General Manager Angie Blackwell is leaving

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

General Manager Angie Blackwell announced Thursday, March 27, that she was leaving her position.

“I want you all to know that I have appreciated the work we’ve done together over the past year,” Blackwell wrote in an email to employees. “Thank you for welcoming me into your departments and programs. I’ve enjoyed learning about your work and I admire your dedication to this community. There are so many things left to do and I’m excited to follow your progress from afar.”

She added that “I’m leaving with dignity and self-respect, just as I have conducted myself and treated others over the past 10 years. I wish you all well.”

Blackwell told Smoke Signals that her departure “wasn’t my decision.”

Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy released a statement saying that, “We have appreciated working with Angie over the past year as the Tribe’s general manager and wish her the best in her future endeavors. Bryan Langley will be stepping into the general manager role in the interim.”

Kennedy added “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of each and every member of our team and our staff. Working together, we will continue to bring services to our members and move our Tribe forward.”

Tribal Communications Director Sara Thompson declined to say whether Tribal Council had voted to terminate Blackwell’s contract.

“This is an employment related issue and we are not able to comment beyond the statement that Cheryle issued,” she said.

Several employees, who are also Tribal members, wrote emails in support of Blackwell, quoted below with their permission.  

“I’m sad to see you go,” Tribal 477/Employment & Training Specialist Tiny Gibbons wrote. “I can say that you are a Tribal member in every sense of what that means. Your family is a good family and I will say that I wish you well and many prayers over you. I’m happy you reached your dream job and love your strong support.”

Tribal Shelter Advocate Teresa Henry wrote, “What a huge loss for our Tribe! Thank you for your lifetime of service to our Tribe and all in this community. I appreciate you so very much and I know so many others do too. I look forward to seeing what you do next!”

Tribal Homeownership Coordinator Michele Plummer wrote, “What a huge loss for this organization and our Tribe! I am saddened and quite honestly very disappointed with regard to good leaders being ‘let go.’ Angie led with much needed transparency, honest, humility, wisdom, and a genuine and true love and care for this organization, this membership, our community and our Tribe. She was the best GM we have had in the 14 years I have worked here, period.”

Plummer continued, “This pattern of good leaders being let go is difficult to watch, process and experience, not only as an employee and Tribal member, but as a human being. I pray that it stops and that people start doing the right thing even if it’s scary, because sometimes the right thing is hard to do, but it’s necessary. I am heartbroken for how this has played out and it’s hard being powerless to do anything about it. The time she took to learn our departments and programs helped her make informed decisions, understanding a whole story before deciding, always making herself available, upholding the truth and doing the right thing no matter what – that is what makes a true leader, that is what we need.”

Blackwell, 57, was hired as general manager in February 2024, after several years as the Tribe’s Early Childhood Education Program Manager. She has also served as a Tribal Council Vice Chair and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Director, and ran her own business, “Blackwell Family Resources LLC,” as a family life educator.

The general manager reports directly to Tribal Council and has authority over most Tribal departments for day-to-day operations.