Get to know the newest members of Carolina Indian Circle's executive board

Carolina Indian Circle, an organization for Native American students at UNC, recently elected officers for the 2021-2022 school year. 

The organization held two elections this year — one on April 28 and another on Sept. 28 to complete their 14-member executive board.

Meet the candidates below:  

Abbey Anne (AJ) Hunt-Briggs — President

From Charlotte, NC, Hunt-Briggs’ Lumbee Native American identity is something that has always been important to them. 

Along with their sister, Hunt-Briggs said they were the only Native people in their high school. Hunt-Briggs said they felt as though they had to “validate my native-ness” or “be a spokesperson for my entire culture.” 

Hunt-Briggs’ mother made sure to teach them and their sister about their heritage, they said. When they were four years old, Hunt-Briggs said their class had a Thanksgiving party. Many students dressed as Native Americans, wearing tattered t-shirts and headbands. Confused, Hunt-Briggs asked their mother why students were dressed like that, but she did not know how to explain “an entire system of anti-nativeness” to a child.

“The first time that I had consciousness as a child, I knew that I was Lumbee,” they said. "I knew what that meant — I knew that it was important to me."

First introduced to CIC by a counselor in Project Uplift, Hunt-Briggs knew they wanted to be a part of this community. From CIC’s weekly meetings, Hunt-Briggs has not only gotten the opportunity to learn about others' tribes, but also create their own family away from home.

“It’s been such a great experience of having other Native students on campus who understand what it’s like to be a native student at a predominantly white institution,” Hunt-Briggs said.

Briggs, a senior double majoring in American-Indian and Indigenous Studies and Psychology, in addition to a minor in Education, plans to attend the Masters of Teaching Program at UNC and go on to work in special education for K-12.

Lydia-Ruth Mansfield – Historian

From Pembroke, NC, Mansfield grew up attending Native American culture classes, where she learned beadwork, pottery and dance. Pembroke, the Lumbee tribe’s headquarters, had an extremely tight-knit community, she said.

In high school, Mansfield served as the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization representative at tribal events, Powwows and other gatherings.

Coming to UNC and switching from her predominantly Native American hometown to a predominantly white community “was a shellshock,” she said. Although she is a first-year, Mansfield knew she would join CIC, as both her mother and father were previous presidents of the organization at the University.

“I felt like I was really disconnected from my culture, from my people, and I really wanted to be able to find a family away from home.” she said.

Being around other Native Americans, Mansfield said she did not feel the pressure to code-switch. Her favorite aspect of CIC is bringing cultural awareness to the UNC community.

Zoey Locklear – Banquet Chair

From Clinton, NC, Locklear grew up in a small Native community. She said she always knew she wanted to be a part of CIC, as her mother was a part of it in her time at the University. As a child, Locklear attended CIC Powwows.

Locklear, a first-year student, was nervous about finding safe spaces on campus and fitting in, but amongst CIC members, she found that network.

“[I] know that if I ever need any help or just need a support system or just someone to talk to, I have people there that can relate to me,” she said. 

Locklear enjoys the outreach portion of CIC. Through the organization, she said she has learned about “the beauty and diversity of my people.” Locklear has met Native people from across the country and has learned about their shared cultures and differences. For example, she said there are different ways to tie knots in tobacco bundles, and each tribe has its own stories and significance behind the knots.

“There’s a feeling that Native people can feel that is hard to say through language – you can just feel the spirit come over you,” she said.

Mason Locklear – Powwow Co-Chair

Locklear is from Robeson County, NC, where the Native population is the largest ethnic group. From youth, Locklear said he knew who he was, and everybody around him knew that he was Native American. Before coming to UNC, he knew he wanted to be a part of CIC, calling it a “safe haven.”

However, things changed when he got to college. He said he is now mistaken for other ethnicities, and people ask him questions about his identity. Once, Locklear said someone told him he must have been awarded a scholarship because he was Native American.

On the other hand, Locklear said it makes him happy when people want to learn more about Native culture and ask him questions to help them understand.

“They ask why we’re not federally recognized,” he said. “It’s my time to shine light on my tribe and to tell our story.”

Locklear said CIC is a space where he can be with other people who think the same and feel the same about different aspects of life and connect with each other on a cultural level.

“Being at home just gives you that peace of mind,” he said. “You don’t have to make sure everyone understands who you are.”

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