State of Our Workforce: Closing the Equity Gap for Native American Workers

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Michelle Wilson and Natasha Hail discuss the importance of equitable workforce development in Native communities. Natasha shares insights from the 'Supporting Native Workforce Development' guide, emphasizing cultural preservation, language justice, and creating an economy that aligns with tribal values. They explore challenges such as the impact of federal policies and the need for allyship in advancing Native workforce initiatives. Highlighting success stories in Native communities, Natasha emphasizes the need for place-based solutions and resilience in the face of systemic inequities, while looking forward to further collaboration and growth in the coming year.

Takeaways

• 😀 The conversation centers around Workforce Innovation and the goal of building an equitable workforce, with a specific focus on Native nations and communities.
• 😀 Natasha Hail from Workforce Matters discusses their work supporting Native Workforce Development and the creation of a guide for funders to support initiatives in Indian Country.
• 😀 The guide, titled 'Supporting Native Workforce Development: A Guide for Funders', provides an overview of current policies, successful programs, and the unique challenges faced by Native communities in workforce development.
• 😀 Successful Native workforce programs often emphasize preserving language, responding to rural community needs, and ensuring programs align with Native cultural values and identities.
• 😀 The concept of 'relatives' is central in Native communities, reframing workforce participants as family members rather than just workers, to better align with the cultural values of care and mutual support.
• 😀 Language justice is a key component of advancing workforce equity in Native communities. The preservation and revitalization of Native languages are critical aspects of workforce initiatives.
• 😀 Funders need to reconsider their approach to workforce development, considering cultural context and the unique needs of Native communities, rather than focusing solely on performance metrics designed for outside groups.
• 😀 There is a concern that current federal and state policies, which often undermine tribal sovereignty, could pose challenges for Native workforce development efforts, particularly under changing political administrations.
• 😀 Allyship plays a role in supporting Native workforce initiatives, but it must be considered carefully in the context of respecting sovereignty and ensuring that the needs of Native communities are met on their terms.
• 😀 The conversation also highlights successful initiatives in Native communities, such as training programs in solar energy and cultural media projects, demonstrating how economic development can align with cultural preservation and community needs.
• 😀 Moving forward, the discussion will likely focus on the growth of Native workforce initiatives, how funders are responding to opportunities in Indian Country, and how climate change initiatives are shaping the future workforce for Native communities.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Workforce Matters as discussed by Natasha?

Workforce Matters is a national network of grantmakers focused on strengthening workforce development in underserved communities, particularly Native Nations. It aims to dismantle inequities based on race, gender, and ability, and advance educational and employment outcomes for youth and adults.

What is the significance of the 'Supporting Native Workforce Development' guide mentioned in the conversation?

The guide, titled 'Supporting Native Workforce Development: A Guide for Funders,' aims to synthesize and provide an overview of the state of Native workforce development. It addresses the historical policies impacting Native communities, successful Native workforce programs, and how to design programs that are culturally appropriate and effective.

How does Workforce Matters define success in Native workforce development?

Success in Native workforce development is defined by the wellness of workers and their families, cultural pride, and strong Native nations. It also focuses on community-driven design and metrics that are based on Native perspectives rather than external, performance-based metrics.

What role does language justice play in Native workforce development?

Language justice is integral to Native workforce development as many Native communities aim to preserve their language. Workforce development programs are designed to incorporate language preservation into training, creating a workforce that values and protects cultural and linguistic heritage.

What challenges are funders facing when supporting Native workforce development, especially regarding language preservation?

Funders face the challenge of supporting initiatives that preserve Native languages while aligning with federal and philanthropic funding structures. These challenges include navigating performance-based systems that may not accommodate culturally specific goals like language preservation and community-centered economic development.

How do Native nations approach economic development differently from mainstream industries?

Native nations approach economic development with a focus on cultural sustainability and self-determination. They seek to build economies that reflect their values, such as language preservation, land stewardship, and community well-being, rather than focusing solely on external industrial goals like job placement or profit maximization.

What is the current political climate regarding equity initiatives, especially for Native nations?

Native nations continue to face challenges from federal and state governments attempting to undermine their sovereignty. Despite these efforts, Native nations are resilient and have always advocated for their rights. The political climate remains difficult, but Native nations are working to organize and hold their ground.

What role can allyship play in the current political and economic landscape for Native nations?

Allyship is crucial for Native nations in advocating for sovereignty and economic justice. Allies can support Native nations by amplifying their voices, ensuring resources are allocated in ways that align with Native priorities, and working cross-racially to challenge systemic inequities.

Can you provide an example of successful Native workforce development initiatives?

An example is the work being done in the Pueblo of New Mexico, where communities are organizing around language preservation and integrating it into workforce development. Another example is the solar energy training programs for Native youth, which align with green technology and environmental sustainability.

What future topics does Natasha want to discuss in future conversations about Native workforce development?

Natasha wants to discuss the growth of Native workforce initiatives, how funders are responding to the needs of Indian Country, the creation of jobs around climate change, and the rise of young Native people engaging with sustainability and environmental issues in workforce development.