Garris Reaction
Below is a copy of the letter from Ms. Beckee Garris, Landcaster SC,
to e-mail site SCTAN in reaction to the
Sewer Line Blunder article by Dr. Thomas Blumer
and supported by numerous enrolled Catawbas. This is followed by Dr. Blumer's
response to Ms. Garris's letter.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Beckee Garris, a Catawba and a board member (sec/treas.) of
the Catawba Cultural Preservatin [Preservation] Project (CCPP). And, as
such, I take exception to and profoundly resent the blatant accusations
in Tom Bloomer's [Blumer's] letter about the CCPP unconcern about the
wastewater treatment plant. None of the people listed at the bottom of
Toms letter nor has Tom himself been in contact with me to know my opinion
about the subject one way or another. So how dare he assume anything
about this board member or any other member he has had no contact.
Since the CCPP has not met as a board since the release of the news there
is no way Tom can how any of us feel about the wastewater treatment plant.
I stand by the CCPP's mission statement to " preserve, protect, promote
and maintain the rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Indians Nation".
And I do all I can to see that this mission statement is carried out to
its fullest. Just as I have been doing for the last 11 years of doing
volunteer work at the Cultural Center.
The people on Tom's list are being misrepresented either willing or
through Toms doings as to what their titles or honors he is bestowing to
them. It is not Toms duty or privilege to give people degrees or master
potter status. Only master potters can degree that is a master potter
and being an excellent potter is only a small part of being bestowed the
title. I would also like to know who the "proverbial unnamed source" on
the executive committee member who would state the Executive
Committee would now be rich.
I, for one, am tired of Tom's meddling and interference in the CCPP
affairs. For as long as I have been in acquiantance wiht Tom, he has
used the CCPP/Catawba Indians for his own personal monetary gain. Now
that his true colors has shown through and he no longer has the CCPP
blessings, he has turned into (MY opinion) an angry vindictive man and
he interferes and blast the CCPP any way and anywhere he can.
You may post this letter on SCTAN's e-mail site, if it has not already
been posted there. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Beckee Garris
4663 Taxahaw Rd
Lancaster SC 29720
Response by Dr. Tom Blumer to the letter by Beckee Garris.
October 5, 2000
SCTAN Members:
My response to Ms. Beckee Garris's letter posted on SCTAN yesterday will
be brief.
My unselfish and tireless work on behalf of the Catawba people over the
last thirty years is a public record that speaks for itself. Let the
record show as well that I have never received any money from the tribe
as compensation for my work.
The issue facing the Catawba Nation today, albeit a horrendous one, has
a simple solution. The Catawba Cultural Preservation Project (CCPP)
must follow its mandate to "preserve, protect, promote and maintain the
rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Indian Nation." At the moment,
the best way to do this is for the CCPP to fight the sewer line and
treatment plant which threatens the very spiritual and physical
existence of the Catawba people.
Sincerely,
Tom Blumer