For Immediate Hire

The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) seeks a full time, in house Director of Communications to assist in creating and executing an overarching communications plan to promote and expand the influence and capacity of the organization to accomplish its mission and provide increased awareness and service to its members, its constituents, its strategic partners, its funders , its volunteers, to opinion and policy setters, and to its Native American students, families, and communities. The Director of Communications reports directly to the Executive Director and is an integral part of the core staff of the NIEA. The activities of the Director of Communications will touch all parts of the NIEA’s programs and services. Salary is commensurate with experience. Frequent travel is required.

The functions of the position, include, but are not limited to the following:

Establish and implement an overarching communications plan to promote and expand the influence, capacity, and sustainability of the organization to better accomplish its mission and to serve the education needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students, their families, and their communities. This communication plan contains discrete sub plans which follow.

As part of the overarching communications plan establish and implement a media relations plan which encompasses all aspects and services of the organization. This plan requires fostering working relationships with journalists, reporters, opinion and policy setters, and all print, electronic, video, and other media.

As part of the overarching communications plan establish, develop, and implement a plan to use social media to increase the influence of the organization to provide increased awareness and service to its members, its constituents, its strategic partners, its funders and potential funders, its volunteers, opinion and policy setters, and Native American students, families, and communities.

As part of the overarching communications plan establish, develop and implement a plan to create consistent and uniform messages on behalf of the organization to increase the influence of the organization and to promote and expand the capacity of the organization to accomplish its mission and provide increased awareness and service to its members, its constituents, its strategic partners, its funders, its volunteers, to opinion and policy setters, and to its Native American students, families, and communities.

As part of the overarching communication plan establish, develop, and implement a communications plan to create and build future fund development opportunities to increase the influence of the organization and to support the accomplishment of its mission.

As part of the overarching communications plan establish, develop, and implement a plan to provide training for volunteers and staff to be able to implement the media relations and communications plan, to more effectively use social media, to communicate a consistent organizational message, and to increase potential fund development opportunities for the organization.

As part of the overarching communications plan assist in managing the development, updating and effective use of the technical infrastructure and website contained within the organization.

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Essential Qualifications

Master of Arts Degree in Communications or Public Relations or related field;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Previous experience working collaboratively as part of a communications/public relations/fund development team for a non profit entity or a marketing firm for a for profit entity;

Strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines;

Ability to proactively identify communications/public relations/fund development/ media relations opportunities and to develop supporting programs to take advantage of these opportunities;

Ability to communicate, manage and collaborate with individuals and entities inside and outside the organization as relates to communications/fund development/media relations/public relations;

Demonstrated ability to construct an overarching communications plan that addresses media relations, the use of social media, the creation and use of consistent and relevant messaging, the creation of fund development opportunities, and the development of training opportunities for staff and key volunteers to increase the influence and capacity of the NIEA to better achieve its mission and provide increased service to its stakeholders.

A minimum of 3-5 years experience in establishing and implementing a media relations plan, including identifying necessary media contacts, journalists, reporters, opinion and policy shapers, and fostering and building long term relationships with them, and in delivering information to them that is reported and communicated to a broader audience through their contacts and networks;

A minimum of 3-5 years experience in using social media and constructing systems of social media connections to communicate an organizational message, to increase awareness of a particular message, and in recruiting individuals and organizations to participate. A minimum of 3-5 years of experience using HTML and in programming to create and maintain a website to support the use of social media.;

A minimum of 3-5 years experience in establishing, developing, implementing, and delivering consistent and uniform messages on behalf of an organization or campaign to achieve a defined goal and objective;

A minimum of 3-5 years of experience working with an organization in a communications/fundraising/fund development/marketing capacity ( not for profit organization experience preferred);

A minimum of 3-5 years experience establishing, developing, and providing training for volunteers and staff to be able to implement a media relations plan, to more effectively use social media, to communicate a consistent organizational message, and to increase potential fund development opportunities for an organization;

Possession of a driver’s license in good standing.

To Apply

Provide cover letter, resume, at least two writing samples, a portfolio of work accomplished and at least two samples of the same, and the names and addresses of three references, including land address, e mail address, and phone of references provided.

Frequent travel is required as part of the job duties for this position.

E mail application information to NIEA Executive Director Colin Kippen

ckippen@niea.org
NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

NIEA Job Description: Research and Policy Associate for Campaign on High School Equity

For Immediate Hire

The National Indian Education Association is seeking resumes from highly motivated individuals to work on a full time basis as a Research and Policy Associate in Washington, D.C., that will assist in the development and coordination of an organizational initiative focused on high school policy reform.

Position Summary

The position has primary responsibility for assembling and reviewing relevant qualitative and quantitative research and developing documents (briefing papers, talking points, comments, articles, etc.) for NIEA that help to clarify and advance NIEA’s high school policy agenda. The Associate will also attend policy related meetings, conferences, workshops, forums and other presentations to inform NIEA research and for networking purposes and will assist in developing and coordinating the NIEA activities of the Campaign on High School Equity. The Associate works closely as part of a team which includes the High School Campaign Director and the NIEA Executive Director, to accomplish the work of the Campaign for High School Equity.

The position will manage the logistics of any events or meetings facilitated by NIEA related to the project, including serving as a point of contact for event consultants and the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) coalition partners. The Associate will also manage administrative functions including providing support for the Web site and creating and maintaining data bases necessary to support the work of the project as needed. The Associate will also be responsible for filing necessary reports and updates in support of the project as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum 1-3 years experience in public policy, government relations, research or education desired.

Knowledge of and ability to use technology to build, maintain and use data bases.

Knowledge of and commitment to national education issues, particularly related to high school education and minority/native youth.

Familiarity and experience working and effectively communicating with Native communities. An interest in and an understanding of Education issues relating to Native Americans.

Experience in formulating policy and communicating those policies to varied audiences.

Excellent research skills, including the ability to review qualitative and quantitative research, to access and apply research on high school equity and education, to create connections between research and policy, and to monitor and analyze legislative activity and news.

Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills

BA required; Master of Arts in Education or Public Policy field preferred.

Contact Information

NIEA is now accepting resumes and writing samples (3-5 pages) from qualified applicants. Please send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: ckippen@niea.org Colin Kippen, Executive Director.

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LONDON.- A series of fascinating and important 19th century portraits of Native Americans by the pioneering German/American photographer, John Karl Hillers are for sale in Bonhams India and Beyond sale at Knightsbridge on 5 October 2010.

Hillers emigrated with his family to the USA from his native Hanover in 1852 when he was just nine years old. He fought on the Union side in the Civil War and re-enlisted in the army once the conflict was over. On leaving the service in 1870 he took a job as a teamster in Salt Lake City where he met the man who was to change his life, the explorer and early anthropologist John Wesley Powell. Hillers signed up as a boatman for Powell’s second expedition down the Colorado River in 1871 but was soon helping out with the photography.

By the time Powell led the first expedition by European Americans into the Grand Canyon the following year Hillers had become the team’s chief photographer.

For the next 20 years he explored and photographed the American West becoming especially well known for his sensitive and dignified images of Native Americans. For several years he worked for the American Bureau of Ethnology leaving an extensive and priceless record of a world on the brink of irrevocable change.

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ALBUQUERQUE — Tourists hurry inside a shop here to buy books about the famed Navajo Code Talkers, warriors who used their native language as their primary weapon. 

Outside, on a walk sheltered from the sun, nine of the Code Talkers sit at a table autographing the books. Each is an old man now. They wear similar caps and shirts, the scarlet and gold of the Marine Corps, and turquoise jewlery. 

One of these men, who signs his name as Cpl. Chester Nez, is distinguished from the others. Below his signature, he jots down why: 1st Original 29. 

Before hundreds of Code Talkers were recruited from the Navajo Nation to join the elite unit, 29 Navajos were recruited to develop the code — based on the then-unwritten Navajo language — that would confound Japanese military cryptologists and help win World War II. 

Of the Original 29, only three survive. Nez is one. 

The Code Talkers took part in every assault the Marines conducted in the Pacific, sending thousands of messages without error on Japanese troop movements, battlefield tactics and other communications critical to the war’s ultimate outcome. 

“It’s one of the greatest parts of history that we used our own native language during World War II,” Nez said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We’re very proud of it.” 

Nez tells the story succinctly. He is the last of the original group to be able to do so. One can hardly speak or hear and the memory of the third is severely tested by Alzheimer’s disease. 

The 89-year-old Nez is limited, too. He is in a wheelchair after diabetes led to the amputation of both legs. These days, he’d rather “just sit around, take it easy,” he said. 

As a boy, Nez lived in a traditional Navajo home and helped his family tend to sheep in Two Wells on the eastern side of the vast 27,000 square-mile reservation. 

He played with matchbox toy cars, went barefoot, and spoke only his native language. That changed when he was sent to one of the boarding schools set up by the federal government to assimilate American Indian children into the broader culture.

At boarding school, Nez said he had his mouth washed out with soap for speaking Navajo — ironic indeed, considering the vital role that the unique language — and Nez — would come to play. 

Nez was in 10th grade when a Marine recruiter came looking for young Navajos who were fluent in Navajo and English to serve in World War II. He jumped at the chance to defend his country, and to leave boarding school. He kept the decision to enlist a secret from his family, and lied about his age, as did many others. 

“I told my roommate, ‘Let’s try it out,’ and that’s what we did,” Nez said. “One reason we joined is the uniform — they were so pretty, dress uniforms.” 

About 250 Navajos showed up at Fort Defiance, Ariz., then a U.S. Army base. But only 29 were selected to join the first all-Native American unit of Marines. They were inducted in May 1942. 

After basic training, the 382nd Platoon was tasked with developing the code.

There Nez met Allen Dale June and Lloyd Oliver, among the others. Using Navajo words for red soil, war chief, clan, braided hair, beads, ant and hummingbird, for example, they came up with a glossary of more than 200 terms, later expanded, and an alphabet. 

At first, Nez said, the concern was whether or not the code could work. Then it proved inpenetrable. “The Japanese did everything in their power to break the code but they never did,” he said. 

Nez no longer remembers the code in its entirety, but easily switches from English to Navajo to repeat one instruction he delivered during fighting on Guadalcanal. 

“I always remember this one,” Nez said. “‘Enemy machine gun on your right flank, destroy!’” 

The Navajos trained in radio communications were walking copies of the code. Each message read aloud by a Code Talker was immediatley destroyed. 

“When you’re involved in the world of cryptology, you not only have to provide information, you have to protect that,” said Patrick Weadon, curator of the National Cryptologic Museum. “And there’s no better example than the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II.” 

The Code Talkers were constantly on the move, often from foxhole to foxhole. Nez had a close call in Guam with a sniper’s bullet that whizzed past his head and struck a palm tree. 

Once while running a message, Nez and his partner were mistaken for Japanese soldiers and were threatened at gunpoint until a Marine lieutenant cleared up the confusion, his son, Michael, said.

“Of course Dad couldn’t tell them he was a Code Talker,” Nez’s son said. 

The Code Talkers had orders not to discuss their roles — not during the war and not until their mission was declassified 23 years later. 

In 2001 Nez, Dale and June traveled aboard the same plane to Washington, D.C., to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. The recognition, which they didn’t receive returning home from war, propelled them to a sort of celebrity status, along with the release of a movie based on the Code Talkers the following year 

They appeared on television, rode on floats in parades and were asked to speak to veterans groups and students. 

Nez threw the opening pitch at a 2004 Major League Baseball game and blessed the presidential campaign of John Kerry. Oliver traveled with other Code Talkers as guests of honor in the nation’s largest Veterans Day parade in New York last year. 

When residents of Longmont, Colo., heard that June and his wife did not have a permanent home, they raised money to buy one for the couple. 

The last three survivors of the Original 29 don’t live on the Navajo Nation, where they are celebrated with a tribal holiday. They wonder about each other, but it’s unlikely they’ll reunite again. 

After World War II, Nez volunteered to serve two more years during the Korean War and retired in 1974 after a 25-year career as a painter at the Veterans hospital in Albuquerque. 

June, 88, has spent the past few weeks in and out of hospitals in Wyoming and Arizona, and requires round-the-clock care. His third wife, Virginia, calls herself “the charm” and the protector of an endangered species. 

She’s a walking promotion for him and the Marine Corps, yet she’s careful of how much she says because he thinks it is unwelcomed bragging. 

Oliver’s wife, Lucille, echoes similar sentiments about her husband. Oliver displayed few reminders in what, until earlier this year, was his home on the Yavapai Indian reservation in Camp Verde, Ariz. — a few framed pictures, a Marine cap above his bedroom window and a U.S. flag above the doorway. 

“He just put the past behind him, I guess,” she says. 

Oliver, 87, speaks audibly but his words are difficult to understand. His hearing is impaired and he prefers not to have a hearing aid. 

Both June and Oliver had brothers who later served as Code Talkers. 

Nez tells the tourists seeking authographs in Albuquerque that he’s part of the Original 29, but few appear to grasp what that means. 

“Most of them,” he says of the tourists, “they just thank me for what we did.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Drew Glassford  or Beth Huss  
TEL: 630/726-0001    630/205-3557
EMAIL:      tribalwisdom@gmail.com
 
A NEW VISION FOR FLAGSTAFF
Create the most Eco-friendly Ski Resort in the World

San Francisco Peaks, photo by NDN News

The Tribal Wisdom Foundation (TWF) has presented a non-snowmaking alternative for the ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks to the Mayor and City Council of Flagstaff.  This no snowmaking alternative involves creating a collaborative effort between the City of Flagstaff, Indigenous Nations, conservation organizations and the USDA to protect water sources, cultural resources and the natural environment. The plan involves TWF facilitating the purchase of the permit and assets of Arizona Snowbowl and establishing a not-for-profit organization to manage the resort in a manner that is both environmentally and culturally sensitive creating the most eco-friendly ski resort in the world.  This viable alternative has gained support from conservation groups, Indigenous Nations, Flagstaff citizen groups, and Northern Arizona University (NAU) student organizations.  The Flagstaff City Council will vote on August 30, 2010 on whether to amend the reclaimed wastewater contact to include drinking water (recovered reclaimed wastewater) or support the no snowmaking option by not allowing any water to be sold for snowmaking.  This vote will determine the City’s position on partnering with conservation organizations, Indigenous Nations, and Flagstaff Citizen Groups and the Presidential Memorandum – America’s Great Outdoors Initiative which was signed on April 16, 2010.  This Presidential Memorandum encourages “people from all over the country to develop new partnerships and innovative programs to protect and restore our outdoor legacy”.  The Flagstaff City Council’s support of this plan will redirect this environmental and cultural conflict into a more positive direction for all parties while protecting the City’s water resources.
 
By voting to not allow the sale of reclaimed wastewater or drinking water (recovered reclaimed wastewater) on August 30, 2010, the City Council will create the groundwork necessary to develop the most eco-friendly ski resort in the world.  The City of Flagstaff can enjoy the following benefits by not supporting snowmaking:

• All of Flagstaff’s water resources and future water quality will be preserved.
• The delicate mountain environment will not be harmed or changed artificially.
• Citizens will have a model resort to enjoy outdoor activities.
• The cultural resources of Indigenous Peoples will be protected.
• NAU has access to the resort to let our next generation create a model resort for green technology.
• Tourists will be intrigued and want to support this one-of-a- kind resort.
• Flagstaff will be seen as a city that is looking toward a positive future for all its citizens by protecting their water resources, the environment and cultural needs.
 
Kevin Ordean, Chair of the NAU Student Environmental Caucus and President of the NAU Campus Climate Challenge, strongly supports this alternative and states, “With the global trend towards sustainability, and the many majors and focus areas at Northern Arizona University, an eco-friendly ski resort in close proximity to the campus would allow for an active engagement between the resort and the University. Since both NAU and the City of Flagstaff have made strides towards sustainability the next step would be to further pursue the sustainable option to this matter, which has gained national interest. Those of us that study sustainability and eco-friendly options, offer our support in any planning, implementation, or other needed capacity.”
 
The Tribal Wisdom Foundation based in Glen Ellyn, Illinois was established by a non-indigenous group of individuals comprised of teachers, administrators, therapists and business professionals who are committed to supporting the relationship between the Indigenous Peoples and the natural world in ways that are appropriate and welcomed.  From their work with Indigenous Peoples, they have the understanding that our fate is intricately interwoven with the fate of the natural environment. They believe this perspective is crucial to sustaining life and strengthening community environmental stewardship. For more information please visit www.savenaturalsnow.com or www.tribalwisdomfoundation.org.
 
We like your support for this no snowmaking initiative. Your support can also be felt by sending an email to Mayor Sara Presler and the Flagstaff City Council indicating that you support the No Snowmaking Alternative proposed by Tribal Wisdom Foundation.  To view this plan go to www.savenaturalsnow.com
 
###
http://savenaturalsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pressrelease_aug_24_2010.pdf

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Drew Glassford at 630/726-0001 or Beth Huss at 630/205-3557 or e-mail Beth at tribalwisdom@gmail.com
 
 
http://www.tribalwisdomfoundation.org
Additonal information from NDN News

Email addresses are provided below, if you are able to submit comments of support for this proposal:

Email Flagstaff City Council: council@flagstaffaz.gov 

To contact the Mayor and individual Council members use the email address below: 

Mayor Sara Presler                      spresler@flagstaffaz.gov

Vice Mayor Celia Barotz              cbarotz@flagstaffaz.gov

Councilmember Art Babbott        ababbott@flagstaffaz.gov

Councilmember Karla Brewster    kbrewster@flagstaffaz.gov

Councilmember Coral Evans        cevans@flagstaffaz.gov


Councilmember Scott Overton     soverton@flagstaffaz.gov

Councilmember Al White             awhite@flagstaffaz.gov

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ARLINGTON, Va., Aug 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Rosetta Stone Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!rst/quotes/nls/rst (RST 17.37, -0.36, -2.03%) , a leading provider of technology-based language learning solutions, announced today the release of the Navajo-language version of Rosetta Stone(R) software for use by Navajo in language revitalization. Though Navajo is the most-spoken Native American language north of Mexico (still spoken by more than 100,000 people), its use and fluency among younger generations is in dramatic decline. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 50 percent of Navajo ages 17 and under were able to speak their native language at all in 2000. Rosetta Stone Navajo software will be available for use in Navajo Nation schools, homes and chapter houses in an effort to help reverse this decline.

“We’re excited that the Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program can play a role in encouraging younger generations to use the Navajo language,” said Marion Bittinger, manager of the Endangered Language Program. “We’re optimistic our work with indigenous groups will be a step toward reversing the tide of global language extinction.”

The Navajo software will be sold through Navajo Language Renaissance, a nonprofit group of Navajo educators from the tri-state area of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. In December 2007, with the endorsements of the Department of Dine Education and the Navajo Board of Education, the project was launched in Window Rock, Arizona. More than one hundred Navajo contributed to the project by providing language expertise, photos, audio recordings and logistical and cultural support. Development of Rosetta Stone Navajo was made possible through a Rosetta Stone company grant, and all proceeds from the sale of the software will go toward future initiatives to revitalize the Navajo language.

“The Rosetta Stone software will greatly help our Heritage Language Program already in place in our school district. Students will have a great opportunity to learn the Navajo language at their own pace,” said Clayton Long, director of bilingual education for San Juan School District in Utah. “Rosetta Stone Navajo will be a medium to bridge generations and revitalize the Navajo language.”

Rosetta Stone invites prospective learners to visit http://launch.rosettastone.com/en/demo/rs3?language_code=NAV for a free online trial of the Navajo-language software. You can also access the trial from our twitter (http://twitter.com/rosettastone) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RosettaStone) pages.

Learning with Rosetta Stone is a natural choice for language-revitalization programs because its award-winning solutions help users develop language proficiency without translation, memorization or conjugation tables. The Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program has developed software for several indigenous languages, including Chitimacha for the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. The North Slope dialect of Inupiaq in Alaska is currently under development with Rosetta Stone.

For more information please visit pr.RosettaStone.com.

About Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program

The Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program works with native groups to customize Rosetta Stone software for exclusive use in language revitalization. Each revitalization project builds on the company’s mission to help people improve their lives and make the world a better place by delivering the best technology-based solutions for learning languages. A natural choice for language-revitalization programs, Rosetta Stone helps learners develop everyday proficiency the same natural way people everywhere learn their first languages, by directly associating new words and structures with real-life meaning. This approach allows Rosetta Stone to customize the context of meaning for endangered languages. Languages selected for software preservation — including Mohawk (Kanien’keha); the North Slope, Coastal and Kobuk/Selawik dialects of Inupiaq in Alaska; Inuttitut in Labrador, Canada; Chitimacha in Louisiana and Navajo of the American Southwest — are produced by Rosetta Stone and are distributed exclusively by the sponsoring group.

About Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone Inc. is changing the way the world learns languages. Rosetta Stone provides interactive solutions that are acclaimed for their speed and their power to unlock the natural language-learning ability in everyone. Available in more than 30 languages, Rosetta Stone language-learning solutions are used by schools, organizations and millions of individuals in over 150 countries throughout the world. The company was founded in 1992 on the core beliefs that learning a language should be natural and instinctive and that interactive technology can replicate and activate the immersion method powerfully for learners of any age. The company is based in Arlington, Va. For more information, visit RosettaStone.com.

“Rosetta Stone” is a registered trademark of Rosetta Stone Ltd.

SOURCE: Rosetta Stone Inc.

Rosetta Stone Inc.
Media Contact:
Reilly Brennan, 703-387-5863
rbrennan@RosettaStone.com
or
Investor Contact:
Christopher Martin, 703-387-5927
cmartin@RosettaStone.com

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(Albuquerque, NM) ––On July 9, 2010, a New Mexico state court awarded $304,000.00 to AMERIND Risk Management Corporation [AMERIND] after finding that Brown & Brown Inc. [B&B, Inc.], the world’s seventh largest insurance agency by Business Insurance magazine, breached a contract to market AMERIND’s newly created tribal workers compensation insurance program, known as the Tribal Employee Injury Protection Program (TEIP).

After marketing the TEIP Program for only a few months, Brown & Brown of Washington abruptly notified AMERIND that it would no longer market the TEIP Program, claiming that the contract was not binding because Brown & Brown Inc.––its corporate headquarters based in Florida––had never approved it. According to Kent Paul, AMERIND’s CEO, “Brown & Brown of Washington’s breach of its commitment caused financial harm and jeopardized the TEIP Program.”

Bernalillo County District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District of New Mexico, Clay Campbell awarded damages to AMERIND for the breach. Brown & Brown Inc. has indicated that it plans to appeal Judge Campbell’s decision to the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

AMERIND continues to provide the TEIP Program to Indian tribes throughout the United States. “The TEIP Program has become very successful. It goes to show you what Indian tribes can do when their backs are against the wall––they move forward, and find ways to succeed,” stated Kent Paul.

About AMERIND

AMERIND is a multi-tribal federal corporation. Tribes united to create AMERIND in 1986 to protect themselves, their treasuries and their enrolled members from unforeseen or catastrophic financial loss.

AMERIND is owned by a vast majority of federally recognized tribes – keeping their money working in Indian Country rather than profiting non-Indian organizations. Utilizing sound risk management principles, including risk sharing and education, AMERIND protects life and property from the devastation of fire, natural disasters and other unforeseen events.

AMERIND is headquartered on the Pueblo of Santa Ana while serving almost 450 tribes located in the State of Alaska and 27 other states.

To learn more about AMERIND, attend the 24th Annual Member Meeting and Expo, Oct. 19-21, 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia or visit us online at: www.AMERINDRisk.org.

Contact: Patrick Murphy (800) 352-3496 or Nancy Harjo Serna (800) 352-3496

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Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act on Thursday.

The measure provides for the appointment of special U.S. attorneys to ensure violent crimes in tribal communities are prosecuted. It also revamps training for reservation police, expands the sentencing authority of tribal courts from one to three years, addresses jurisdictional issues and improves the collection and reporting of Indian crime data.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who authored the bill, says millions of American Indians have lived far too long with unacceptable levels of violent crime.

Tribes hailed the signing as a reaffirmation of the federal government’s trust responsibility to ensure their communities are safe.

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7th Annual NNALSA Job Fair

Denver, Colorado

Location: TBD

Greetings!

The National Native American Law Students Association will hold their annual Job Fair this year in Denver, Colorado.

NNALSA invites you to join us for this distinct opportunity to meet and interview with a diverse group of Indian Law-focused law firms, government and tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations. The Job Fair is not limited to Indian Law organizations. A variety of legal employers are being recruited by your Job Fair Team!

Interviews: Interviews will be held from 8 am – 12 noon and 1 pm – 5 pm on Thursday, August 26 and from 8 am – 12 noon on Friday, August 27. Employers will contact you directly to schedule interviews. Some employers may elect to conduct interviews outside these times on these dates. Please plan accordingly.

http://jobfair.nationalnalsa.org/   to register for the 2010 NNALSA Job Fair and upload your application materials (General Cover Letter, Resume, Unofficial Transcript, and Writing Sample are all required in PDF format). If you are unable to attend the Job Fair, you may still submit your resume for resume collection only.

Registration Fee:

There is no registration fee to attend the NNALSA Job Fair* *Only dues-paying NNALSA members are eligible to participate in NNALSA-sponsored events. If you have not yet paid your dues for the 2010-2011 year (begins July 1, 2010), please do so here.

If you have any questions, please contact Mercedes Garcia at secretary@nationalnalsa.org .

See you in Denver!!

~ Your 2010 NNALSA Job Fair Team

http://jobfair.nationalnalsa.org/ to register for the 2010 NNALSA Job Fair and upload your application materials (General Cover Letter, Resume, Unofficial Transcript, and Writing Sample are all required in PDF format). If you are unable to attend the Job Fair, you may still submit your resume for resume collection only.

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July 7, 2010

Dear Indian Country

This is the twelfth letter in a series of open letters that I’m sending to Indian Country. The purpose of this letter is to update you about the settlement and to answer your most relevant questions.

As I reported in the last letter, the House of Representatives voted to pass the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010” (“the Tax Extenders Bill”) before the Memorial Day holiday which included a provision authorizing the Cobell settlement. Unfortunately, on June 30, 2010, I learned our settlement would not be considered in a new version of the Senate Tax Extenders Bill. The new version failed to pass and the Senate could possibly consider it again in July. There is still a chance that we may be re-attached to that Bill, but the future of the Tax Extenders Bill is uncertain.

Following the failure of the Senate to pass the Tax Extenders Bill, our allies in the House of Representatives rallied to include our settlement on the war supplemental bill funding the Iraq and Afghanistan wars then being considered. This bill was passed by the House on the evening of July 1, 2010. The Senate did not consider the bill and is now on recess until Monday, July 12, 2010. We are urging our allies in the Senate to pass the war supplemental with the Cobell settlement.

The parties agreed to extend the settlement until July 9, 2010, so yet another extension is required if we are to give the Senate a chance to pass legislation. I will consult our attorneys and allies on the Hill about that extension over the next few days.

In your last letter, you mentioned that Senator Barrasso (R – WY), Vice-Chairman, Senator Committee on Indian Affairs introduced an amendment that he says would “improve” the settlement agreement even though it would terminate the settlement, what is the status of his amendment? Thanks to your overwhelming support, Senator Barrasso was unable to bring his amendment to the floor for a vote. Your letters and calls to members of Congress had a significant impact on the outcome. Unfortunately, Senator Barrasso still doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care, that Indian Country overwhelmingly supports this settlement. According to statements reported in the press, he is more determined than ever to rob you of your victory in this case and it is likely that he again will attempt to introduce an amendment to terminate the settlement at some time in the future. We remain on guard against his efforts to further harm individual Indians.

You also mentioned that the National Congress of American Indians was considering a resolution supporting the Barrasso amendment, what is the status of that resolution? I attended the NCAI event in Rapid City, South Dakota beginning June 20, 2010. A small, rabid group of tribal representatives sought to support Senator Barrasso’s amendment and, thereby, kill your settlement, but their effort was defeated soundly and NCAI passed a resolution urging Congress to reject the Barrasso amendment and pass authorizing legislation as soon as possible. It is important to remember that this class is made up solely of individual Indians trust beneficiaries; tribes have their own litigation (and, at times, the agenda of a few tribal leaders is inconsistent with individual Indians’ interests), but they don’t represent your interests in this litigation.

Will any Interior contractors with experience on Indian issues be selected to assist with the distribution of settlement proceeds or to hold the funds pending distribution? Absolutely not. This is a conflict of interest. To allow the same contractors, who have been peddling their services that fail to deliver promised benefits to Indian Country, to have any role in the distribution of settlement funds would be insane. For the first time in history, your funds will be held securely, managed prudently, and distributed competently by able and experienced professionals. I know of no Interior contractors that meet the highest fiduciary standards that you are owed.

Where can I review the amount of time the attorneys have spent on the litigation? Pursuant to an agreement between the parties, statements regarding counsels’ billing rates and related records supporting daily time, expense and cost records will be filed with the Court and available to the public. This documentation will be filed no later than 30 days following preliminary approval of the settlement agreement by the Court. Preliminary approval by the Court cannot occur unless and until Congress authorizes the settlement.

Prior Ask Elouise letters can be found on the settlement website: http://cobellsettlement.com/class/ask_elouise.php. We also have a “frequently asked questions” section while includes the most common questions we’ve received as well as questions and answers from prior Ask Elouise letters: http://cobellsettlement.com/press/faq.php. With so many members of the class, I can’t answer every question that you send. These Ask Elouise letters will answer as many questions as possible that are relevant to the entire class.

The most common question I receive every week relates to whether a particular person is included in this settlement. Unfortunately, I do not have that information. The settlement agreement provides general guidelines (see also http://cobellsettlement.com/press/faq.php), but I also understand that many of you have unique or unusual circumstances, which make it unclear to me whether you are included in the settlement class. For those of you who still have questions, I recommend that you register to receive all Court-ordered communications to ensure you do not miss important information. There is no need to register if you are receiving a quarterly IIM statement. The Court ultimately will determine who is included in this settlement. Registration information can be found at the end of this and every Ask Elouise letter.

If you are not currently receiving an IIM statement from the government, please remember to register for correspondence over the Internet or by calling the number below.

Internet: https://cert.tgcginc.com/iim/register.php

Telephone: 1-800-961-6109

If you have a question, send an e-mail to: askelouise@cobellsettlement.com. Otherwise you can send me a letter to the address below. To expedite the processing of your letters our contractor has set up a post office box in Ohio, but I assure you this letter is coming from me and I will see your letters.

Ask Elouise

Cobell Settlement

PO Box 9577

Dublin, OH 43017-4877

Thank you and keep your questions coming!

Best wishes

Elouise Cobell

Browning, Montana

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Washington, DC- Colin Kippen has been selected by the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) board of directors to serve as its new Executive Director.  He will undertake the leadership of NIEA, the largest Indian education organization. 

NIEA was incorporated in 1970 as a membership-based organization with a mission to “support traditional Native cultures and values, to enable Native learners to become contributing members of their communities, to promote Native control of educational institutions, and to improve educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States.”    

Currently, Mr. Kippen is the Executive Director of the Native Hawaiian Education Council, which assesses and coordinates innovative education programs for Native Hawaiians and makes policy recommendations to governmental entities to improve the education and well being of Native Hawaiians. 

As an advocate for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, Mr. Kippen has worked in a number of venues. He has served as Senior Counsel to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the U.S. Senate, Deputy Administrator for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in charge of protecting and expanding Native Rights, Chief Judge of the Suquamish Indian Tribe on the Port Madison Indian Reservation in Western Washington, Appellate Judge for several Indian tribes in Washington and Oregon, and trial attorney and prosecutor in King County, Washington. Mr. Kippen is also a former member of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation and Act (NAGPRA) Review Committee, including serving as its Chairman.

“Colin Kippen has been a long time friend of the Association, and we welcome his passion and enthusiasm for providing a long time voice for Native education. It is important to not lose momentum during this important time in education reform and our members understand what he has brought NIEA and they will see what he will bring. We are confident in our selection,” NIEA President Patricia L. Whitefoot remarked. 

Mr. Kippen has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, M.A. in Urban & Regional Planning and a Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.  He recently was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Commission on Scholars.  He will begin his new position with the NIEA in the second week of August.  During the Executive Director search, the board appointed Dr. Gerald Gipp to serve as the Interim Executive Director. 

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The National Indian Education Association is membership based organization committed to increasing educational opportunities and resources for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students while protecting our cultural and linguistic traditions.

Incorporated in 1970, NIEA is the largest and oldest Indian education organization in the nation and strives to keep Indian Country moving toward educational equity. Governed by a Board of Directors made up of twelve representatives, the NIEA has several committees that work to ensure native educators and students are represented in various educational institutions and forums throughout Indian Country and Washington, D.C.

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