Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton and Civil Service Commission Chairman Robert E. Hampton announced today the creation of a National Indian Training Center to be located at Brigham City, Utah.
The Center will provide in-service and preparatory training for Indian men and women seeking employment and advancement in Federal, State and tribal government jobs.
Secretary Morton made the announcement while visiting Salt Lake City today on a leg of his month-long tour of Western States. He said:
"This unprecedented, large-scale management-and-operations training program for Indians is hopefully designed to bridge the gap between the dream and the reality of Indian direction of Indian affairs. We will be seeking to uncover and develop enough Indian talents to assure that tribal government and other government programs are providing the maximum in benefits to the Indian people.
"We are grateful to Chairman Hampton and the training experts of the U. S. Civil Service Commission for smoothing the way for this program to be put into effect," Secretary Morton added.
It is expected that upwards of 500 Indians may be enrolled annually in the program. Plans calls for continuing expansion of the curricula as new personnel needs emerge.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Civil Service Commission will jointly operate the Center. Scheduled to open September 1, 1971, it will be located on the campus of Intermountain School, a Bureau of Indian Affairs facility.
Modern, well-equipped classrooms, a 25,OOO-volume library, and extensive audio-visual equipment will be available through the BIA's Instructional Services Center at Intermountain, where educational materials are produced and teacher training programs are developed for BIA schools.
The Indian Training Center will offer a broad range of training and re- training courses, with particular emphasis being given to preparing Indians for management jobs in government and tribal agencies. Courses will also be available to Federal, State and local government employees who are non-Indian and whose agencies have direct involvement with various aspects of Indian affairs.
Training opportunities will also be provided at tribal sites as well as at Brigham City. Tribal leaders will be consulted in determining training needs and developing courses to meet those needs and developing courses to meet those needs.
Technical manpower for course development and instruction will be provided by the Denver Regional Training Center of the U. S. Civil Service Commission and by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Personnel of both agencies, and of other Federal agencies, tribal groups and educational institutions, will conduct the classes.
