She was just getting settled on her second day as tribal administrator for the Washoe Tribe when Kerry was first confronted.
"Oh, my God, you're white," a Washoe woman said when she walked into Kerry's office, according to Kerry. "You won't last long."
That was her first indication that her dream job would become her worst nightmare, she said.
After three months of alleged verbal abuse, being spit on and threatened, Kerry was fired without notice.
12 comments:
Writerfellahere --
OMG, what a one-sided article! WHAT did Kerry accomplish or fail to accomplish while she occupied her position with the tribe? Race enters the picture totally from the standpoint that the woman was terminated, period. NOTHING ever is that simple! If she is completely the innocent in the matter, then she most definitely has a case. But if she was not the naif that she indicates, then all bets are off. Interesting that almost NOTHING of her character and/or performance was brought to bear in the reportage. Whatever jury is presented with her case is going to want to hear a lot more than that with which we were presented here...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Regardless of Kerry's job performance, she has a legitimate case if she was attacked. Read again what she alleges:
Kerry claims she began uncovering several apparent misappropriations of funds. When she began addressing the discrepancies and holding workers accountable for missing money, she was threatened, spit on and verbally abused, she said.
The complaint claims "Ms. Kerry was forced to endure several humiliating meetings in which members expressed their beliefs that 'white people' should not work for the tribe, and that there was no place in the tribe for a 'white woman.'"
Writerfella here --
Attacked? 'Attack' in legal circles means physical assault, even injury and mayhem. The article says she claims to have been spat upon but names no instances or perpetrators. And certainly vituperation is not physical assault. The tribe would be wise to push for a full trial and, bet you crullers to Euros, she will push for a settlement...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
I doubt your opinion on what "attack" means in "legal circles." And it's irrelevant since I wasn't using the word in a legal sense.
Kerry claims she was attacked verbally and physically. As the article notes, "The tribe is primarily funded by the federal government and is obligated to provide equal opportunities in the workplace, requiring fair treatment of applicants and employees without regard to political affiliation, family ties, age, race, color, national origin, sex or religious creed."
Writerfella here --
According to you, then, the headlines should read, "White Woman Suffers Indian Attack!" That sounds more like a historical sense rather than a legal sense...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Yes, that would be a catchy headline for the article. Since it's reasonably accurate (the attacks are only alleged, of course), I wouldn't include it as a stereotype in my monthly contest.
a much better article on the subject appeared the other day
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/DOUGLAS/803210451/1322
"Tribes" in general allow non-indian/native employees to experience the worse kind of discrimination that so many others experienced in the 60s.
~Don
It's not so much about her case as it is all legal issues between tribes and others, slip-n-fall cases in a casino (I had one of those) and the Tribes treat you like crap. I hope she goes to trial, bring these issue n the open
The original article had a better list of Kerry's grievances, but the RGJ article had a better analysis of the legal issues. Apparently the tribe doesn't have to follow federal laws after all. Here's a key passage:
Kerry first filed a grievance with the Washoe Tribe, after which she testified before a personnel board made up of Washoes and Washoe elders. Although Kerry received support and acknowledgement of her claims, she was denied compensation at every level.
"They were loving," she said. "One of them said 'there's no doubt that my findings are you were discriminated against for both gender and race'. Several others apologized. It was honorable for them and I admire them for having the courage to be humans. But they found no discriminatory practices (in the hearing)."
The Washoe Tribe, funded primarily with federal monies, does not have to abide by federal employment practices which require them to act without regard to political affiliation, family ties, age, race, color, national origin, sex or religious creed. However, the tribe has adopted the equal opportunities practice in its employee handbook and procedures.
There is more to this than meets the eye. Some might want to look into her history, especially personal. The tribe could find quite a bit of ammunition against her if they did. She is not the sweetness and light she portrays. Do some digging and searching and you will find out...
didn't the tribe KNOW she was white when they hired her? then they fire her for discrim for being white? makes no sense folks.
maybe she just thought of a good way to make some cash since her house in San Diego is in foreclosure and all. her blog says she moved here for a man not a job http://lifewithhowie.blogspot.com
she sure did move here for him according to her own words-job was secondary- i dont know how they treated her so i have no opinion. i just hope the jury has all the facts from. no one should be abused, but also no one should cry abuse just for money
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