LEARN NC

4.2 Coharie activities and resources

Information and materials compiled by JaNella Williams, Ginger Stone, Sharon Williams, and Lesa Brewington Locklear.

Field trip opportunities

Coharie Indian Tribe Cultural Powwow
The powwow is a celebration of Coharie culture and history. The event is held on the second weekend each September in Sampson County.

Resources and educational materials

General resources

History of the Coharie Indian Tribe (PDF, 1 page)
Brief history of the Coharie Tribe including information about the population of the tribe, their settlements, and their fight to retain their school system.
Coharie Tribe booklet (PDF, 32 pages)
Booklet published by the Coharie Intra-Tribal Council providing information about the Council, the annual powwow, the tribe’s history, its leaders, mission statement, and more.
The Croatan Indians of Sampson County, North Carolina. Their Origin and Racial Status. A Plea for Separate Schools: Electronic Edition. Butler, George Edwin, 1868-1941.
Digitized book, originally published in 1916, available on the Documenting the American South website.
Economic development assessment for the Coharie Tribe, July 2003 (PDF, 30 pages)
Document presented to the North Carolina Indian Economic Development Initiative sharing the findings of the Office of Economic Development of UNC’s Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise. Includes background on the Coharie Tribe, governing structure, businesses and occupations, challenges facing the tribe, and tribal assets, including infrastructure, housing, land, and buildings as well as financial and social capital.

Leaders and significant people

Ammie Jacobs memorial (PDF, 1 page)
Tribute to Coharie tribal member Ammie Jacobs, entitled “A Proud Indian Man, Indeed.” The tribute includes text and photographs.
Biography of Keith Carter (PDF, 1 page)
Photograph and brief biography of Keith Carter, a Coharie descendant.
Biography of Joyce Brewington Locklear (PDF, 1 page)
Brief biography of Coharie Tribe member Joyce Brewington Locklear. A photograph of Ms. Locklear is included.
Biography of Chief Tom Carter (PDF, 1 page)
Brief biography of Chief Tom Carter, chief of the Coharie Indian Tribe from 1976 until his death in 1997.
Chief Tom Carter at Town Creek Indian Mound celebration, 1971
Photograph taken at an annual Indian Heritage celebration at Town Creek Indian Mound in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina in 1971, showing Chief Tom Carter with Senator Richard Condor, Bruce Jones (Lumbee), Executive Director of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, and Senator Arron Plyler.
Coharie Chief Tom Carter
Close-up black-and-white image of Coharie Indian Chief Tom Carter in traditional dress.
Chief Tom Carter in regalia
Photograph of Coharie Chief Tom Carter in full traditional regalia. A caption reads “Chief Tom N. Carter (Standing Deer) Reigned 1987-1997.”

Historical and contemporary images of Coharie Tribal members

Documentary film

Looking for Ms. Locklear
Looking for Ms. Locklear is the story of two North Carolina men’s search for their beloved first-grade teacher, Lenora Locklear, who is Coharie and Lumbee. In this heartwarming story, Rhett and Link attempt to track down Ms. Locklear to thank her for her impact on their lives. Their quest leads them far from home and into the company of a host of characters. The movie prominently features the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, as their search takes Rhett and Link to the center of Lumbee culture, Pembroke, North Carolina.
With generous permission from Rhett & Link, Inc., North Carolina teachers may watch the movie for free with a password. The movie can be accessed here. Teachers can access the password by contacting LEARN NC via the contact form. In the message, please note that you’re requesting a password to watch Looking for Ms. Locklear. Also tell us where you teach and use your school-provided email address. Note that there may be a delay in receiving a response.