Family Wellness Warriors Initiative Construction Reaches 48% Native Hire in June
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THE COUNCIL • PAGE 1 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit No. 537 D e n a ’ N e n a ’ H e n a s h O u r L a n d S p e a k s VOL. 32, NO. 5 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF THE TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE AUGUST 2007 Family Wellness Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center Update Warriors Initiative Construction reaches 48% Native Hire in June By Robert Heffle, Southcentral Foundation By Tanya Beatus, Researcher & Cultural Program Planner, Morris Thompson Center The Family Wellness Warriors education. Initiative will host a Beauty For Ashes This training builds skills to increase Our contract GHEMM Company for the construction of the Morris Thompson conference in Fairbanks November 5-10, a person’s ability to deal effectively with the Cultural and Visitors Center mandates two specific Native-hire goals: 25% of the total in Fairbanks, Alaska. issues of domestic violence, abuse, and workforce is to be Alaska Native and 10% of the total construction cost ought to go to Abuse issues are such prevalent neglect. Ultimately, individuals experience qualified Alaska Native subcontractors. In June, GHEMM attained 48% Native hire. problems for Alaskan families that few have personal growth that filters into all fields With a total of 71 employees working on the project, 34 were Alaska Native. Seven worked been spared the impact. During 2001, there of work as well as better equips them to directly for GHEMM . The remaining worked for the following subcontractors: Exclusive were 7,271 reported cases of domestic assist those in need. Participants enter a Paving, Iron, Incorporated, Skippy, Incorporated, Denali Mechanical and Fulford Electric. violence, according to the Alaska safe environment where pain can be shared Thus far, GHEMM has two subcontractors that are Native-owned: Becker Trucking and Interior Concrete. Department of Public Safety’s Council on and hope can be restored by joining with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. others in a healing journey, and exploring Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) will be receiving monthly reports from the contractors detailing the Alaska Native women are victims of stories and events that have touched their domestic violence 4.5 times more often lives. percentage of Alaska Native/American Indian hire. If you are a Journeyman Electrician and are interested in than non-Native women. In 1995, 80% of Topics such as anger, shame, and homicides investigated by the Alaska State working on the project, we urge you to call IBEW at recovery are presented through large group (907) 456-4248 or visit 60 Hall Street (across from TCC Troopers were related to domestic violence. teachings and explored in a small group In 1998, Alaska had the highest rate among parking lot) weekdays from 8 – 5 pm except for lunch. setting. Through a sense of community For those who would like to get started working as the 50 states for rape. Alaska has 6 times and the development of relationships, the national average of reported child Journeymen please call Tom Minder at (907)479-4449 trained leaders compassionately address or visit the Kornfiend Training Center on Dale Road. abuse cases. the dignity of the individual in the context Topping Out Ceremony The Family Wellness Warriors of facing life honestly, in a way that invites th Initiative (FWWI) addresses the core heart change. To date, over 500 people July 26 marked another special moment for the issues of abuse from the perspective of statewide have received direct training to Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center when emotional, mental, spiritual and physical respond to and to help prevent domestic the Iron Workers Local 751 performed the “topping out” wellness. The goal is to break the cycle of violence, abuse and neglect in Anchorage ceremony. “Topping out” is the term used by ironworkers abuse in Alaska in this generation. and throughout the State of Alaska. to indicate that the final piece of steel is being hoisted into place on a building. The project is not complete, Intervention is aimed at healing the Registration costs are $475 per person damage of abuse and preventing future but it has reached its maximum height. To with a $50 non refundable registration fee commemorate this first milestone the final piece of iron abuse, for men and women whose lives and any applicable transportation costs. have been touched by domestic violence, th is usually hoisted into place with a small evergreen tree Ryan McCarty Those who register by September 10 will and an American flag attached. child or sexual abuse. Although receive a $75 dollar discount. Those who Southcentral Foundation’s primary focus cannot afford the registration cost can is to serve Alaska Native people, both apply for a limited number of scholarships. Native and non-Native individuals, Space is limited, so participants must families and communities are welcome and complete the application process as soon encouraged to attend FWWI events. as possible. For additional information The Initiative is unique because it does about the conference, please contact not just treat symptoms, FWWI addresses Family Wellness Warrior’s Initiative at and promotes healing for wounded hearts (907) 729-5440 or email Clair Kee at and minds through intensive training and [email protected]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Interior Aleutians Campus Do you like animals? The UAF Veterinary Science Program could be for you! Fun things you will learn: Basic animal care & husbandry knowledge, protecting animals from disease, how to work with food animals--all while working toward a certificate degree or higher! Scholarships are available! For more information, call toll-free 888-474-5207. Cultural Programs and Exhibit Task Force Tanana Chiefs Conference has hired Dixie Alexander of Athabascan Designs as a short-term contractor to assist with the development of the exhibits and cultural programs for the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Dixie worked with Doyon, Limited in selecting and acquiring art pieces for their facility. Her experience Wood Energy Conference with the artist community and with cultural events and programs will be invaluable to the project. We look forward to working with Dixie. In cooperation with the Alaska Wood Energy Development Task Group Antlers Needed (AWEDTG), TCC will be hosting a statewide conference on wood energy this fall. The AWEDTG is a group of organizations and agencies from around Alaska whose We’re looking for more than 500 moose, caribou or reindeer antlers to be used in mission is to increase the use of wood for energy and biofuels production in Alaska. an antler arch on the Center’s grounds. If you have some to donate, either from your The conference will be held at the Chena River Convention Center in Fairbanks on home or from fall hunting and berry picking trips, call (907) 459-3880 or email November 14-15, and will involve speakers, presentations, and demonstrations on [email protected] or drop them off at TCC. the opportunities and technologies available to help Alaska communities use local forest resources to become more energy self-sufficient. The conference is titled “Alaska Wood Energy Conference: Renewable Energy for Alaskan Communities” and will be an exciting opportunity for people in our villages interested in energy issues to 2008 regional calendar become more informed on opportunities and potential with using wood and other forms of biomass for local energy production. We hope to see good representation We are happy to announce that preparation has begun for a 2008 regional from our villages at the conference, and will be working to pull together support to calendar! The deadline to submit photos is September 28, 2007-no exceptions! help people attend. Anybody who is interested in staying informed on the details of Email or phone Ginger Placeres, Editor, at [email protected] or toll- the conference should contact Will Putman, Director of TCC Forestry, toll-free at free at 800-478-6682 regarding electronic images (jpgs or eps only). Emailed 800-478-6682 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3373 or email photos should be 200 dpi and no less than 3 inches wide. Please identify the people [email protected]. We will keep you posted on conference details as the and location of the photo. Provide your name and phone number--photos will be conference organizing progresses. rejected if there is missing information. Photo credit will not be given due to the large amount of anticipated submissions. PAGE 2 • THE COUNCIL • AUGUST 2007 Tanana Chiefs Conference Human Resources Department By Sophie Brodigan, Director, Human Resources The Council is a monthly report to the member tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Earlier this month I reported on the Comp Analyst project; Joel Titus, Human Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Resources Generalist, has worked hard to complete this project. We were assured that and the Indian Health Service. Letters to the editor, other written contributions there would be about a week’s turnaround for them to complete it. This should be a and photo submissions are welcome. However, space is limited and program useful tool for us. oriented news has priority. TCC reserves the right to edit or reject material. Human Resources (HR) was also involved in Oracle Training the week of July 23- Letters and opinions are not necessarily the opinions of Tanana Chiefs 27. We received an introduction to the Oracle Human Capital Management Modules. We Conference. Material submitted anonymously will not be published. look forward to applying processes as Human Resources will begin the new hire and Contributions and questions may be directed to: employee maintenance this week. Gloria Finney, HR Program Assistant, will be The Council responsible for the data entry.