Dear Colleagues & Friends,

It has been an exciting year thus and I would like to provide you with some brief highlights that will be expanded on at the upcoming “Comprehensive Tribal employment Law & Legal Updates Conference” this December 9-10, in Las Vegas.

I. Tribal Workforce Protection Acts (TWPA) enacted by four tribes.

CTER TERO/TWPA Training Specialist, John Barkley has been busy providing cluster training sessions and on-site training at tribal locations for new TERO’s, Commissions & Tribal Councils on the TWPA.   Thus far three tribes have taken the lead by enacting a TWPA to protect their respective tribal workforces, they are:

The Crow Nation, Crow Agency, Montana
The Lower Sioux Indian Community, Morton, MN
The Ho Chunk Nation, Black River Falls, WI

There are over twenty (20) tribes with a TWPA in various stages of the tribal legislative process or under consideration at this point in time.

II. The US EEOC/TWPA MOU being drafted.

Dan Press, CTER General Counsel & I met with the staff of the US EEOC in Washington D.C. to get an update on the MOU that addresses the TWPA.  The MOU is in the final legal review by the EEOC’s Law Offices and is expected t be ready for announcement at the Legal Updates Conference in Las Vegas.

III. The Native Construction Careers Institute (NCCI) has been launched.

On September 30, 2009 the Native construction Careers Institute (NCCI) was successfully launched at the US Capitol Building Visitors Center in Washington D.C.  The Honorable Senator Dorgan, the Honorable Congressmen Norm Dicks and Key Staff from the Senate Labor Committee, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the House Appropriations Committee were all on to express their support and commitment.  Tribal Chairpersons provided tribal perspective of need and success for NCCI they were; The Honorable Myra Pearson, Chairwoman of the Spirit Lake Nation, the Honorable Robert Bear, Chairman of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and the Honorable Cedric Black Eagle, Chairman of the Crow Nation.

Leading a host of construction trades union partners in NCCI were; the Honorable Mark Ayers, President of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the Honorable James Williams, General President International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, Ed Hensley, North American Native Construction Liaison and Terrence Urbanek, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Training for the United Association of Pipefitters.

The Department of the Interior was represented by Ray Rivera, Director of External & Intergovernmental Affairs for the Office of Secretary Salazar, The Honorable Larry Echohawk, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Del Laverdure, Deputy Assistant for Indian Affairs, Dr. Robert Middleton, Director of the Office of Indian Energy & Economic Development.  The Honorable Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of the US/DOL Employment & Training Administration was the Press Conference Luncheon Keynote.

There was an air of excitement and cooperation throughout the day, we hope to build on the momentum of the event & move the NCCI forward.  Our appreciation goes out to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a success.

IV. US/DOL Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to renew MOU

The CTER Executive Committee and I have begun working with the OFCCP on the renewal of an MOU that was originally signed in the year 2000 between CTER and OFCCP.  The purpose of the MOU is to promote a mutually beneficial working relationship that will enhance the capabilities of both entities to deliver services to Indian tribes.  The services involved include the fair & equitable implementation of Executive Order 11246, training, policy guidance & communications.  It is planned to announce the agreement at the Legal Updates Conference in Las Vegas.

Conrad Edwards, CEO

Council for Tribal Employment Rights