planning is underway and more updates will be provided in the next newsletter.
Grant opportunities for Indian Child Welfare are being researched and several projects are in the planning stages. Concern exists for the observance of the Indian Child Welfare Act throughout different areas of the state, both geographically and within disciplines involving the placement and adoption of children. Our goal for the future is to ensure every American Indian Child within North Carolina, who becomes involved with the system as a foster child or possible adoptee, has the opportunity to know their history and experience their culture.
School Supply Project hosted by Goodwill Community Foundation
Based on work performed with the Goodwill Community Foundation, last year, the foundation provided School Supply Kits for American Indian students in Halifax, Sampson and Warren Counties. Notice was transmitted to the tribal administrators, of these tribes, to initiate the process of delivering the school supply kits. The kits will include: 3 notebooks,
5 pencils, a pencil sharpener, crayon, eraser, scissors, ruler and hand sanitizer.
NCCASA Young Advocates Institute
The North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA) is excited to open registration for the 2016 Young Advocates Institute, July 15-17, 2016 at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC! The N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs is a member of NCCASA.
Launched in 2012, the Young Advocates Institute is a social justice summer camp that empowers and trains 200 youth, ages 13-17, from across North Carolina during a weekend of prevention/intervention education, advocacy and leadership development seminars. The purpose of the Young Advocates Institute is to give youth a voice, the opportunity to share their experiences regarding social justice issues, and to help them become an integral part of the solutions. The Institute features national speakers, peer-to-peer education, campus tours, and team building activities.
The cost to attendees for 2.5 nights of suite-style lodging, six (6) meals, six (6) snacks, two (2) t-shirts, book bags and training is $35 per person. This is a service learning experience and participants must stay for the ENTIRE Institute. Registration ends May 27, 2016.
For more information, Please contact Lori McClain, DV/SA Program Manager at 919-807-4448 or email, lori.mcclain@doa.nc.gov.