Citizen-Times publishes major load of crap

I don't think anything highlights the glaring absence of Native Americans in the upper management of the Asheville Citizen-Times than this load of fertilizer they published April 5. In fact it shows a lack of Native Americans in the staff period (or at least turning a deaf ear to any they do have on staff).
A call to the Eastern Band of Cherokee or to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma or the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee in Oklahoma would've told the Citizen-Times that there is no such tribe as the Western Band Cherokee of Missouri, and that this is just a typical snake oil and medicine show.
George Benge, the last Native American executive editor at the Citizen-Times would've never allowed this garbage to be published, at least not without calling BS on it.

Wow One Feather, Wow

While I still haven't yet seen the print edition, for which a PDF version is downloadable on its website, so far nothing has been posted on the One Feather's website about who has filed to run for office this year.
I don't blame Scott. He actually was on vacation, and the editor is the one who's responsible for news coverage anyway, which leaves guess who. It's an election year, and the chief and vice chief's offices, along with Tribal Council are up for grabs. Yeah, that's news.

Dora Reed to Face Closure

While I find it ironic that the agency that investigated allegations, including improper supervision, abuse and neglect at Dora Reed Childcare in Cherokee, a tribally-run preschool, is allegedly, partly responsible for the death of a 15-month-old, I have to say I'm glad some kind of action was taken in the case of this center. For years I've heard complaints from parents and former staffers about this facility, along these very same lines outlined in the notice of license revocation.
Plus, in my removal as editor of the One Feather, it was a job at this center for which I was transferred, and it was a job for which I was competed unqualified. It kind of lets you know where the tribe's leadership stands as far as the quality of supervision at this center. That's not to mention that a child molester once worked at that center in its language immersion program.
WLOS reported that Chief Hicks was in Raleigh this morning to try to negotiate keeping the center open. Uh, how about we address the serious problems immediately before going to Raleigh to berate state officials who were just doing their jobs, which most of us who know the chief know that's his preferred negotiating tactic?
Yes, I understand the need parents have in having affordable, available child care. I am a parent after all. But I'll be damned if I'm going to put my son in a facility where he could be subject to neglect and abuse. Fix those problems first chief. The welfare of the children take greater precedence than a convenience.

The Whole DSS Situation in Swain County is Outrageous

If you haven't been keeping up the huge screw up by Swain County's Department of Social Services, here it is in a nutshell. A 15-month-old girl died after being left in a car seat for 12 hours on January 10. She had only been given bites of a hotdog to eat and sips of soda. Her diaper was soaked with urine and feces.
Swain County's DSS placed the girl with a great aunt after her mother was arrested on drug charges. DSS allegedly covered up evidence of abuse, and when things came to light, the department acted by responding with slaps on wrists, certainly not the firings and possible criminal charges that should've resulted. Thank you Swain County Commissioners for asking the entire board to resign. I'm glad somebody acted.
The girl was an Eastern Band tribal member, and I can only draw from the DSS' lack of action that the lives of Native American children just aren't worth that much to them. Am I wrong? Then can you honestly say that had this happened to a white child that the same lack of action would've occurred? I think not.

The Chief's Facebook Page

Of course Michell Hicks isn't the only Principal Chief candidate who has a Facebook page. Juanita Wilson also has one. He is however the only candidate who has the control of the media in Cherokee to the degree that he does, which puts the others at a disadvantage. Patrick Lambert won't be getting all the happy stories in the One Feather about his accomplishments, nor will Wilson. But Chief Hicks enjoys all the happy fluffy propaganda pieces at his disposal through that paper, particularly now that an editor with no journalism background has been hired who likely won't question anything that could pose a conflict of interest.
Most of the "accomplishments" listed are those published in media that he controls. Also interesting to note, the number of non-tribal members who think Michell Hicks is wonderful. That goes for the non Indian media as well (Two executive editors for the Asheville Citizen-Times have told me that they were very impressed with Hicks.).
What really matters in the end is what the tribal members think. From what I'm hearing from tribal members, Michell Hicks is wasting his time and money running for reelection.

New News Outlet Offers Choice

Carolina Public Press is news outlet in the area seeking to get the untold stories told. When it comes to western North Carolina news coverage by the Asheville Citizen-Times west of Waynesville, we may as well not exist.
Needless to say, their coverage of Cherokee has a lot to be desired. The only time I see news from the tribe is when it involves the casino or some puff piece. I haven't seen a truly investigative piece on the tribal government in years. When the tribal investment committee lost $60 million of the children's money, nothing. Questionable credit card charges? Nothing. Tribal Council members endorsing a convicted rapist for elected office? Nothing.
The fact they ignored stories like this while showing Chief Hicks happily opening a golf course (that's clearly destined for failure), is cause for concern during an election year. There is no independent press covering the tribe.
So the idea of Carolina Public Press is refreshing. As for the Citizen-Times, start covering western North Carolina an the tribe more in depth, or lose your "Voice of the mountains" motto.

Anti Governor Protests in Wisconsin Are an All-Too-Familiar Scenario

Anyone who's been keeping up with union-led protests of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker knows that the whole stalemate evolves around the governor's efforts to deny state employees the right to collectively bargain.
Wow. When the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed a law to do the same thing for tribal employees through Ordinance 211 in 2002, not a single tribal employee stood up or voiced any opposition, aside from me through an editorial in the One Feather. Then Cherokee County/Snowbird Rep. Brenda Norville was the only council member to vote against it, citing employee rights.
The excuse tribal lawyers offered for passing this terrible legislation was that unions interfere with tribal sovereignty. That's crap. The issue was and still is fear of tribal member employees who may start demanding such silly things such as job security before and after elections, the right to recall elected officials, abandoning the sovereign immunity defense when tribal members sue the tribe and removal of the chief and vice chief from the hiring and firing process.
The prospect of workers are losing their rights should be frightening. It's happening at a much quicker pace for tribal employees.
I have mixed feelings about unions, but while some may have contempt for unions, the fact is those unions would be nothing without their members, each of whom has inherent civil rights. Union membership at any employer should be a personal choice of each employee. The problem is with Ordinance 211, as will be if Gov. Walker gets his way, is that choice is being taken away from them.
The First Amendment, which does apply on Indian reservations, provides for the right to peaceably assemble and to petition for redress of grievances. And laws such as Ordinance 211 and what Gov. Walker is proposing are a clear cut violation of this right. Our current leadership hasn't expressed any interest whatsoever in changing that.
No one gives up this right, nor any other rights upon accepting employment. Gov. Walker's proposal needs to fail, and the tribe's Ordinance 211 needs to be rescinded.