An Open Letter to the Man Who Is Ruining Our Tribe

Principle Chief Patrick Lambert,

                  I was thinking about how I was going to write this without continuously deeming you offensive things, and typing in all caps to indicate me screaming at you. I figured out that that’s pretty much impossible, so let’s just lay it all out on the table. You are the most conniving, evil, two-faced, cowardly, wicked, DICTATIVE, and hateful person I’ve ever known. I’m a strong believer in never tossing around the word “hate”, but I genuinely hate your existence.

Let’s just begin with how your Facebook page appears. If I didn’t truly know you, you may have had me fooled by your Facebook page. In this cyber world, you seem so caring, genuine, successful, and kind. Your posts are filled with a lot of gloating about yourself about how much you have achieved since you were sworn in as chief, a video of you and your wife wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and talking about Jesus’ birth. However, when it comes to addressing the 30+ people you have fired for absolutely no logical reason, you title that as “many changes we are going through”. Too bad I know who you truly are, and your sickening Facebook page cannot fool me.

Second, let’s address a time during pre-general election. The candidate I was hoping to be elected, a truly strong, wise, and kind person, Tunney Crowe, began to make everyone aware that you have had a “political agenda”, also known as “hit list”. He spread the word that you planned to fire many people if you were elected, promising their jobs to others as part of your political tactics. In response to this, you mailed out a letter to most enrolled members if I am correct, stating that Tunney’s statement was not true in any way, and that you did not have a malicious plan such as that.

Wow! First day in office and you had your puppets deliver “extermination” papers to over 30 innocent people, not to mention a husband and wife with three small children to provide for, along with many others with familes. After the election, former Chief Hicks went peacefully, and began his new job, which happens to be your old job. You had policemen serve papers stating that he was fired, and had him escorted out of his new office. All for what? So you could get “political revenge?” So that you could publically embarrass him? Does that help you sleep at night? Quite frankly, I don’t know how you could sleep at night, knowing how many people you left, and continue to leave, unemployed and broken.

Though my family expected this of you, I still overflowed with rage when I received a tear-filled phone call about you firing my Dad. I sit here, overwhelmed with anger and sadness. You fired a man of integrity-- the most hardworking, smart, honest, loyal, dedicated, and reliable man. You will never find somebody to replace my Dad with as big of a heart as his. My Dad did his job at the Housing Division with his whole heart, and helped his service area, and outsiders, in any way he could, any time of the day or night. Who does this make a fool out of? Hint: not my Dad.

A few days later, and you are attempting to attack my Mother. I’m sure it kills you knowing that the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority is not under the Tribe, therefore, you cannot just heartlessly fire her as well. So you attack her in other small, childish ways. Attempting to make her give up her well-earned seat on the TCGE board, kicking her out of her office because it’s in a tribal building. I imagine you will continue to attack CIHA until they are surrendering to your dictator-like actions. Again, who does this make a fool out of? Another hint: not my Mom.

You are not a leader. You are a dictator. A leader works WITH their Tribe, not against it. Unfortunately, I bear some bad news. You will not get away with all of these horrible actions, because one day, it’s going to catch up with you.

A worthless person, a wicked man,

    goes about with crooked speech,

winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

    points with his finger, 

with perverted heart devises evil,

    continually sowing discord;

therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

There are six things that the Lord hates,

    seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

    and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

    feet that make haste to run to evil,

a false witness who breathes out lies,

    and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 6:13-19

Good always prevails, and evil always falls. You have caused so much hurt in many families, including mine. It’s still appalling to me how you can go about your daily life, pretending to be someone that you are not. I’m wondering how you can sleep at night with such a wicked heart. I know that I, nor my parents, will stoop to your pitiful level.

Still I Rise,

A Young and Concerned Tribal Member