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For some people, the path to a brighter future means never forgetting one’s past. Ray Littleturtle believed that, and his lifelong role as a vocal advocate for his beloved Lumbee Tribe, and for fair treatment and respect of all tribal cultures, today means that countless American Indian youth in North Carolina actively choose to celebrate their culture.

We all were deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Littleturtle’s passing Monday at age 72 after an extended illness. A recollection of his life and comments of appreciation were featured in today’s edition of the Fayetteville Observer and in The Robesonian.

I have always viewed Mr. Littleturtle as a cultural icon, having first become aware of his role and a tribal activist when I was a child. It was an honor to work with him during his tenure as a member of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs. A textbook traditionalist, he chaired the Culture and Religion Committee.

Mr. Littleturtle’s thoughtful deliberations and respect for protocol was evident in every meeting, as was his commitment to righting wrongs and celebrating cultural values. He typically wore traditional regalia at Powwows, tribal functions and Commission meetings, and especially during school visits intended to help youth gain a better appreciation of American Indian culture and values.

His rich legacy will live on in so many places – from the stone steps of the North Carolina Museum of History, where he helped to develop the first American Indian Heritage Month Celebration 15 years ago (it is now the museum’s largest annual event), to the prison cells where American Indian inmates complained that they were denied the right to express their religion and culture. He also was passionate about the protection of American Indian burial sites in the state. He did not believe that Indian burial remains should be stored in boxes in museums or on shelves by archaeologists, but instead respectfully reinterred and not exposed to testing for research purposes.

On behalf of the Commission, we pray that Mr. Littleturtle’s own final rest returns him to the valley of unburdened joy, where he may find peace in knowing that he has done so much to improve the well-being of North Carolina’s American Indian community.

The Commission of Indian Affairs places a high priority on the academic success of American Indian students in North Carolina. This is a challenging task, given data that shows persistently higher dropout rates and a population of students who are less likely than their peers to attend college.

These troubling facts are discussed locally year after year, but the difference this year is the increased involvement of federal education officials. It was a pleasure last week to welcome back Kevin Jennings, deputy secretary for Drug Free and Safe Schools with the U.S. Department of Education, who made his second trip to North Carolina to learn more about our urban and rural school needs.

Jennings, a North Carolina native who first met with us in August, spent two full days meeting with students, educators and families, first at the Haliwa-Saponi Triabl School in Hollister; then an evening session at a Wake County Public Schools’ Training Center in Garner; and finally an all-day summit held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. I believe that he was very impressed with the work being done at our schools, particularly the commitment of our teachers and the desire of our students to achieve more.

Jennings really connected with the unique needs of educators and students served by urban and rural communities, especially bullying and the challenge of funding quality programs within historically tight budgets. He also understands the difficulties faced by parents and caregivers, who want better academic outcomes for their children than they personally experienced.

Jennings made us all more aware of grant resources and other opportunities for which our schools and students may qualify. We send our heartfelt thanks for this positive and productive experience, which will help us plan for an Indian Education Summit to be held in 2011.

There have been countless historic moments in the Old House Chambers over the years. Even the casual observer can sense that as soon as they enter the high-ceilinged room in the State Capitol, gaze at the towering portrait of George Washington, and imagine the robust debate that must have roared over the rows of polished wooden desks.

Another historic moment happened there Wednesday afternoon. Before a packed house of tribal members – including an Alaskan Indian family that recently chose Raleigh as its home – Gov. Bev Perdue formally proclaimed November as American Indian Heritage Month in North Carolina.

Acknowledging the formal ceremony as a first, the Governor took time to read the entire proclamation aloud before signing it with eight pens – one each to represent our state-recognized tribes. She also paid tribute to our state’s American Indian service members, whose contributions are acknowledged in this year’s celebration poster, “Honoring the Legacy of Our Warriors.”  The handsome image was created by Jayce Williams, the Department of Administration’s talented graphic designer.

As Commission Chairman Paul Brooks observed, it was a privilege to think where we started – as North Carolina’s earliest inhabitants – to where we found ourselves Wednesday, in the center of state government, surrounded by friends and family, and commended by our Governor. See our photo gallery of the ceremony.

North Carolina’s annual tribute American Indian culture and history will continue with the American Indian Heritage Celebration, a free event to be held at the N.C. Museum of History and on the Bicentennial Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 20. The event will feature dancing, storytelling, craft displays, hands-on activities, music and food. We look forward to seeing you there.

Below: Gov. Perdue with Molly Jacobs, Miss North Carolina Indian Senior Citizen Coalition Princess and Kerry Bird, Program Coordinator for the Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Program of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs.

Now that the summer beach reading season has ended, I’d like to recommend a good read that may change the lives of countless American Indian youth in North Carolina.

Saving for Post-Secondary Education in American Indian Communities is a new report from the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis. Its research is based on a survey conducted in March at the N.C. Indian Unity Conference, which engaged tribal representatives from across our state. The N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs is a partner in the annual gathering.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the dismal graduation rate for American Indian students in North Carolina, the survey found that a low percentage of tribal families have a college savings plan. And few of those who are saving, or want to, were aware of the College Foundation of North Carolina’s NC 529 Plan, which provides a range of resource for participants.

It also found that American Indians “value education as a top asset in tribal communities,” and families that commit to saving even a modest amount for their child’s education enjoy a significantly higher rate in achieving their goals. Savings plans themselves affect attitudes and expectations for academic success, which in turn typically results in increased earnings potential for the degree-earning student.

The Commission supports students through such established programs as Educational Talent Search, which provides one-on-one educational and career counseling, and the Workforce Development Program, which funds career training that leads to economic self sufficiency.

As part of Gov. Perdue’s Career and College – Ready, Set, Go! initiative, we pledge to do our part to step up outreach and foster increased participation in post-secondary savings. It is vital to the success of our students and our communities – not just to help them achieve today, but also to build on tribal traditions and ensure their success for tomorrow.

Destiny in life is what the Great Spirit chooses for us – and we cannot be more grateful for the selection of outstanding State Government Interns who worked on important issues with us this summer.

The Commission of Indian Affairs was fortunate to have two such interns assigned to our office: Kristen Richardson of Clayton, who worked on the Indian Child Welfare Project, and Susan Angela Ramer of Hendersonville, who worked on the American Indian Health Report.

Additionally, four law school students worked this summer for the Attorney General’s Office on projects of interest to North Carolina’s tribal communities:  Matt Autry of Fayetteville assisted in matters related to the Indian Cultural Center in Pembroke; Andrew Norton of Hillsborough and Lisa Valdez of Charlotte collaborated in researching the Meherrin court case; and Ashley Worrell of Virginia performed legal research regarding the potential state recognition of the Tuscarora Nation.

The Commission hosted a farewell pizza lunch today in honor of these students, who received thanks and best wishes from Administration Secretary Moses Carey and Deputy Secretary June Michaux. As Carey told them, “I hope you got as much out of your experience as we got from you. You’ve done your share to make this place a little bit better than when you came.”

It was gratifying to hear the students each talk about their experiences and the impact their work had on them. “It’s really been fulfilling for me to visit tribal communities, hear their concerns and be able to say we are working on solutions,” said Ramer, who has accepted a job at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. “’I’m grateful for the opportunity as it has made me even more confident of my career choice.”

Photo (from left):  Matt Autry, Ashley Worrell, Susan Angela Ramer, Secretary Moses Carey, Kristin Richardson, Lisa Valdez and Greg Richardson.

Sometimes, when major initiatives affecting American Indians are announced, they discount the concerns of state-recognized tribes and focus almost exclusively on tribes recognized by the federal government. Regrettably, members of North Carolina’s eight state-recognized tribes and four urban organizations have grown accustomed to not being invited to the table.

This is troubling to the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs on many levels, not the least of which is that -- according to the 2000 U.S. Census – North Carolina’s American Indian population totals more than 100,000, giving the state the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi and the seventh largest in the nation.

So you can imagine our excitement when the U.S Department of Education scheduled a meeting on Aug. 5 to seek input specifically from our state-recognized tribes and urban organizations. The historic meeting will be held at the Indian Education Center of the Public Schools of Robeson County in Pembroke

Senior Education officials will seek feedback from North Carolina tribal leaders on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Department’s Plan of Actions for Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and any other federal education initiatives that impact American Indian and Alaska Native students.

This event represents a significant achievement for North Carolina, because the needs of state-recognized American Indian students are sometimes different from those who reside on federal reservations. We appreciate that Department of Education officials recognize that they are not dealing with a one-size-fits-all environment.

The Commission of Indian Affairs and three of North Carolina’s tribes and three associations have been awarded a total of more than $1.7 million in federal grants through the Workforce Investment Act Indian and Native American Program. These grants will support job training and placement services for adults and at-risk youth.

I know firsthand the importance of these grants because I am a product of the first allocation of program funds to the Commission in 1975, the year I was hired. Little did I know that learning how to manage the grant activities of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Program, as it was then known, would help me develop the skill set necessary in my current role as Commission Director.

These programs provide quality employment and training services specifically for American Indians ages 14 and older who are unemployed, underemployed and low-income individuals. They specifically target at-risk individuals facing substantial employment barriers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Grants will support workforce activities “in both the development of their local economies and the preparation of workers to meet the needs of promising regional industries,” said U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. “The training and employment services made available through these grants will expand opportunities for adults and at-risk youth in these communities and will help them gain access to the kind of good jobs that offer opportunities for advancement.”

Thirty-five years ago, this sort of opportunity set me on a path toward career success. Today, the Commission renews its pledge to create similar opportunities for members of our community who need a helping hand to reach their own career goals.

When the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina finally earns federal recognition – a long-held dream that is inching closer to reality – members will temper their celebrations with the realization that one of the great champions of this cause is no longer with us.

Jimmie Lowry, who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday at age 65, was a successful engineer turned automobile dealer who gave back to his community by serving on numerous boards and commissions. I had the honor of working with him when he served as Chairman of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs from 1977 to 1984. Always ready to address critical and sometimes unpopular issues, he was diligent in developing and gaining support for measures that increased awareness of and services for all North Carolina tribes and organizations. He placed particular emphasis on economic development and empowerment.

Mr. Lowry also served as Chairman of the Lumbee Self-Determination Commission, which helped establish a tribal constitution. In this role, he dedicated himself to service benefitting members of his beloved tribe, notably his early and continuing efforts to achieve federal recognition.

A fitting funeral service was held that highlighted his work and his life. I hope his loved ones will find consolation in knowing that his extraordinary contributions will live on in generations of better educated, healthier and more economically successful members of North Carolina’s American Indian community.

The Commission of Indian Affairs has taken action to assist needy North Carolinians who qualify for help in securing decent, safe and sanitary housing. On Tuesday, by a unanimous vote, the Commission agreed to revise its Payment Standard for the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program to more closely align with rising housing costs.

The Commission has long served as a designated Public Housing Agency by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Section 8 program provides rent assistance for families in Granville, Person, Halifax, Warren, Hoke, Sampson and Columbus counties.

The subsidy allowance was increased in light of rising rents, unemployment and other difficulties experienced by economically-disadvantaged families. It will have a modest yet meaningful impact, giving us an edge in negotiating with landlords and providing expanded housing opportunities for eligible families in counties served through the program. 

This change not only will provide direct benefit to eligible families, but also to communities and the state as a whole. When folks know they can count on basic housing, they are in a better position to care for their family and seek long-term employment. That is the goal of this program, and we will work hard to assist as many families as the funding will allow.

For information, contact the Commission’s Section 8 staff at 919-807-4440 or visit http://www.doa.nc.gov/cia/progr-s8hap.htm.

Forty-five years ago, I was concerned with the sorts of things that interested all teenagers. I didn’t realize at the time that state recognition of my tribe, the Haliwa-Saponi, would have such a powerful affect on my life – or that I would one day be in a position to assist all North Carolina tribes and associations as Executive Director of the Commission of Indian Affairs.

The 45th anniversary of state recognition will be celebrated this weekend at the annual Haliwa-Saponi Powwow, the largest such event in the state. People always ask what goes on at a powwow.  It’s like homecoming weekend. A lot of our people take time off from work and come back home to visit with their family and friends. 

The Haliwa-Saponi Powwow attracts thousands of visitors each year, ranging from tribal representatives from around the nation to North Carolina families and citizens interested in experiencing our culture through native foods, arts and crafts, and traditional music and dance.

The powwow is held on the grounds of the old Haliwa Indian School, which is located near the Hollister community approximately 60 miles northeast of Raleigh. It was built by our tribal leaders with private funds to educate children in the Indian community who like me did not have a school to attend. State recognition and desegregation led to the closing of the high school in 1968, and assignment of our high school students to various schools adjoining the community. It remained open as an elementary school until 1970 and today serves as a charter school.

While many of us have moved far from our home place, the powwow remains a magnet that both reunites us and recognizes our cultural significance. Please join us.