Research - Research Specialist Chickasaw Nation Employee Review

Tribal government hiring preference to tribal citizens

If you’re not a tribal citizen, you have no leverage in hiring process

Co-workers are fantastic and generally positive. Until you get to the management...(see cons)

If you are a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, you essentially have to sign away your right to free speech. The culture has become a product to sell and the government originally designed for the people has quietly become an oppressor. Speaking out against your elected officials puts your job and livelihood at risk. There are not many places to work and support yourself and/or family. The Chickasaw Nation recognizes this, and uses that power to quietly strongarm it's citizens into silence. Employees/citizens mental health suffer greatly due to the stress and depression created from this. I've seen coworkers in the hospital taking care of their sick children who are in ICU still sent emails reminding (warning) them about how much leave they have and to be mindful of it. We are not allowed to do anything regarding our culture (even off hours) in the public eye or privately without risk of being reprimanded at our work. Every post, comment, etc. we make online is monitored and controlled with threats of disciplinary actions. Employees are unjustly fired or targeted and subjugated to harassment and bullying until they quit or management were able to fabricate excuses for termination. Citizens who work for the nation are black balled from their own cultural activities and as a whole if they have or express disagreements in any form with management on any level. Many workers work overtime, but timesheets are changed and modified so they do not have to pay OT. Employees are consistently taken advantage of with absolutely zero regard to their mental well-being or humanity in all. Because of the tribes sovereignty status, there is no true and reliable method for workers to combat the oppression. The public relations team is tasked with monitoring all online mentions of the Chickasaw Nation and countering any negativity in whatever way possible. When negative reviews are posted their team makes accounts and begins posting positive reviews as a way to counter and negate the negative ones. We may be a sovereign nation, but we are not a free one.