I was recently the subject of Holly Butler's/Civil Rights for Wind River's run down of the next Northern Arapaho General Council's meeting, and what was said about me was, well...enlightening? I didn't realize that Ms. Butler and Ms. Hodge thought they knew so much about me. Isn't it always surprising when you find out you're the subject of assumptive gossip?
Anyway, I commented on their Facebook wall in my defense, but it wasn't long before they blocked me and of course with that, the comment went away. Fortunately, I kept the comment. Here it is below:
"Respectfully...my agenda item is about the tribe being prepared for the upcoming wildfire season and disasters in general. As the Community Partnership Lead for the Red Cross, which is a global humanitarian organization, FEMA and first responders work together with Harvey Spoonhunter, who did a great job with the recent flood plain workshop with the Army Corps of Engineers. And yes, I will touch on the structures that are already in place both on the tribal and local, county/FEMA sides when it comes to emergencies and disasters. I'm not trying to take anyone's job, I have no intention of ever taking anyone's job; I already have one...and a recent event with the Red Cross has shown that many tribal members may be quite ill-prepared for a mass casualty/mass mortality event. I would appreciate it very much if folks would stop assuming things about me as if I have ulterior motives/agendas. Very slanted viewpoint about me and an important topic. And the picture with Harriet Hageman? Makes everyone assume that I support her or chummy with her. I am most certainly not. That photo was taken as a recipient of the Stars of Life award I received, and there were photos taken with all three of the legislators I had time to visit with in Washington DC, and we were discussing the critical need for ambulance services across the nation. If you are so dismissive about an important issue as emergency preparedness, perhaps you wouldn't be, should a wildfire rip through the reservation. Thank you for listening."
Their discourse continued about the whole debacle with MMIP Wind River and the misinformation that circulated about how I 'took it away' from Nicole Wagon. For the record, I did not take MMIP Wind River away from her. The facts are: Ms. Wagon and the rest of her group kicked me out of MMIP, and wrote a certified letter to me that threatened that, if I didn't hand over the website and Facebook page, she would take legal action against me. She did, in fact, file a police report (which went nowhere). You can read "Regarding MMIP Wind River..." on the blog site. Additionally, Ms. Wagon did this during a time when I was crippled from a slip and fall accident, and was going blind in both eyes.
How soon Ms. Wagon forgets how much others and myself volunteered time to help her with her speeches, campaigns and marches. And instead of civilly approaching me with any questions or concerns, she chose to bully and threaten me. I haven't been a part of her last two marches because I'm not going to go where I am not wanted and create undue tension. It has been abundantly clear that she does not want to work with me. So, for the past two years, I have taken MMIP Wind River in the direction of pro-prevention, education, and outreach for victims and survivors of domestic violence, assault, abuse, suicide, and trafficking...the root causes of MMIP. Ms. Wagon does her thing; I do mine. As I believe what we both do is important for the MMIP cause, I am saddened that her choice to kick me out of her group still has a lasting effect on folks. I don't even know how much mudslinging has gone on behind my back, but the continuation of it publicly is enough to warrant my response.
My focus has been on community outreach and education, and ways that we can help our tribe. I have no agenda, no ulterior motives. I support Harvey Spoonhunter and desire to help him improve the existing systems for emergency management and response. I'm a volunteer for the Red Cross, and Frontier Ambulance has an awesome partnership with the Red Cross of Wyoming. I sit on the State DUI Task Force, the Suicide Prevention Task Force, and a local trafficking task force is being formed with UprisingWyo. I'm happy where I am, helping people wherever and whenever I can, and have enough on my plate with all of the issues that plague both our county and tribe...why would anyone even think that I'd be vying for someone else's job? And besides, wasn't it Ms. Wagon who nominated Sunny Goggles for Tribal Chairperson...and now you slam her as well? And then you block me from your Facebook page because I commented in self-defense?
So, Ms. Butler, exactly who is it that "can't be trusted"? What viable reason, or what did I ever do or say that made you come to that conclusion? If CRWR were actually as 'civil' as they claim, perhaps it would have been more prudent for you to get the facts before slamming me and my character in front of your audience. Taking the higher road means you don't bully and threaten. Taking the higher road would be about not kicking someone when they're down. Taking the higher road is that you don't assume something about someone that is totally untrue. Taking the higher road would be about not spreading false narratives, misinformation, or misguided opinions in order to further smear someone in public. Ms. Wagon's agenda items has to do with Election Judges. If my experience with her and how she treated me re: MMIP was wrought with threats, gossip, and character slamming...how is anyone supposed to know how to make any kind of educated vote, and furthermore, even really know that what she proposes is actually in the best interests of the tribe or not?
And, let's be honest: That wasn't the only photo you could find of me. That was purposely selected to make it look like I was some right-winger that cozies up to Hageman. Nice try, but the fact is, those who actually know me, know that I am a moderate, neither left nor right. Doesn't make me apathetic; it just allows me to do my own thinking instead of allowing the partisan extremism affect my judgement when it comes to the truth/facts. Your portrayal and opinions of me might fall within the convenient disclaimer you post up at the beginning of your podcast, but I sure hope folks are smart enough to decide for themselves and not allow you to do their thinking for them. It only perpetuates the already deep divides that troubles our tribe.
Ms. Butler, you don't know me. There are many sides to a story. You failed to get mine. That has been the theme of the entire nation's political climate lately, and it's sad when people get sucked into it. The gridlock is real. I've met very good people and also some downright mean people in my tribe, and the division between families and relatives has always been a problem. I try not to focus too much on that (and believe me, it's tough)! But folks who criticize and smear those who are only trying to help make things better in their tribe or community just makes it that more difficult for any kind of progress to happen.
Be better, not bitter.
Carol Harper
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