Building A Tribal Workforce

Building A Tribal Workforce
CTER’s Programs in residential, light commercial and weatherization bring new opportunities and foster economic development prospects for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives

NCCI
FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON─ The Council for Tribal Employment Rights’ (CTER) premiere jobs program, the Native Construction Careers Institute (NCCI) has shown the path for careers and opportunity for tribal members who want to break out of their cycle of poverty. The program began as an idea between CTER and the Laborers’ Union and it started out on a trial basis as an Initiative funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Residential, light commercial and weatherization programs soon developed and were deployed across the Northern tier of the United States and as far away as Alaska. After major successes, tribes were calling CTER from around the country asking how they could get involved in the new program that used mobile training units to teach participants construction skills at home on their reservations.

“We are continuing to break new ground, enrich lives, vastly improve tribal assets and while helping tribal members provide for themselves and their families” said CTER CEO Conrad Edwards. “While skill levels increase, futures become self-determined. We have had stunning results with 80% placement because we train on reservations for real jobs at game speed.”

CTER proved its success to Congress and received funding for a special appropriation for the NCCI program by telling them about the success stories and showing them the hard facts of how, when and where. Over sixteen programs have been completed and at the