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Don Stevens Resigns as VCNAA Chairman |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 05 May 2009 |
Breaking News
Don Stevens Resigns as VCNAA Chairman
Dear Governor Douglas,
As you are aware, I have been on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs since its inception. During the first term on the commission, the tribes were in direct conflict with some members of the commission which caused a lot of tension within the Native Community. As a commission, we became ineffective and unable to carry out our charge effectively due to these conflicts. Subsequently, the former chairman and other members resigned or left office due to this inability to move our people forward. Unfortunately, many of those same conflicts carried over to this term of the commission when reappointments were made. Even though there was this tension, I had hoped that we could come together as a group for the betterment of our Native people.
When you appointed me a Chairman, my agenda was to bring together the Native peoples of Vermont to work toward common goals like education, celebrating our heritage and to also work on other critical items such as unmarked burial laws and recognition. However, what has happened is quite the opposite. I have been unable to bring the tribes into a working relationship with the commission and I have also been unable to get all the commission members to work together with the Vermont tribal leaders. There are too many personal conflicts to overcome all of the challenges needed to be a successful commission at this time. Until changes are made by your office, our Native people will continue to suffer this continuing conflict. Now that this legislative session is almost over, effective immediately, I am making the first change by resigning as Chair.
I find that I can make more of a difference within our Vermont Native American community by removing myself from the constant conflict and work directly with the Native Community, the State of Vermont and the Tribal leaderships to move our people forward. It is with a heavy heart that I must send you this resignation letter. I have thought long and hard on this decision and it was not an easy decision for me to make. I do not give up easily and there are still some good people on the commission. I understand by leaving, you could unknowingly appoint a person as chair that might work against our tribes, potentially causing harm to our Vermont native population. I hope that you take the time to really listen to Native leadership and their concerns. Until you do this, there will never be an effective line of communication between the Native people of Vermont and the Vermont State Government.
Sincerely,
Don Stevens
“Chairman” |
