With tribal governments making charges of racism against anyone who questions
their actions, holding them accountable comes hard. Which, of course, is the
reason tribal governments play the race card with such reckless abandon.
After
many years of dealing with tribal governments, I have come to the conclusion
that entities that pull some of the shenanigans they do can't be very bright. So
who is pulling their strings, teaching them how to play the race card with such
lethal efficiency? The answer can be found in the 1970s American Indian Movement
(AIM).
At
the height of the AIM heyday, the FBI sent agents to infiltrate AIM. One goal
was to "bad jacket" leaders to lessen their effectiveness. The agent
would accuse the leader of being an FBI informant, making AIM members suspicious
of them, and terminating their credibility. Tribal governments are using the
same technique of "bad jacketing" CERA members by calling them "racist."
It
is unfortunate that CERA members must endure such labeling. It is cruel and
hurts on a personal level. Just like that earlier bad jacketing, it makes people
suspicious of us and hurts our credibility. But it is also a favorable report
card for us. If we were not considered effective by federal and tribal
governments, we would not be "bad jacketed" by the label of racist.
Let's
keep doing what we are doing. Recognize their actions for what they are--confirmation
of our effectiveness.