{"product_id":"the-river-a-cherokee-principal-chiefs-fight-for-family-truth-and-vindication-hardcover","title":"The River: A Cherokee Principal Chief's Fight for Family, Truth, and Vindication - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003ePatrick H. Lambert\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHe was elected by the people. Removed by the powerful. Vindicated by the truth.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat does it cost a man to stand on principle when everything - his office, his reputation, his family - is on the line?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn the back rows, the elders sat calm and unmoving amid the tension. One white-haired woman met his eyes. She placed her hand over her heart and nodded once. Stay strong.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePatrick H. Lambert was raised in poverty on the Qualla Boundary, left high school without a diploma, worked underground in the hard rock mines, and served his country in the U.S. Army. Through determination and sheer will, he earned a Juris Doctor from UNC Chapel Hill and an advanced LL.M. in Gaming Law - and was ultimately elected Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by an overwhelming margin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen he ordered the audits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat followed became one of the most consequential - and contested - chapters in modern Cherokee governance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe River\u003c\/i\u003e, Lambert recounts the rise, removal, and ultimate vindication that defined his time in office. With clarity and restraint, he tells the inside story of the era when the Tribe entered gaming, built the foundations of economic self-determination, and established its first Per Capita distributions - decisions that permanently reshaped Cherokee life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut leadership during moments of change carries a cost. Lambert writes candidly about the pressure of governing in turbulent times, the strain placed on his family, and the isolation that comes from standing on principle while facing public accusation and political upheaval.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported by contemporaneous records - including audits, court rulings, and official documents - \u003ci\u003eThe River\u003c\/i\u003e is both a personal memoir and a historical record of a pivotal moment in modern Cherokee history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor readers of political memoir, Native American history, and stories of leadership under fire, this book stands as a testament to resilience, responsibility, and the enduring power of truth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.81 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 09, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53273688572211,"sku":"9798995029311","price":38.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/vZlvF1Tfls9798995029311.webp?v=1776891475","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/the-river-a-cherokee-principal-chiefs-fight-for-family-truth-and-vindication-hardcover","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}