Her technique is to etch intricate designs through a layer of white clay so the red clay beneath shows through.
Upcoming Senora Lynch appearances Oct. 13–23: N.C. State Fair in the Village of Yesteryear, Gov. James E. Holshouser Building, Raleigh. Nov. 2: Native American Heritage Program, N.C. State University, Raleigh. Nov. 4 (3–7 p.m.): 6th Annual Indian Heritage Festival, presented by Grandpa’s Children, Goldsboro. Nov. 5 (11a.m.–2 p.m.): Indian Cultural Presentation, Wayne County Museum, Goldsboro. Nov. 19: Native American Celebration, N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh. Nov. 22: “Meet the Artists,” Wayne County Museum, Goldsboro. April 2011: Haliwa-Saponi Powwow, Tribal School Grounds, Hollister.
who is also a potter and doesn’t mind Indians and to make people aware that telling her mom if a pot looks lopsided. “we are still here.” Senora says she loves Senora Lynch uses the traditional teaching and hopes to one day have a coil method to build her pots. Her studio big enough to hold classes on a work is recognizable by her technique full-time basis. of using red clay to form her piece, and Economic development is a big then whitewashing it with layers of liq- concern for Senora and the Haliwauefied white clay. She etches intricate Saponi people in Warren County. designs through Some people the white layer still farm, mostly She hopes to overcome some tobacco and corn, so the red clay of the stereotypes children beneath shows but many have through. to go outside the have come to believe about Grandmothers, Indians and to make people community to mothers and find jobs. One aware that “we are still here.” project being children come to learn from explored is the Senora Lynch. Everything Senora crebuilding of an amusement park and a ates has a story and meaning behind museum. The community hopes projit. As she teaches her crafts, she tells ects such as these will both provide stories that have been handed down jobs and a way to share Indian tradifor generations in her family, stories tions with the public. that not only entertain but also teach When thinking about how someimportant life lessons. thing like an amusement park will When asked what she hopes her art affect her community, Senora says, “I will mean to her community, Senora want development, but I am a little says, “My Mom said to me, ‘Do someafraid of it. I’d like to see us grow, but thing to help your people.’ I hope the stay together.” She hopes that by bringstories are carried on through my art. ing jobs into the community with I think about our kids and how things something like the park the people will are moving so fast in this world. I hope remain together and be able to keep I can reach just one or two to keep our their history and traditions alive. traditions going.” To learn more about Senora Lynch’s Senora says it is important for peoart, visit www.southernartistry.org. ple to know their history. She hopes Donna Campbell Smith is a Carolina Country to dislodge some of the stereotypes contributing writer and Wake EMC member children have come to believe about who lives in Franklinton.
c
Halifax EMC and the Haliwa-Saponi Halifax EMC, the member-owned Touchstone Energy cooperative serving Warren County among others, has long supported the cultural and community development of the local tribal community surrounding Hollister. In addition to various sponsorships, Halifax EMC has installed lighting for the ceremonial arena where tribes from all over the country gather in April for one of the region’s largest annual powwow events. Brady Martin, the co-op’s manager of marketing and economic development, serves along with tribal administrator Dr. Joseph Richardson on the statewide board for the N.C. Indian Economic Development Initiative (NCIEDI), representing the North Carolina Native American people of Halifax, Warren, Granville and Person counties. Two Halifax EMC employees are members of the Haliwa-Saponi tribal organization. The co-op supplies electricity to the tribal charter school, the multipurpose ceremonial facility, and many of the homes, churches and businesses owned by tribal members.
About the Haliwa-Saponi 100,000 American Indians live in North Carolina, making it the state with the largest Indian population in the U.S. east of the Mississippi. The Haliwa-Saponi is the third largest tribe in North Carolina, outnumbered by the Lumbee who are first and the Cherokee second. 3,800 Haliwa-Saponi people live in and near Hollister, Warren County. They were recognized by state of North Carolina in 1965. Learn more about the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe at www.haliwa-saponi.com. Carolina Country OCTOBER 2011 13