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SAMUEL PROCTOR ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM at
the University of Florida
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
Interview with: Dawrie Lowry July 5, 1974
Interviewer: Marilyn Taylor
Interview date: August 1, 1973
Page 1
I: My name is Marilyn Taylor, I'm recording for the Doris Duke Foundation,
for the American Indian Ora Studies Program, today is August 1, 1973.
With me I have a gentleman who has graciously consented to an interview.
Achially we are in a store here and we are waiting out a thunder-
storm, it's so bad we can't go out, so I asked him for an interview, and
he said if we could find out something to talk about, well he'd give
me one. So we're geft afempt to find out all we can. Sir what's your
full name?
L: Dawrie Lowry.
I: Would you spell that for people? People get that messed up, you know
t4hyx-e all kind of ways to spell it.
L: D-A-W-R-I-E.
I: Lowry is--
L L-0-W-R-Y.
I: O.K. That's a famous name. Does that mean you are related to
Henry Barry Lowery any?
L: Well, I might be, I d6n't know for sure. Could be as far as I know.
I: Would you tell us, sir, where you live now?
L: I live in Pembroke here.
Ib
I: How long have you lived in Pembroke?
L: Oh, about all my life. About 4Q years.
I: Do you have a family? Are you married or single?
L: Single.
I: You mentioned something about you had, have you lived out of this area
any of your life, or worked, you mentioned you drove a truck? What
kind of trucks were you speaking about?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 5, 1974
Page 2
L: Well, short basedtrucks. I've drove tractors and trailers a little,
going and coming, I wouldn't be gone maybe but a day and a night, not
over a week.
I: As I told you this had to do with American Indians. As an Indian
what group do you identify with? Would you say Lumbee, Tekke, Robeson
County what? You know everybody has their own favorite way of being
identified if we have to be that way. Or what group or name would you
prefer?
L: Well Lumbee, I guess, myself.
I: Why, do you p*fer this one, since we do have some that's pulling out,
and leaving and going other waysand wanting other names, and so on.
L: Well it seemed like it more, ah, thisATuhkee+ mess that's more or less
t-he ,O \+U6 1' 5 trying to get up something or another, to
try to have a big fuss or something.
I: Can you see that they doing any good?
L: No.
-y
I: To the ahy anybody or-- .,
L: No.
I: Do you think they're helping the American Indian?
L: No--
I: You don't?
L: I think they're hurting 3. w,
I: In what way do you feel like they are hurting, or are hurting US
L: Well I a II-,,I
I: Is it the violence, sometimes that they've been, we can't maybe prove
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 5, 1974
Page 3
but they've been known, or accused of- '7
L: Accused of, well, C__1]w 3/, '&
I: Well we know that they've marched, and done several things that
it's been evident we could see. Is it the way they go about doing things
that your against?
L: Yes.
I: You"vsay you've been living here now how long?
L: About ears.
I: What's some of the greatest change you've seen in Pembroke since
you've been here? I know there's been OT >u I KDO) to think about,
I mean several even ___ if you want to try to recall?
L: Well I think, the college kg that's a good
improvement I think-Y
I: Can you remember when it was an all I dian College?
L: Yeah, uh huh-(affirmative).
I: What was the feeling here in -the hitpeople? So often do0 0CD WWV t
{ did they want it or not, or how, what was the feeling on it?
L: Well yes, would the majority, you know to keep the college from
being closed. Why one time I remember there wasn't any about ..l0e
students, and they couldn't operate the collegewith a number of students
like that.
I: Were you for the college staying here? Would you have it inte grated
rather than lo se it?
L: Oh, yes, yes.
I: There was a great deal af talk about the Main building over there,
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 5, 1974
Page 4
that was the college at one time\Old Main". Did you have any
thought in building this, or *.*
L: Well I didn't have anything neither way to do with it.
I: How did you feel about it, when it was being talked about it
so much, whether to save it or do away with it? -
L: Well I, it didn't make too much difference, but I sort'a wish, if they
could work out something to keep the building. Bu ou know it didn't
worry me enough to start fussing or anything over it.
I: Yeah, I see what you mean. Do you see any reason people ought
to fuss like they did or how it happened?
L: No really I didn't.
I: Do you have any idea on you know it was lombed it-wae actually
gutted out, but I believe the people meant to burn it down. But do you
have any idea who or why, what reason?
L: NoI sure don't.
I: It's just a great big question mark and a puzzle seem like to every-
body, and we, we all talk about it and wonder. And I wonder if you had
OA-
any opinion yourself who did it, a group or any particular person who
might have done it, or would want to?
L: No, I wouldn't have the least idea.
I: You didn't never give it a thoughts to who might have done it?
L: No.
I: What other changes have you noticed other then the college? Is it
the growth? I know it's a lot bigger today?
L: Yes, yes. Um hum sure--
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 5, 1974
Page 5
I: What else can you say you've noticed wt ?
L: Well I reckon that's about the biggest thing'I ve noticed.
I: Has the college, do you think changed the town any?
L: Yes.
I: What-- / h^^
L: Well, like moreor lessAthe apartments and things like that here in
the town. I think the college helped start that.
I: Do you think it's helped bring more money into the town?
L: Oh, yes;-9
I: More things, give people more jobskJ
L: Yesj- sure, yes. A lot more jobs too. A lot of people are working
out there wouldn't have a job on the campus.
I: Do you have any friends or relatives thatwork for the college?
L: Yeah, I have some out there, yes, friends I know well.
I: Do they seemed to be pleased or displeased?
L: Yeah, they're all really liking their job fine. That I talk with.
I: You mentioned that you haven't been in good health in the last few
years, is it anything you can tell us about or would care to comment about?
'Cause this is no right or wrong answers,you can say on this we are just
" \ hVlr'' 4t(y're
trying to get a persons feelings in twhae, where there staying and
what their circumstances is today, and we'd like to know yours if you
would share it with us?
L: Well I sure will, I mean I've been sick. I've had several operations
in the last five years, I was in Dukes Hospital, itU --
wellsix different times. When I got sick I was took to Lumberton Hospital
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret LEnkway
July 5, 1974
Page 6
I stayed in there three months and three weeks straight, and tbhoAe -"
half the time during the time I was there I was blanked out, and they
finally got me to where I could come to e Avt. is that there
was a hurtin' in my chest and they operated on me, took X-Rays and
said it was my gall bla r operated n e and said it was
busted in me, and I stayed there then about a month and a half after-
ward. They brought me home and I stayed on the bed there, maybe a
couple of weeks till they got me in at Duke's, and so I went up there
and stayed doctored me and treated me and I took five operations up
there.
I: And what was the problem up therethat you had to have so many operations?
L: Well it was something concerning my stomach inside, I don't know
what all they did do. But I know they took out a third of my stomach
with one of the operations.
I: Well does this slow you down, or keep you, handicap you today to
some degree?
L: Oh yes, sure. .-
I: Well you must have been a rich man toAafford9ed all these operations?
I went in the hospital one time and I thoughrI'd never get the bill
', 7
payed fer. Who helped you with, or did you have help)let me ask you that,
how did you get these operations from financial standpoint, let me ask
you, how was this managed?
L: Well the only thing, I had one insurance Blue Shield, and the rest
I been a trying to pay the best I could.
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
Page 7
I: What's youVmain, would you say your main source of income is now?
Do you have an income, or work or--?
L: No, about the only thing I income now is a little social security,
disable.
I: So you had a tremendous amount of medical expense there at one time,
you still have to have some---'''
L: Yes-_
I: Certain medicines and medications--a it'
L: Yes, um huh.
I: How are these furnished to you? Since they are quite high and I
know you are not always able to afford them.
L: Well, nothing only:what Iiget I have-to get it myself, a'far as
medicine anything like that.
I: Since this is an\ Indian study I'd like to ask if you during the
times you were sick and operations you had to have and so on, did you
ever feel discriminated against beeAm e--fthe fact you are an Indian?
L: No--
I: You never did an ay?
L: No--
I: Have you ever in any of your life ime, of growing2upl or going to
schol dri"" like this?
L: No, no.-
I: You can't)honestly say you have never been treated in an way that
was wronglyou felt you'd been wronged in anyay?
L: No, noa treated just as good as a person could treat me, in and
oul of the hospital.
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
Page 8.
I: Even when-- hat about when you go to Lumberton over there to
oa4O....loff?
L: They's treats me,, them that knows me, like the ones in the
hospital, or if anybodie- any business over there that knows me
treats me just as good as they could anybody.
I: I know there is some, you know feelings of people feeling like
they been done wrong, Icause I've talked to them and I justI wondered
if whether you had any feelingQ that you'd been done wrong?
L: No, like I &e d anybody that knows me(peaking about over in
Lumberton, anybody that knows me I know themthey treat me, nobody
mistreats me ove there. Course you know somebody that don't know
you they ain't gonna' talk and go on with you, like somebody that do
know you personally and you know them.
I: Wel5 these things we trying to find out you know if a person's
been treated wrong, if he feels like he's been treated wrong, or if
she feels like she's been treated wrong, because they're IndiansAwe want
to bring them out, and get them out in the open, you see.
L: Yeah, yes,
I: And this is one of the primary reasons, to get you feelings and your
Ith( YA+mt^ lItrt
attitudes on howkthings are today and how they were, and do you think
things are getting better for the American Indian?
L: Yes, I do.
I: What do you think some of the changes that you've seen in your life-
time that's better for, even here we're not on a reservation like a lot
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1976
M
Page 9
of Indians, here how do you see things as better?
L: Well, I mean just more or lessvany place you go to, whyj you can go
in if it's someplace where they serve you can go in-O/
I: Serve food and stuff?
L: Yeah, uh huh(affirmative). -7 VT -
I: Used to not be that waythey wouldn't serve an Indian if they knew
he was an Indian*
L: That's right. No, no. A lot of drug stores you couldn't even go in,
you could go in and buy medicine, but the.fist sit down, you couldn't_
sit down, if you got the medicine you had to get it and come rightAout.
I: How'd this make you feel?
L: Well it made you feel sort'a bad.
I: ver make you feel like lighting a fire or something?
L: Well no.-
I: tk^'4 \luVCL) t A )LO 1 k
L: And the more or less I'd never go to a place--
I: Did it hurt yesahf-
L: Yeah, it did. I'd never go to a place whar hrev to go to a
place where thee eny way I could get around it.
I: In other words all the places weren't like this? Like aj f!-C
/rug stores weren't like this?
L: No, some of them. Anywhere mostly in Robgson County I'd say -_'
I: Unless you were in Pembroke, maybe?
L: Yes.
I: How 'bout over in Re springs?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
Page h0
L: Re springsthat's one.
I: Iive been told it's kind bad over there. Do you have any experience
over there?
L: Well. no, but I know th but I never did
go in the drug stores.
I: Do you have any friends ,l^ -I ( 1,* i 1...' *
; d
L: Yeah, yeah, oh yeah.
I: Whatssome of the things you've heard about in that area?
L: Well, no more or less like I say if you went in there you couldn't
sit down, if you bought something you couldn't sit down and eat it, y Er
a drink, you couldn't sit down and drink it, you'd have to take it and
go on out.
I: Why do you think this was? Did they think that the Indian was Ipys
what did they think he was? Was he going to bother them or something,
why was this? often wondered just sit down, why did they
make a rule like that.
L: I don't know if 1,
I: Did they think- 7 i- ut it's not that way now, is it?
L: No, no.
I: Have you been to Redsprings any lately, or anybody you know
L: Yes, yes..
I: Sometimes it's hard to tell people being Indian you know. I we ,
mfajL-]A i people mistake me and then they t f
white or aet b., 6 ,!. .< or Cher kee white
completed people as there are dark ones. And you find that a lot in
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
Page 11
the Lumbee people toA I think. But, as I never felt it too much
7
unless, well I just tried to stay out of the area where I knew they were
against Indians.
L: Yes.
I
I: Really against it, 'cause I sort a cause I
never did want 'get in a fight or nothing M.4 f Cr- Le :1-' .
L: Yes, you could go right up here in Scotland CountyAbe treated
differently th n you could in Robeson.
I: Now?
L:40d before, and when it was--
I: How do they treat you now?
L: Thyy treat you fine. I mean this--
I: How did it used to be?
L: Well it always was like that they didn't have
I: In Scotland County they didn't give the Indian fair treatment?
L: Oh, they did, oh yeah, oh yes.
I: Always done that?
L: Um huh ( affirmative).
I: You know there's been all kind of tales and stories and things told
about, just where was it the Lumbee people come from? Do you have any
opinion about that? Where you think the, where we really originated
from?
L: Well I tell you the truth I don't know.
I: Well, if somebody asked you, I mean there's been books written about
it, and people have told different stories that they've been told, and
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
page 12
research and college people, scholarly people, you know researched it
out and so on. I've just wondered if you've had any thoughts on your
own on it what you've heard, and so on?
L: Well I ain't never thought about it too much.
I: Did it ever bother you--
L: No, no, no.
I: Don't bother you where you come from and that kind'a stuff?
L: No, no.
I: Main thing I guess is where you're going, isn't it?
L: Yeah, you could say it.
I: I believe we're still in a thunderstorm, the lights flick on-and off
every now and then. I believe it can rain harder in Pembroke then
anywhere else, or maybe I'm prejudiced but I swear it can rain down
here. I guess it's cause I'm over the campus sometimes and when it
rains the water stands on the ground for an hour or two.
L: Yeah, where's your home?
I: I'm one of fherethe mountain rs up f-em-the Cherokee. My
father lives in Forest City, he's 3 h Cherokee.
L: Well i (i y i / v ---
that's the reason I asked this thing, like when it rains it rains
harder up there then it does down here.
1: Well it seems like that in different areas. How long did you spend
in Charlotte?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 8, 1974
Page 13
L: Well I just.goes up there and comes, I mean maybe a day.
I: Do you have relatives or anything up there?
L: Yes, I know several from down here that lives up there.
I: You mentioned that you were, needed to be in because of your
health and so on, eed you're not able to hold on to a full-time job,
so what do you do for past' time? Don-Lt you get bored and stuff like
that, don't you have a hobby or something to do to keep the time from
-7
getting on your nerves too much and bothering you.
L: No, not too much of nothingV.
I: What's one of the main things you do?
L: Well I just peddle, nothing particularly.
I: What are you going to trPk.I Ivrt' give me some
idea so I can--,,
L: Well you know maybe, you know at home I might try and work a little bit
with the garden or something like that, you know.
I: But you do, you could well stay busy doing something, something
which is not too strenuous?
L: Yeah, when I feel like it, when I don't feel too weak or anything.
I: Well is there some medicine or anything you can take to correct your
/11
"A 7
health it ,*o- t, ti C)
L: Well I've got sugar and I have to take/Aedicine for that ever ay.
1: Is this i./ ____something you take by mouth, or yo u
have to take- /`, S
L: Shots.
I: Do you give yourself the shots?
L: Yes.
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 14
I: Do you find thi\bothers you? Some people said when they first
started it, I talked to diabetics and so on, 9j-
q ;r
that when they first have to give themselves shots it bothers them,
but afterwards they get used to it. Do you ever get used to it?
L: Well it never didn't bother me because when I was in the hospital
they give me so many shots I was usen' toward it, but probably somebody
like you say hadn't never been bothered fj giv nIn takon a lot
of shots or something why I know it went hard with them to start, but
me I was used -
I: Well did you have a certain time everyday that you used to give them,
or just whenever you think of it?
c/
L: Every -' every mornings before I eats breakfast I have to take one,
and at supper time I have to take another. I have to take two a day.
Different units, you know.
I: Do you live with some relatives?
L: I live with my sister.
I: With you sister. I guess she helps out with the cooking and stuff
like that?
L: Oh yes.
I: You all sorta share things. And what's her name?
L: Ada. Ada.
I: Ada Lowry?
L: Yes.
I: Does she work at a res urant or something around here?
L: No. N1.
I: Does she work outside the home anywhere?
L: No.
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 15
I: Seems like I heard the name before.
L: That's the only thing she do is keep her girls baby boy. Her
girl's baby.
I: Babysits, sorta.
L: Yeah.
I: Wel5 what's her daughter's name?
L: Ida Bell.
I: Ida Bell Lowry?
L: Yeah.
I: She works? Where does she work?
L: Down uj I don't know the name of it, down here
the edge of town, a trailer park, where they build trailer homes.
I: Well it must be a housing-' %.t
I: I know where you're talking about, but I can't think of the name of
it, but it's right new, they haven't --
L: That's right.
I: That's not Mr. Oxidine? OrLumbee Trailer Courts or something like
that?
L: No, noye4 Lumbee CourtAthat's out toward Union Ghppat, out in the
country couple a miles, two or three miles out, you just go here on the
edge of town down here.
I: Oh yeah, as you're going towards Lumberton.
L: That's right.
I: I know what you're talking about now. /// V4/ U7furi/, /llct.
about being in the past, about people getting upset, you know, and u talking
about treating Indians and things like that. What do you think is the
-b>
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 16
main reason for this? Is it just people like to fight or just
like to get something startedor **'
L: Well to my opinion they just some of them likes to get something
started. har^kfl
I: Is this sorta hebying, or what is it?
L: Yeah, that's all, the-way I look at it. Yes.
I: Does he get sort^ of a thrill out of it or what?
L: Well it seems that way to me.
I: Would you join with the Tusca ora group?
L: No mame.X AIa ,
I: You don't have any reason to?
L: N(, noj no mame.. VM O
I: They seem to offer some a, you know a better deal, and I was wondering,
I usually this question. If I'm talking to a Tuscarora yask him why
he joined the Tuscarora, you know, if it was a better deal.
L: Is that right.
I: But, they usuallyWot some reason, everybody5got a reaso5 you know,
their reason anyway Phether it makes sense to anybody else, his kind
of thing but I always respect everybody else's opinion, f 1z/i /?
cafie oU4i- don't have to agree with them but you can
respect that he's got a right. Umy is there anybody else I haven't talked
about, or something you'd like to talk about that I hadn't mentioned,
things that's happening today? I don't believe we got into politics.
Are you interested in that any?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret LEnkway
July 9, 1974
Page 17
L: That's something I neverdid have nothing' to do with.
I: Do you vote?
L: Take up my time. Yeah, I vote.
I: What are youa Democrat or Republican?
L: Well I voted a Democrat.
I:, What about the governor, Holshouser? Did you go a long with him?
Now he was, I believe he was a Republican on the state, 7C e
L: No I don't think, no I didn't.
I: You didn't?
L: Um uhft(N@. (_hov v .
I: I believe he came down /I/, !tr/ikd several times. Started his
campaign here in- Q Pfd / / l I was told.
L: I don't know. He might have.
I: I believe he did, if I'm not mistaken, I read it somewhere. What
about, what church do you go to? Do you go to church any?
L: Yeah, I go to church, but I don't have no certain one, I goes
around like .I say and visit.
I: Do you?
L: Yeah, more or less.
I: h7 well whatsyouN. pick of all of them if you had to settle down
to one, so to speak?
L: Well that'd be hard. I mean--
I: Be hard to say?
L: Yeah.
I: What's the important thing/ /o you think of a denomination, and you
know they have different beliefs that- Do you believe in G-;-1
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lhnkway
July 9, 1974
Page 18
L: Yeah, sure. Yes.
-7
I: Do you believe he was the creator of all things\ uINA r 41 1(2 ST
L: Yes.
I: Do you believe in prayer?
L: Yes.
I: Do you exercise a-ty prayer life?
L: Yes.
I: What are some of the things you might would pray fora\f that's
not getting too personal?
For
L: I pray for, well I I thank the lord living, I pray for that,
maybe some--
I: Do you enjoy living?
L: Yes, I does, yes I does.
I: A person sometimes as you say is not in good health, have you ever
seen a time when you would have welcomed death?
L: I reckon I've been mighty sick, hurt, I've hurt, burnt, and you call
it weak, and anything you might call I've been, I've been-S 5
as bad a shape as any man living and I never thought about, like some
people you know like shootkn' theirsel or doing theirsel some
harm like that.
I: Or asking the doctor to give you a shot to put you out of your, to
put you out of your misery so to speak. A lot of people will do this.
L: Well I've asked them when I've had my mind to ask them, maybe a nurse
could she give me a shot to mayte ease me off, you know.
I: But not one that would just put you on out of the, put you to sleep--
0J- A, *,il -
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 19
L: I've asked mostly for pain like,Arelease viy pa"v74 "
I: You hadn't ever seen a time when you thought you'd be better off
dead?
L: No, no. I've always--
I: Even in your worst suffering?
L: No, I always wanted to help it, I never thought about dying, I mean
that I'd rather be dead, or something like that.
1: A lot of times people when they are in pain think these things.
L: Oh, yes. A lot of times if somethings bothering somebody that's
when they do these things, but it didn't never but cross my mind, that
I was wanting to try and get help.
I: Did you find it in times like this that you'd pray?
L: Oh, yes, yes when you hurtin' bad enough, or something you'll pray
and think, and ask somebody else to pray for you that you know that's l-cCti'
living a good Christian life.
I: You mean you believe in the power of prayer?
L: Yes. Yes.
I; Yet you don't say that your connected with any particular denomination?
L: No.
I: It's just that you're in a relationship, just you and G d.
L: That's right.
I: Do you think we have a loving G-d? Or, sometimes it seems like his
judgement is harsh, at times have you ever felt this way?
L: No, I haven't.
I: Do you think he's ali together a loving G2d?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 20
L: Yes.
I: But you've had things Mr. Lowry, in your life that's been hard to deal
with and hard for you to live withl"
L: Yes.
I: And you still maintain that he's a loving G d?
L: Yes. He, he'll do like, I feel like he'll do, put these things on
you if you ain't living right to see if you'll make a change.
I: Well do you think some ofthese, the things, the worst things maybe
like healthwise and pain and so on, do you feel, have they made a change
in your life?
L: Yes.
I: Brought about a change?
L: Oh, yes, yes.
I: In what way? For the better?
L: For the better. You take me I used, I wasn't never didn't walk-
in no trouble, never has been arrested, or bothered whatsoever with
no law, nothing. But still on Sunday morning I went some other way
besides the church, I didn't have church on my mind too much.
I: Did you drinkor anything like that?
L: WellI never wasn't bad for drinking.
I: Just a little bit alone? ,
L: Yeahimaybe with somebody going out and bding social like, but far
as the hard drunk, i no. Never wasn't drunk, say drunk in
my life.
I: Can't remember ever being what you call drunk?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 21
L: No.
I: ko you didn't know what was happening?
L: No.
I: Do you think then that you've made a better person by having sffer
suffered the way you have?
L: Yes, yes.
I: And you don't resent it, or think that maybe GAd been hard on you
as a person?
L: No, no I really don't, I wouldn't say that. He put, like I feel like
what was on me, he, it was for my good, he put it on me for my good.
I: But wasn't there a time, sometime or another that you felt like
maybe you'N beingV put more on you thIn you could bae? -t-i you ever
felt that at times?
L: No, no I haven't.
I: Your faith never wavered in the least?
L: No.
I: That's hard to understandrj-
L: Yeah--
I: ___ __au mne.-eae problems I've never had any-
thing to contend with to that extent of, you know that you have, but
sometimes I get to feeling that maybe it's just a little bit more tLAn
I can b7re. Maybe I need to have more faith? You reckon that's the
problem, oLhat is it, what would you think would be with people that
felt this way, and mayb ried or fussed a little bit the way life
had dealt them and so on?
L: Well it's hard for me to say.
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 9, 1974
Page 22
I: Well you've got an opinion, you got an opinion. You think and 7.0s
you know you don't have to come out and you know get it right because
there's really no right or wrong answer but you sort of speculate and
think a little bit about it.
L: People have different opinions about things, I mean--
I: Yeah, but what do you think. That's what I want your opinion. Cause
we do have different ones and I want yours.
L: Well I know, I don't think, I don't think that the Lord had put more
on a person then it could base, I mean if he, 4-he., he's the one that
got the power, I mean he ain't gonna put more on youdhin you can-bare,
if it's his w$ll. That's the way I feel, you know, like I say-everybody
ain't alike, some '" we're talking about the church--,,"
I: Excuse me, I'm sorry, you have to get closer, if you get too far away
I lose your voice.
L: There some people, you know, denominations I'd say like if you and
me would go out tonight we'd get, have us a party I'd say more or less,
drink, and turn around tomorrow we could get forgiveness for, well you
see. A least for some people,that's why I say got different re R-
I: tIL I(e /1 go ahead and do it because you goigg to get forgiven
anyway.
L: Yeah, yeah.
I: The only thing about that I get scared ofA I mighhave to, something
happened I'd get killed right in the middle of it, and I might not have
time to get forgiven, and then where would I end up f you think about
it I guess there is such a thing as a death bed sort of a salvation
maybe, if a man- dying of it could be saved if he had
maybe, if a man '5r-womono dying of it thiy could be saved if he had
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 11, 1974
Page 23
time to ask for it. Or do you believe that way?
L: Yeah, yeah, I've heard people, I think so if a person got time to,--
I: You know religion means, some denominations maintain you got to be
paptised and you got to go through f\ and you got to do this
and that kind of thing, and you got to go through this book and learn what
it says in here, and eight so many verses, and so on, you know different
things like this vell a man ain't got time to do all that he's dying
and he asks the lord to save him, you think he, he can be saved? In
other words, death bec'salvation, I guess yonim-tTt call it for lack of
a better word?
L: Yes, I feel like it if he has time enough to give and he's got the
faith, the faith in the Lord, he can be saved. Cause that's what it
takes. You got to have the faith.
I: Mr. Lowry, what do you think would help the Indian people more
then anything else? I mean to have a better life and to have a better
outlook. Now this like research, you knowpeople in the college and
all hey go around and make researches and they take studies, and so on
andthey found out that there's many Indian peoples drinking themselves
to death that's got high intelligence, I mean good brains, you know
"V J
could use them and Qmi d-be a blessing to the people for better things
but they drinking theirselves to death, and some of thems, there a high
rate of suicide, they go outand kill theirselves. 'h, sorta depressing
to talk about these things, but it's, again it's apart of the harsh
realities, just like your operation is, but we have to live with and 4.
face. What do youth in your opinion think would, it maybe just one thing,
it might be several things, that could help the Indian people more thn
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 11,1974
Page 24
anything else? Maybe you never thought about it, but--',.,
L: No I really ain't.
I: You, think about it, I mean if you want to take a minute and see
what you think would help. I t might not be no great big thing, I mean you know
sometimes it's the small things that--J-,,
L: Yeah, but I ain't never really give it a thought ut Uiti., -
I: Are you proud to be an Indian?
L: Yeah, I really is, it don't worry me.
I: Well that's the way it ought to be, but you know some people not- 9/
You wouldn't change nothing else? You wouldn't change to be nothing else,
would you?
L: No, I don't reckon but I mean -/'"
I: I know what you mean, you wouldn't boast but you're
proud to be what you are.
L: Yeah, yeah, sure.
I: Yeah, that's the way it ought to be.
L: I look at it this a way, y talkAabout /Indian or
white if I was white and you didn't want me # ,
this is a lot of people's trouble, and if I was hiite you didn't want
me, I mean you knew both of us and you didn't want me, you wouldn't have
p-N
me. Alt right if I'm an -Indian and you were white and we meet and you
want me, a right we boths gets together. Now that's the way I look
"ait the thing.
I: It has to be a mutual, both people-(-,,
L: Yeah, both people.
Lum 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 11, 1974
Page 25
7
I: In other words you don't put it on a race basis.
L: No, no no.
I: Just people to people, just like you say you might not like somebody
but it might not be because of thei4race-Q(9
L: Yes that's right, that's right.
I: Yeah I see what you mean.
L: Yeah, cause we got our own race of people, and in the Indian race
I don't like, I don't approve with afemebody- r tS, IA
I: But it's not because Indian, it's just the way they act.
L: No, no they act, yeah and the way they are, that's right.
"T See. w(l\
I:A Well I guess, I'm sortV\a half-breed myself, that's kindA a bad word
but I've learned to live with it, and accept ityou might as well cause
there's nothing I can do about it.
L: Say you are half? Ua
I: Yeah, my Mother's English, my Daddy6 44ths. Cherokee and I've got
some other stuff, Dutch and Irish and all this I guess I'm maybe more
.* a
then a half-/breed, probably awell)the way I see it black, white, red
or pdkadot maybeA ou gonna start getting into colors, you know, well.
it takes all kinds, I guess, we might as well be proud of whence we came
Cause there's not a whole lot we can do about it, and I guess it does help
if we know a little bit-'7
L: Yeah.
I: Is there anything else, talking about you know, today's problems and
things we looked at that you'd like to comment, or say that I haven't
asked you about?
L: No I don't, I don't--,
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lenkway
July 11, 1974
Page 26
I*
I: What would,-yea- what do you think if you had in your power
to do one thing to help human relations and people get a long, and not
have wars and all this stuff, what would be the one thingsthat you
think would, if you had it in your power to make it happenjwhat would you make,
try to bring about? For the betterment of people.
L: I clearly don't know.
I: Is ittcause there's so many things you could narrow it down to one,
or is it, whfat s-why ,Y y wouldn't you say?
L: Well I wouldn't even know how to go at it, I honestly say, that's the
truth.
I: I don't think I asked you 'd you come up, did you go to the, when
youj was a boy, what schools did you attend, or if you did?
L: I went to jus ,to.Pembroke grade school and High School.
I: It was all Indian then?
L: Yes.
I: You had all Indian teachers?
L: All Indian teachers. That's the way it runned you know during the
whole time I was going to school myself.
I: Did I ask you who your mother and father was?
L: Na.
I: Well let's tell who they are cause the Lowry's name goes way back.
L: Yeah, my father his name was Montgomery Lowry, and my mother her
name was -/ Lowry, which she was a M'aler before she got
married, before she married--4"
I: She was a Maynor?
LUM 150 A TYpist: Margaret LEnkway
July 11, 1974
Page 27
L: Yeah.
I: And did they live in this area right around.Pembroke, or did they
come from-- .. ,
L: Right in this area, Pembroke.
I: So you've lived, as you say you went to Pembroke Grade School that's
just a little ways over here andJPembroke High School that's just on
down the road a block or two, right?
L: Right.
I: So you've just been right around in this area and seen it grow.
What do you think about the Lumbee bank? The first, they advertise
the first ndian bank in the United States. Course they got all races doing
business there, but it's predominantly the first Indian bank named. What
do you think about that?
L: Well/I think it's nice.
I: Do you think it sorta puts the step forward for the Indians maybe?
L: Yeah, yeah, I would think so.
kas it. al 4
I: Do you think the college 1-heading fn-the part in helping the- 17,
you know to bring these stores and maybe banks and so on the fact they -
money and payroll and people bring their money and put in here.
-6;
L: Yes I really do think the college helps out with these __
I: Have you ever talked ahout-t f -i' % Y'i '.,,/\ President of
the college?
L: Yeah, I've talked to him, I've talked with him.
I: What kind of man, what kind of person is he to you?
LUM 150 A Typist: Margaret Lbnkway
July 11, 1974
Page 28
L: Well I always, always thought he was a fine person.
I: There are a lot of people ecitize him-- C)
L: Oh yeah, sure. But he always treated me nice. I went to school
when he was finishing high school, he got out of service and I was down
in the first year of high school and he was a finishing high school, and
he was a fine boy back then.
I: He treated people right then and all?
L: Yes, um huh. He was nice. He had got out of service, he had been
in service and got out, last year in high school and I was in first, that's
when I learn him.
I: Have you talked to him much since then, or does he talk to you when
he meets you on the street?
L: Yeah, he talks to me when I meet him in a church or on the streets,
or speaks. I pass him and he recognizes me, he'll wave at me, nice a person
can do.
I: Yeah. Welljlisten we're just about out of tape here and I want to tell
you that it's been nice and you've been very considerate to give this
interview and it will help the program a great deai) aad I just want to
say on behalf of the American Indian Studies Program and for myself z
that I appreciate very much the fact that you're willing to do this
and give your time, because I know you could be doing other things, but
I appreciate it very much, and thank you now.
-END-
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