Recent News
KIC Awarded Student Strength Tribal Strength Grant
KIC was awarded a two-year grant from the Administration for Native Americans for the Student Strength, Tribal Strength project which seeks to improve interoperability between the tribal community and local school district. In particular, project funds will be used to reconstitute the Indian Education Board, provide training workshops for parents and tribal leaders, and work towards the development of an MOA between KIC, Organized Village of Saxman and the local school district. Our tribal community’s future is directly linked to our young people; ensuring the unique educational needs of our tribal students are met is a necessary investment.
KIC is currently recruiting a project coordinator. For more information contact HR at 228-4900 or Cara Wallace (Project Director) at 228-9230. Parent workshops beginning in March 2012.
KETCHIKAN INDIAN COMMUNITY FIRST IN ALASKA TO INTRODUCE BERT APPRENTICESHIP
Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) is proud to announce it is the first entity in Alaska to sponsor the Building Energy Retrofit Technician (BERT) apprenticeship developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. Robert Boyd and Samson Mullenax were recently indentured and will complete their registered apprenticeship while working for KIC’s Weatherization Program over the next year. Robert Boyd recently changed careers after working in sales. He is the son of Claudia Boyd of Saxman. Samson Mullenax is a recent graduate of Ketchikan High School and the Ketchikan Construction Academy. He is the son of Harvey Mullenax of Ketchikan. Both apprentices will complete their on-the-job learning under the tutelage of Sam Bergeron, an experienced journey worker and KIC’s Weatherization Manager. “KIC’s leadership in program sponsored apprenticeships, like BERT, is an example of the high-quality vocational training offered by the Southern Southeast Alaska Technical Education Center,” said Chas Edwardson, KIC Workforce Development Director.
Apprenticeships combined on-the-job learning and related technical instruction to ensure workers learn practical and theoretical aspects of their occupation. The 2,000 hour program will expose apprentices to a variety of work processes including building inspection, diagnostics, retrofitting, building repairs and energy systems. University of Alaska Southeast will provide 144 hours of related technical instruction for the apprentices during Winter 2012. According to John Hakala, State Director for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, “BERT was developed in partnership with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, University of Alaska Southeast Construction Technology program, Tribal Housing Authorities and building contractors. The goal of the one-year apprenticeship program is to develop a qualified and skilled workforce for home energy efficiency and weatherization programs across the state.”
Weatherization installers and technicians are considered “Bright Outlook” occupations by the U.S. Department of Labor, with projected job growth much faster than the average occupation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 20%+ increase in weatherization jobs over the period 2008-2018. Alaskans, exposed to more severe weather conditions, benefit from weatherization services which reduce the cost of energy for families and improve the safety of their homes.
For more information about KIC’s Apprenticeship Program, please contact: Chas Edwardson at (907) 228-9365.
(Left to Right): Robert Boyd, Sam Bergeron, Samson Mullenax. Photo Credit: Mary Jones
Ketchikan Indian Community Awarded Social and Economic Development Strategies Tribal Governance – SEDS TG Grant from the Administration for Native Americans
Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) has been awarded a competitive two-year $322,392 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans.
SEDS TG funds tribal governance projects that strengthen the internal capacity and infrastructure of tribal governments to increase services provided to children and families. SEDS TG projects also emphasize increasing tribal governments’ ability to exercise local control and decision making over their resources.
Ketchikan Indian Community’s Student Strength, Tribal Strength seeks to improve interoperability between the tribal community and the local school district by empowering tribal leaders and parents to advocate for tribal youth’s educational rights. In particular, project funds will be used to reconstitute the Indian Education Board, provide training workshops for parents and tribal leaders, and work towards the development of a Memorandum of Agreement for interoperability between KIC, the Organized Village of Saxman, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District.
The project begins September 30, 2011 and will end on September 29, 2013. The Tribe anticipates a project coordinator will begin providing activities outlined in the grant beginning in January 2012.