Business, industry, and Government in the Washington, D.C., area now have a convenient source of Indian skill, talent and labor, Robert L. Bennett, Commissioner of Indian Affairs said, in announcing the opening of a Field Employment Assistance Office, in the Bureau of Indian Affairs building, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW.
This is the eighth such "Indian Employment Agency" to be run by the Bureau, the Commissioner pointed out. The others operate in Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland-San Francisco, and San Jose, Calif.
The Washington, D.C., office is headed by Mary Ellen Rawley, until recently director of the Seattle, Wash., Orientation Center, a Halfway House conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Eskimos, Indians, and Aleuts of Alaska relocating to the "lower 48."
Any Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut on or near a reservation or trust land may request the help of the Bureau in finding a job in Washington, D.C. and relocating here, Miss Rawley said. An Indian who relocates ordinarily does so because the economic base of his reservation is too small or too poor to provide sufficient new job opportunities; or because of interest in a field not available locally.
The Employment Assistance Office gets details of possible jobs from a prospective employer. It attempts to have interviews available for a specific Indian applicant before he arrives in Washington, D.C.
The Indian jobseeker makes his wish to leave his reservation known to his local Bureau of Indian Affairs agency. He is counseled on possible vocations to enter and suitable geographic locations available. Those who specifically request Washington, D.C., may be attracted by the type of work here or personal factors, Miss Rawley said.
The Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut may come to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by automobile, bus, train, or airplane.
In any case, he is met by a member of the staff of the Employment Assistance office and taken to temporary housing.
Orientation is conducted by the Employment Assistance office before and after the relocate is placed in a job. The Bureau of Indian Affairs makes an effort to see that the newcomer has found permanent housing as attractive as he can afford, knows the fundamentals of budgeting a paycheck, has met a minister of his church, and located a suitable school if children are involved. Counseling to ease the transition from the previous rural environment to urban living is available.
Since the Washington, D.C. Employment Assistance office was opened in mid-summer, 31 Indian, Eskimo and Aleut jobseekers have been placed, Miss Rawley said. Among other employers, they are now working for the Department of State, Department of Defense, Indian Claims Commission, Philco-Ford Corp., U.S. Public Health Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Senator George S. McGovern of South Dakota, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, FBI, Giant Food Corp., the Girl Scouts of America, Smithsonian Institution, and the Department of the Interior.
Prospective employers who wish to consider "hiring Indian" are urged to get in touch with the Washington, D.C. Employment Assistance office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs by calling Mary Ellen Rawley, 343-3331.
