Academic Journal Blog M2 - Web Resource

The web resource I selected to describe from Module 2 is the Museum of the Southeast American Indian located on the University of North Carolina at Pembroke website. I chose this resource because I am currently living in North Carolina and am interested in Native American resources in the state.

1. The Museum of the Southeast American Indian, formerly known as the Native American Resource Center, was created as part of the Southeast American Indian Studies Program at UNC Pembroke to support the University’s ability to address the complex cultural, historical, and contemporary issues facing American Indian communities in North Carolina and the Southeast. The mission of the museum includes five goals. (About Us)

·         to educate and serve the public about the prehistory, history, culture, art and contemporary issues of American Indians, with special emphasis on the Native American communities of Robeson County, of North Carolina and of the American Southeast
·         to conduct scholarly research
·         to collect and preserve the material culture of Native America
·         to encourage American Indian artists and crafts persons
·         to cooperate on a wide range of research and service projects with other institutions and agencies concerned with American Indians

2. This web resource was selected for this course because it represents one of many examples where colleges and universities are leading the way in preserving Indian culture and discussing contemporary Indian issues. Because this web resource is posted on a university’s website I do think this web resource is a quality academic website. “Telling Our Stories: Recollections of Lumbee Indian Teachers” is the current film for visitors to view and provides a really interesting look into the special memories of some teachers of the Lumbee Indian children.

3. Other sections of the web resource provide other films for viewing, answers to frequently asked questions, other links to Native American resources, and a featured artist page.

4. One section of the web resource that I found interesting was on the 1956 Lumbee Act. After reading the actual language of the Act I was puzzled. I could not understand the purpose of the Act. After a few more reading I came to the conclusion that the only purpose of the Act was to formerly designate certain people living in or near Robeson County in North Carolina and based on their last names, as the Lumbee Nation of North Carolina. Nothing else was granted to the Lumbee Nation in this Act. In fact, the Act specifically stated that “Nothing in this Act shall make such Indians eligible for any services performed by the United States for Indians because of their status as Indians, and none of the statutes of the United States which affect Indians because of their status as Indians shall be applicable to the Lumbee Indians.” I was surprised at how careful the House of Representatives and Senate were to make sure that the Lumbee Indians were not granted anything that other Indians may have been granted in other statutes with the government. (1956 Lumbee Act)

References:

"About Us." UNC Pembroke Museum of the Southeast American Indian, www.uncp.edu/academics/opportunities-programs-resources/opportunities-programs/museum-southeast-american-indian. Accessed 3 May 2017.

"1956 Lumbee Act." UNC Pembroke Museum of The Southeast American Indian, www.uncp.edu/academics/opportunities-programs-resources/opportunities-programs/museum-southeast-american-indian/faqs-and-links/1956-lumbee-act. Accessed 3 May 2017.