Co-Founder, Sanctuary on the Trail Native American 501(c)3 Non Profit

Indigenous Advisor:

• Simply Shenandoah Resort VA.
• Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF), Sheppard University WV
• Shenandoah University
• The Oatland's Plantation Leesburg, VA

Memberships:

• Native American Women Warriors
• VFW Lifetime Member​
• American Legion Lifetime Member
• Lumbee Warrior's Association Lifetime Member

Upcoming:

• Feb. 27 - Leading a Death Café small group for Blueridge Hospice at the Bowman Library in Stephens City, VA
• March 27 - Guest lecture for the University of NC at Pembroke Lumbee History undergraduate course on the Lumbee Game series
• March 20-21 - Attending the Lumbee Educational Southeast Native Studies Conference in Pembroke, NC
• April 12 at 2:00 - 5:00 pm - Indigenous Food Demo, Virginia Tech in Roanoke, VA
• May 1 - Submitted a draft scholarly article to Appalachian Journal Fall 2025 titled, "Reconnecting to America’s Native Food Trail through Appalachia" for review
• Sat. May at 17 10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Guest Speaker at The Oatland's Spring Fling "Celebrating Our Roots: Indigenous Wisdom and Native Plants & Waterways
  and the significance of the insect apocalypse"
• Fall - Launching Indigenous road-side signs for Frederick Co. Virginia.

Ongoing

• Leading a private Maternal Elders Gathering
• Launching Native Voices of Loudoun Co. Virginia educational video series
• Producing a new Lumbee Indigenous History Online Game Video Series
• ​Simply Shenandoah Wellness Resort, Star Tannery, VA (dates TBD)
• Production Phase Ongoing - Historical Indigenous Markers, Winchester Visitor Center Frederick County, VA
• Ongoing Research - Planting American Chestnut Trees, Stephens City, VA
• Land Acknowledgement Statements
  • CATF Sheppardstown, WV  - complete
  • Shenandoah University, VA  - ongoing
  • Loudoun County, VA  - COMPLETE
  • Bluemont, VA - ongoing
• Food is Medicine, Nationwide
  • Video Mapping Americans Native Food Trail
  • Mapping Americas Native Food Trail
  • Rare Disease and Healing Food Research

Special Activities/Service Participation
Defense Meritorious Service, Joint Service Commendation, Foreign Defense Service, Air Force Meritorious Service, Air Force Commendation, National Defense Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Service, Armed Forces Service includes: 

• Department of Defense Badge, Pentagon: Cyber Operations, Cyber Control and Public Affairs, Joint Advertising, Market Research and Studies, spokesperson for Secretary of Defense.
• Headquarters Air Force Badge, Pentagon
• U.S. Pacific Command Badge: Joint Task Force Full Accounting Hawaii: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
• Republic of South Korea - Korean Defense Service Medal and multiple joint exercises including Operation Ulchi Focus Lens.
• Operation Northern Watch, Turkey.
• AFSOUTH, Operation Deny Flight, Naples Italy, IFOR (Implementation Force), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Zagreb Croatia, and Sarajevo. 
• Combat Camera support to Operation Desert Storm.

My mother Frances Dale Locklear was indisputably my life’s inspiration. Her maiden name was Thompson; or so she thought, until her oldest sister Aunt Tie (on her deathbed) revealed to my mom that they did not share the same father. At age 80+, my mom learned that the man she thought was her daddy turned out instead to be her mother's Lumbee postal worker. Even then mama could laugh and say, “What good will tears do?"

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Freda Porter from Porter Scientific for putting forward our co-founder, Rene' Locklear White, as a nominee for the prestigious Distinguished Women of Honor award. It is truly an honor for us to be recognized during the 11th Annual Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations Ceremony and Banquet in Pembroke, N.C. We are incredibly grateful for this recognition.

The Distinguished Women of Honor are recognized for a lifetime of service. They have not only performed a job, but they have gone "beyond the call of duty." These women have been catalysts for new visions, understanding and positive change in American Indian communities. They have also developed and implemented innovative strategies and solutions to meet community needs. These honorees are expected to continue to work and speak for American Indian people in ever-broadening spectrum to build strong, vibrant, economically sound and peaceful communities.

​Indigenous Native American Indian legends contain rich symbolism and imagery associated with pearls.

• Meanings may vary among different tribes and cultures, pearls often represent various concepts such as purity, wisdom, prosperity, spiritual guidance, spiritual growth and enlightenment.
• Pearls are also seen as a reflection of inner beauty and the connection between humans and the natural world.
• Pearls might also symbolize abundance and prosperity in Native American cultures, as they were highly valued and used as currency or trade items in certain tribes.
• They may represent the blessings and abundance that come from living in harmony with nature and the Great Spirit.
• Furthermore, pearls can be seen as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.
• Pearls are often associated with stories and teachings passed down through generations, serving as reminders of ancestral wisdom and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Distinguished Women of Honor recipients are: 

• Charlene Hunt (Lumbee)
• Heather McMillan Nakai, J.D. (Lumbee)
• Rene' Locklear White, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret) (Lumbee)

Women to Watch recipients are: 

• Amber Holland J.D. (Lumbee)
• Dr. Genna Locklear (Lumbee)
• Kearston "Page" Freeman (Lumbee / Coharie / Waccamaw Siouan)

By René Locklear White (Feather)
Lt. Col. USAF (Retired)
Lumbee Native American Indian
President Sanctuary on the Trail™ non-profit
 
Everything this week was going as planned, until bow season started. I had other things planned for this day and tomorrow, certainly no plans to be standing in front of a dead deer.

Even though we have no TV, I have three mindless movie rentals scheduled today along with a bag of medicinal dark chocolates. Then, I plan to mourn the loss of someone dear to me.

But, by the sound of my husband’s boots as he enters the house I know my life’s direction is about to change.''
​
I hit pause on the DVD-player. I hear my husband Chris say in a tender voice, “Hey honey! I’m gonna need some stiches, you want to go with me?”

I am a 52-year old grandma with 22-years military training preparing for most anything; even how to emotionally compartmentalize.

Today I will learn that gutting a deer is easier than embracing grief. 

NATURE

Until this deer, I realize after losing my mother recently, I have been dropping and running ever since.

My mother and father are Lumbee Indians. My husband Chris is Cherokee. We both grew up on farms, he in Northern Virginia and me on Lumbee farmland in North Carolina.

We both have raised chickens, hogs and cattle. We have planted, picked, canned, frozen and dried fruit & vegetables. We have seen life and death and held it in our hands.

With my husband and me, life is never dull.

Once, Chris walked in with a wounded hummingbird and barred owl. Another time he caught, scolded and released a chicken-hawk attacking our chickens. Last year he rescued a woodpecker, two hummingbirds and a screech owl.

Today it is a doe, a female deer; this is not that song from “The Sound of Music” nor a story about Bambi.

Yes deer are cute and many people “do not” like to eat “cute.” They would rather eat “ugly.”  But for us simple country folk, eating deer is as natural as drinking our natural mountain spring-water.

In Native American Indian culture some believe when the deer is your totem or spirit animal you are a highly sensitive person with strong intuition to get out of a tricky situation with power and grace.  

Chris had two dear in his sights. But he did not take the shot.

On his way home, he saw the same two deer in our drive way. They stared at my husband standing there in front of them. Chris crouched down. One deer walked over towards my husband.

Now past twilight, with the silhouette of that doe between our house and my husband, Chris could see her clearly and he took the shot with one arrow, a complete pass through the heart.

The deer ran 70 yards ironically just steps away from where the eagle dropped the catfish a while back and then the deer lied down under a tree near our house and collapsed. 

My neighbor June Krupsaw and I believe it could be possible for our ancestors’ Spirit to persistently try to communicate with us through nature. If she can, my mom would say, “live your life now Shug, don’t worry about me.”

DATES

In Virginia, bow season or archery season for deer, started Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 18. According to my husband, if he waits, it is almost impossible to stalk a deer after the open seasons for gun-powder muzzleloaders or firearms.

For mama, what day was it? I can’t remember. The dreaded blue bag from the funeral home is sitting next to me. Let me see, it says Sept. 8, 2016. So much time has passed already. I refuse to look at the photograph yet. But I know it is my mama. She had Dementia.

We depend on each other – my husband and me. We took wedding vows; to be there for each other for better and worse, richer or poor, sickness and health.

It occurs to me now, we do not take an oath with our parents, nor do our parents take oaths for us.  But, I loved, cherished and honored my mother till she parted this life. What is it like to lose someone that close? I still do not know fully.

UNEXPECTED

My husband and I depend on at least one deer to get us through the winter. When the fall weather cools like this, you can almost taste the first harvest especially with a little teriyaki on it. 

We prefer to use the word “harvest” to describe the “kill.” We also try to use as many parts of the animal as we can, not as trophies, but as sacred ceremonial objects or practical resources.  Is it not more humanely to kill game as a food source than corporately-raised and factory-processed livestock?

For deer hunters, especially bow hunters like my husband, reading blood trails and field dressing are essential responsibilities to bleeding the animal and processing safe meat for us to eat.

Before field dressing, and to make sure the deer is dead my husband was using a new, very sharp field knife. His head lamp was pointing in one direction and his two hands in the other direction unexpectedly met in the dark as he turned the deer over. Then suddenly the knife in his left hand gashed across and into his right hand between his thumb and wrist.

Sometimes things happen in life even to the most experienced people. And things in life do not always go according to the planned script. Scars remind us we made it through!  

UNSCRIPTED

Now I am sitting in the driveway with the motor running wondering what happened to my husband who just dropped red positive-A up my basement stairs all the way through my kitchen to the utility sink in the laundry room.  

With lacerated hand wrapped with one of my old favorite brown kitchen towels, my husband is lifting the deer onto our utility vehicle to bring her to the house. Fortunately we do not have far to take her since she wound up here on her own.

For situations like this, our guests do not know we have a hoisting winch hidden under our basement porch. Hanging the deer up there by its hind legs allows blood to drain out of the body while I drive my husband to the ER.

The INOVA medical center is closer to us than Winchester Hospital, so we dash off to get stiches and a splint because of this unscripted inconvenience.

Is death an unscripted inconvenience? Why do we have to “embrace” all these feelings? Gutting a deer sounds more appealing to me right now.

READY

A few hours later, a few stitches for him and a couple of glasses of red wine for me, I am ready to dress my first deer.

I have never harvested an animal for food, not even a chicken. I have cut up many animals. But I have never killed a fish, a chicken, a deer, a cow, nor a hog. That is what husbands, big brothers and older sisters are for.

One time when I was a little girl my brother Ernie said, “Watch this!” Then he started grabbing up chickens two at a time a wringing their necks. I ran into the house screaming, “Mama Mama, Ernie is killing all the chickens!”

She laughed and said, I told him to get a couple of chickens for dinner. Ernie loved our mother. All of six us children did. It was hard at the end because mama had dementia. I think we just got a little closer to understanding what other families with dementia must feel.

Since we did not get to field dress the deer before we left for the ER, now I have to gut it while it is hanging up in front of me.

My husband entrusts me with his sharp study knife. He shows me where to make a shallow slit in the skin and peel the muscle layer back to keep the hair and organs away from the meat.

After one careful slit, from top to bottom almost done. Then I admit my husband cut a hole around the deer’s private areas; there are some things I am just not ready for today.

Chris tells me, “Good job dear, you didn’t break open the stomach or intestines. And you didn’t penetrate the urine bag so it didn’t spray in your face.”

Well that’s encouraging, I try to smile back at him. He looks so proud and pleased standing there with his arm in a sling as his wife field dresses his deer.

I am thinking, he is thinking, this probably counts as one of those dates we promised each other?

After cutting the connective tissue along the backbone the entrails fall right into a five-gallon bucket. Our ancestors would have been kept that bladder for a thermos to carry water.

(Most people do not know hot-dogs and sausages are packaged in pigs’ intestines.The most interesting thing about the deer to me? The windpipe on a deer is an amazing piece of engineering by its Creator.)

Now with the entrails out, my husband gives me verbal directions on how to remove the hide and meat. Can you imagine anyone’s wife driving the car, while her husband gives her driving directions while she’s holding a sharp knife?

Needless to say, what could have taken him five minutes – yes my husband can field dress a deer in five minutes – this is taking me hours.

With the deer hide now off, we are ready to quarter and hang the major portions.

Did you know our ancestors processed deer tendon to make sewing thread? If you pound a tendon with a rock it begins to separate into a bundle of strong sewing thread you can twist into sinew cord.

I realize, this whole time I was so busy rushing to the ER and handling a sharp knife, I successfully put off mourning again.

THINKING

Chris leaves me alone with this now to work on the drive way from all the rain we have been having.

As I cut, I imagine how wonderful it would be to live in a community village like our Native American Indian ancestors; especially now! Sue and Birgit pull the hide off. Tracy and Mel get the fire ready. Glenda, Chris and Toby scrap the hide. Then Kim tans the hide for her granddaughter Amelia.

I would be in a lodge or by the creek, surrounded by my sisters Bea and Janice and all my other lady friends, nieces and aunts currently scattered in the four directions - mourning together and telling stories about our mothers.

Usually this time of season, I am in the kitchen waiting with meat grinder, jerky gun, freezer bags, food sealer and jerky recipe. Waiting for various parts of the deer to seal wrap including: two fish, two back straps or tenderloins, two shoulders and two hams.

But, now I’m standing here alone in wet boots, with a sharp knife, fresh meat and my thoughts. In my right hand along with the knife I wear my mother’s wedding rings. 

DIAGNOSIS

Dr. Tom Cloyd in an article about grief, PTSD and your brain, summarizes grief as “a variety of a feeling called distress, which is the brain’s automatic response to loss;” from minor loss (say, of your car keys) to major loss (like losing a child). Put into words, Dr. Cloyd’s continuum might look like this: distress → sadness → sorrow → grief → anguish.   

That is what I feel, anguish! And anger. Dr. Cloyd left out anger!

My husband’s hand surgeon Dr. Martin Morse in Great Falls, Va. said my husband is a “lucky mountain man.” He added that my husband can expect 30 days to a year and a half before the nerves in his hand start talking again.

Dr. Morse is a “Top Doctor” in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and explains why there is no pain in my husband’s hand. The knife cut the nerves sending the hand into shock causing the hand to go numb.

Is that what happened in my heart? I just feel numb.

I wanted to ask Dr. Morse, “Examine my heart scars too. I am sure losing a loved one is deeper than a skin laceration. When can I expect my healing to come?”

Dr. Morse said my husband is okay. I know I will be okay. Everyone goes through this right?

Life comes quickly. We cannot hit pause on loss for long. I think sharing stories helps. Taking moments to share good and bad we get closer to being in real community together.
​
If you have lost a loved one, perhaps they too would not want you to live with scars brought on by their being in your life. Rather, “celebrate their life.” I have heard that before, now I better understand what “celebrate” means.

My mother’s name was Frances. I am reading that little book marker now for the first time, the one the funeral home gives you. She was 86. She had 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. The book marker calls her “kind, humble and caring, a rock solid provider, a highly respected person of strong faith.”

Many times mama told us she dreamed about working in heaven. God gave her a job in heaven sewing angels’ wings.

Right now, her job sounds a lot better than mine.  

HEALING-HIDE

This is my new oath. I choose to participate in nature and life. I accept that sometimes things happen in life even to the most experienced people. Things in life do not always go according to our planned scripts. And I accept that wounded hearts really hurt and it is okay to cry about it.

Through sharing this story, I now have hope where I did not before. Every time I see my husband’s hand healing or my mom’s rings twinkling, these remind my heart to celebrate. And next year at our Native American Indian harvest festival (The Gathering 2017) when you see me wearing this “healing hide” may it remind us of something my mother would say, “live your life now Shug, don’t worry.”

Today is a new day. My heart will probably still hurt tomorrow. But at this moment, sharing this, I feel a little better.

The jerky is done and the steaks are in the freezer.

​

​

​
​

​

​

      U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (retired) René White is Lumbee Native American and President of the Native American Church of Virginia. She is a military veteran with 22 years active-duty military service in senior management at the unit, squadron, wing, major command, joint task force, Numbered Air Force, Headquarters Air Force and Department of Defense levels during 13 assignments and numerous overseas operations and activities.
     René has extensive skills in leading and managing people of all military branches in 14 countries (South Korea, Korean DMZ, England, South Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Germany, Italy, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Sarajevo, Turkey and USA). She has worked with people of influence fostering critical interagency partnerships including the White House, State Department, Secretary of Defense, national and international news reporters and embassies.    

ASSIGNMENTS
1.     9/2009 – 1/2011   Spokesperson, Department of Defense, Pentagon D.C.
2.     7/2007 – 9/2009   Director, PA Seventh Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
3.     7/2004 – 7/2007   Chief, PA Joint Advertising, Market Research & Studies, Arlington VA
4.     12/2002 – 7/2004        Chief, Intellectual Properties Manager (Branding Program), Pentagon DC - Gained Air Force approval for first official symbol of the U.S. Air Force
5.     1/2002 – 12/2002        Staff Officer, Special PA Projects, Pentagon DC
6.     6/2001 – 1/2002   Air Force PA Communications Officer, Pentagon DC
7.     1/2000 – 6/2001   Deputy, PA Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, Camp Smith HI
8.     8/1998 – 1/2000   Chief, PA, Hickam AFB HI
9.     1/1996 – 8/1998   Chief, PA Programs, AF Materiel Command, Wright Patterson AFB OH
10. 4/1996 – 11/1996        Deputy, Community Relations, Wright Patterson AFB OH
11. 3/1993 – 4/1996   Officer, Media Relations/Strategic Communications, Army/Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas TX
12. 2/1992 – 3/1993   Director, TV Producer/Dir., 436th Strategic Training Squadron, Fort Worth TX
13. 9/1989 – 2/1992   Director, TV Producer/Dir., 1365th Audiovisual Squadron, Fort Worth TX

MILITARY EDUCATION

• 2001 Masters of Arts in Diplomacy & Military Studies, Hawaii Pacific University HI
  Numerous courses/conferences related to Public Relations & Strategic Marketing
• 2003 DoD Contracting Officer’s Course, Arlington VA
• 2002 Air Command and Staff College, correspondence
• 2001 Advanced PA Course, Pentagon DC
• 1998 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB AL
• 1998 Defense Information School, Fort Meade MD
• 1997 Joint Contingency Planning Course, Maxwell AFB AL
• 1996 PA Officer Qualification Course, ID
• 1989 – 1993 Combat Camera Training, CA and TX
• 1988 Bachelor of Science Mathematics, UNC-P
• 1987 Bachelor of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, University of NC at Pembroke
  

JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.     2004 – 2007 Conducted operations in South Africa and England as Major.
2.     2000 – 2001 Supported JTF-FA activities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos as Major
3.     1996 – 1998 Chief, PA OPERATION North. Watch, Incirlik AB Turkey as Captain
4.     1993 Chief, PA OPERATION Provide Promise, Naples Italy, supporting operations in Croatia, Sarajevo, Macedonia and Germany as Captain

MILITARY AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

• Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak left cluster
• Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak left clusters
• Korean Defense Service Medal
• Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
• National Defense Service Medal with service star
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Armed Forces Service Medal
• Department of Defense Badge
• HQ Air Force Badge
• U.S. Pacific Command Badge
• Joint Meritorious Unit with three oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
• Organizational Excellence Award with two oak left clusters
• Air Force F Overseas Ribbon Short
• Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
• AF Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters
• Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol) with service star (M-16)
• Air Force Training Ribbon

Verity Vareé is a Virgina based-company for women, by women. Their unique Reveal process and articles promote a message of truth about beauty through stories and experiences of the women they interview, the writers they use and the images they post.
   This month (January 2016) Vv features René White (Feather) Native American Church Sanctuary on the Trail™ president. René is also the executive director of The Gathering cultural festival held at the Clarke County fairgrounds attended by close to 5,000 people from around the globe in 2015.

   We endeavor to bring the kind of authentic, welcoming community we believe in to life, said Emily Dean, Vv founder. "Our Blog features writers with full hearts, captivating words of truth, and encouraging stories."
   Vv offers Life Coaching in order to spur others on toward the kind of lives people want to live; cultivating beauty, and chasing goals with fervor and command.
   Emily is a guest speaker who shares the message of Vv boldly and proudly wherever she is invited.
   More online at:  "Live Verity Vareé"

    Our goal at the Native American Church with Vv is to offer affordable weddings from 2016 - 2017 as a fundraiser for The Gathering 2017. We encourage our brides to meet with Emily for Life Coaching and consider revealing their story to their groom, family and friends.
    "The more we know about each other the more we realize we are all related," said René.