Chief apologizes for CFO's slurs

Interesting twist on the CFO Leaves Racist Phone Message story from last week:

Sault chief apologizes for racial slurs

By Susan FieldIn response to racial slurs made by a member of his tribe, a Native American chief has apologized to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in Mt. Pleasant.

Chief Aaron Payment of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, confirmed that ACD.net chief financial officer Kirk Shewchuck is a member of his tribe and has expressed apologies for the “irresponsible statements” made by Shewchuck accidentally in a voice mail after he apparently thought he disconnected a call to a Tribal department in May.But Shewchuck wasn't alone:Last week, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief Steve Pego declined to meet with senior management of ACD.net to discuss the message, which included statements from more than one person, calling Natives “redmen” and “f**king Indians.”

Tribal leaders refused to honor the request after learning that several key executives with the company were allegedly talking in the phone message, Cloutier said.Comment:  Since several people were involved, Shewchuck's heritage isn't exactly relevant. But it's certainly a curious development. It sounds like a classic case of internalized racism to me.