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.