Arapaho Voice: Intimidation Tactics

The following was spoken at the Northern Arapaho General Council on Saturday, September 14th in regard to and supportive of the termination of Wind River Casino General Manager Patrick Leckrone.

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My name is Carol Harper, and I am here to speak today regarding intimidation tactics used by the General Manager of the Wind River Casino Patrick Leckrone against myself.

I have not been an employee of the casino. This happened when I was a reporter and writer for County 10.

A year ago, Will Hill, CEO of County 10, was called into a private meeting by Mr. Leckrone and other members who were what Mr. Hill assumed to be the NABC and/or other casino management.

Mr. Leckrone proceeded to hand an ultimatum to Mr. Hill, saying that if he did not fire me, that they would pull all of their advertising from County 10. The reason for the ultimatum was because I spoke out in a Riverton City Council meeting, and they did not like what I said.

But I was not an employee of County 10; I was a contracted writer.

Regardless of the ultimatum, Mr. Hill was not intimidated by Mr. Leckrone's mafia-like tactics. He told them, "Then I guess you will have to pull your advertising."

I am a tribal member, a Riverton resident, and a U.S. citizen. I was not speaking on behalf of anyone but myself at that meeting, and as a U.S. citizen, I have a right to assemble before my local government for a redress of grievances.

Any business - whether it's a casino or news media - is not successful unless they value their employees. They are the ones that make the business successful, and how you treat them makes all the difference.

Mr. Hill and County 10 have treated me with the utmost respect and integrity, and it has been my pleasure to write for them. He could see that I was being crookedly targeted...his morals and ethics stood firm that day, and I am grateful for it.

Additionally, I would question the practice of pulling advertising from one of Fremont County's major news media companies, simply because Mr. Hill wouldn't play the game.

Intimidation is a form of bullying, and it is not a way to build a healthy tribal economy and community, yet it is rampant throughout. Bullying doesn't just hurt the person being bullied; it hurts the entire tribe, causes division, and leads to more serious problems, including death.

If intimidation and ultimatums are the practices of Mr. Leckrone, then I suppose we should choose whether we want his lack of morals and ethics to continue under his management.

Thank you

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Carol "Sweet Singing Woman" Harper