Most of what Lynne Harlan writes for the Asheville Citizen-Times are just uninspiring displays about her knowledge of Cherokee culture. Occasionally, though she writes a piece showcasing the wondrous works of tribal government in ways that would make Leni Riefenstahl beam with pride. Such as it is with her latest piece in the Dec. 5 edition. From reading that one would think everything's just wonderful for the Eastern Band of Cherokee. No mention was made of the casino not meeting projections. Nor did she mention staff reductions at the casino or reduction in forces through attrition.
She just mentioned what a boon it is when the tribe gets per capita payments. It's doubtful that she'd mention that the under-the-table loss of jobs at the casino is so that profits will continue, and tribal politicians and the casino's top management can save face. Exchanging per capita payments for jobs is not helping the economy. Nor does it help the economy when so many tribal members use per capita for living expenses, and that number is going to grow.
The tribe is going to be impacted by the economy. It's not like it was during the Great Depression when the tribe was poor to begin with. Businesses that pay tribal levy are already being hit, hard, and it's going to be a given that in addition to reductions in per capita, we can also see reductions in tribal levy resulting in less resources for tribal programs.
Here's the Citizen-Times' bio on Harlan: "member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, works as a freelance writer, curator and tribal historian." Here's what the Citizen-Times fails to mention. She's tribal government's Public Relations Coordinator. She gets paid to make tribal officials look good and give a rose colored view of life on tribal land. The Citizen-Times should take that into account when she writes these "Triumph of the Will" pieces. These aren't just the opinions of some random tribal member rejoicing in the quality of life on tribal land, which actually has been steadily declining since Principal Chief Michell Hicks first took office. This is Harlan's job, and it doesn't reflect the views of the whole nor does it give an accurate view of reality.
2 comments:
Apt mention of Leni Riefenstahl. When I pick up my check, the last thing I tend to think of is the "Christmas spirit". More likely, I'm pondering how our tribal leaders have cleverly made us as a people more and more dependent on them and this check to live our lives. As you state, now far too many people depend on these checks, signed by our esteemed leaders, for their livelihoods. When you create a mass of people dependent on the government leaders for their livelihoods, that's communism. And we know what every single communist regime that has ever been attempted throughout the last two hundred years has lead to--utter, and often times brutal, repression, and a people who are not free. The abuse of per capita by the thugs who run tribal government is serving only to further enslave the people.
Speaking of communism, watch how much land the tribe keeps acquiring from tribal members. It's of great concern to me. If the tribe becomes the sole possessory holder, we will have achieved 100% communism.
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