On his first full day as principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, October 6, Patrick Lambert had delivered, by members of the Cherokee Police Department, letters informing six employees their positions had been “negatively impacted” by a reorganization, meaning their services no longer were needed. Eight others were informed they would be transferred.
Among those receiving termination letters was former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, who had served three terms as chief before being hired as tribal council director. “This is no way to do tribal business. This is not the Cherokee way,” Hicks said. Lambert also introduced a resolution to remove all three gaming commissioners, who had hired Hicks with the tribal council’s approval.
Lambert said his actions were approved by the EBCI Human Resources Department, and were lawfully executed. He noted, “There have been eight people who have been transferred to other positions, but they are still employed. I have text messages that says that they have stepped on people long enough. I got elected to make change happen and that is what I fully intend to do. We are going to start being accountable to our people. I have been elected to bring true transparency to the government, and that is what I fully intend to do. This is going to cause a little disruption and we are going to go down that road, and we are going to stand strong and firm in this position because that is what a Principal Chief does. He does not turn a blind eye; does not allow this lack of accountability to go on; doesn’t all these things to take place.”
Lambert offered to meet with each letter recipient to discuss the situation. . “Three of them have already. I think they’re more satisfied than they were,” he said. In addition, on October 8, the tribal Council called a session to hear letter recipients’ concerns. Lambert and Vice Chief Richie Sneed also attended. Several speakers blamed Lambert’s actions on politics, but he denied the accusation. He said those who were transferred know the reasons why, and the six whose positions were eliminated were deputy-level employees who typically are removed with a new administration. Lambert added he simply was carrying out the will of the 71 percent of voters who elected him. “Quite frankly, the actions I’m taking are about transparency and doing what the people are asking for,” Lambert said.
He also added he’s removing TVs from tribal offices and requiring all telephones be answered and all desks occupied. “The work from home mentality is over with,” he said. Lambert also said he has ordered forensic audits of multiple departments. “There have been some crimes committed, and I fully intend to pursue this,” he stated.
Also in attendance Hicks, who told Lambert and Sneed, “This bloodshed right now is on your back also, because that’s what it is, bloodshed.”
Jason Lambert, who was terminated as the tribe’s director of commerce, said Lambert’s procedures violated tribal codes that require employees be given two weeks’ notice and a chance to transfer to a job at the same pay grade or higher. “The letter that was delivered to me from Principal Chief Patrick H. Lambert desecrated tribal law and the established processes. There are at least seven points of defiance of this tribal law,” Jason Lambert said.
In response, Lambert noted another section of tribal law which gives the principal chief the authority to “maintain and revise as necessary” the tribe’s organizational structure. “I’m changing the structure of the tribe in terms of lines of reporting authority, making it more accountable, more streamlined, more efficient. I understand the people here today are upset about things, but as I stated earlier there’s certain things that happened in these jobs that they understand. The people elected me to make these changes,” Lambert said. He added terminated employees will receive two weeks’ pay.
Council members sympathized with the letter recipients. Vice Chair Brandon Jones said, “I think it went too far on too many levels, and I can’t help but think and in my heart believe that some of this was political payback.” Chairman Bill Taylor said more discussion was needed and that the tribal council may seek legal advice.
Still, Lambert has widespread support from tribal members. For example, Lea Wolf, who runs the Cherokee Facebook group Tsa-La-Gi Voice, said, “Several of the affected workers were not professional in doing their jobs. Phone calls were not returned, attitudes and unprofessionalism were at the top of that list. My personal opinion is they didn’t just get kicked out in the cold. He did offer another job.”
Lambert served as executive director of the tribal gaming commission for 22 years, before resigning in January to run for chief.
