AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAM COUNCIL
ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
SENSITIZING THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE:
1) Hold a one-day training seminar to sensitize Federal employees, managers, and supervisors of American Indian Issues.
The American Indian Program Council agreed to a moratorium on individual one-day training seminars requested of all the special emphasis groups by the Denver Federal Executive Board. However, members have been participating in planning a conference in the spring of 1999 as part of a larger Diversity Council, comprised of members of all the DFEB special emphasis groups.
Planning for the next American Indian Program Council training seminar, tentatively planned for summer of 1999, will commence on October 6, 1998 at our quarterly meeting.
2) Sensitize Federal employees about American Indian and Tribal issues.
One of the AIPC members was part of a planning committee which developed an inter-agency training course on the Federal Trust Responsibility to American Indian tribes. A video was created by a member and another Indian federal employee to educate federal land management staff on implementation of Executive Order #13007 on access and accommodation to Indian sacred sites.
Several AIPC members participated in a AListening Session@ hosted in February by Health and Human Services= Dr. Margaret Carey for Indian community members and federal employees. Some continue to be involved in planning further Listening Sessions in the upcoming year.
Several AIPC members were invited to participate in meetings at the Air Force Academy, which is attempting to identify and address significant issues relevant the AFA's relationship with Indian peoples. These meetings will continue to be ongoing quarterly.
One member was successful in arranging for staff in her agency to attend the Denver March Pow Wow for cultural awareness. Several members are active within their own agencies in developing training for staff on Indian /Federal relations.
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
3) Ensure that American Indian groups are notified of vacancies within the Federal government.
Although the AIPC website was dormant for some time due to software issues, it is now up and running and will soon undergo a complete facelift. This should make accessing employment information easier and quicker than previously. Three email lists comprising approximately sixty individuals receive job announcements regularly to circulate within their own areas. This constitutes a functioning network. A number of openings this past year have been circulated also by means of members personally contacting individuals who may be eligible. Some members have done specific minority recruitment within their particular agencies.
4) Develop an outreach to Native American youth to focus on job opportunities both within and outside the federal workplace.
Several members participated in the American Indian Science and Engineering Conference held in Houston, where one member participated as a panelist in a workshop on Careers in Government. Some members participate in the local AISES Colorado Professional Chapter. Student opportunities are circulated at AIPC meetings. The AIPC website contains a Student Opportunities Page.
5) Support educational opportunities for American Indian youth and participate in programs and organizations with similar goals.
Internship, scholarship, co-op student openings and other opportunities for youth have been forwarded to the Title IX Indian Education Coordinators for Denver and Boulder Counties, as well as Indian organization contacts within local higher education institutions.
The AIPC as a whole has volunteered to plan the Tours and Special Events for the 20th Annual Conference of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Members are participating as part of the Local Planning Committee for the conference. Individual members will volunteer for other duties during the conference itself. Members also volunteered for scholarship readings for AISES.
One member participated in the Taos Pueblo Day School Career fair and met with American Indian Educators in New Mexico.
One member initiated and implemented an environmental educational opportunity and hands-on activities for children at her agency=s booth at the Denver March Pow Wow.
PUBLICITY FOR THE AIPC
6) Inform American Indians of the goals of the AIPC.
The AIPC had a booth at the Denver March Pow Wow in 1998, distributing information about the AIPC, job vacancies, federal careers and programs of member agencies. This event is typically attended by over 300,000 people.
The AIPC display was used and the AIPC was represented by the Chairperson at the Diversity Council table during the Denver meetings of the President=s Initiative on Race in March. Handouts and AIPC brochures were made available.
The AIPC continues to maintain a homesite on the World Wide Web, and the webmanager answers many messages a week pertaining to the AIPC.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
7) Support and cooperate with community American Indian organizations.
The AIPC has lent its support to AISES developing tours and workshops for its 20th Annual Conference. Members have set up tours within their agencies, and have located speakers for the conference.
One member serves as the Chair of the Government Relations Board of AISES. Another member is on the AISES Board of Directors.
One ad hoc member serves on the Board of the Denver Indian Health and Family Services . This ad hoc member gave the HCFA Presentation to National Urban Indian Health Forum, December 17-19, 1997, and March, 1998
8) Bring American Indian issues to interested private sector and community groups.
One AIPC member spoke to DU law school classes concerning federal mining regulation on Indian lands.
Members participated in a meeting with Channel Nine News where the television station was attempting to increase its interaction with and understanding of the Denver Indian Community and its issues. As a result of the meeting, a member arranged for Nine News to do a feature story on the Blue Pony La Crosse Team, an all-Indian high school sports team.