Demonstrations of two newly established career development programs on the Navajo Reservation will be opened to visitors July 9 and 10.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson said that the programs at Tuba City, Arizona, and Shiprock, New Mexico, have been proposed as models for other reservations. BIA officials from all regions of the country, as well as congressional, state and tribal representatives have been invited to see demonstrations of the program operations.
The purpose of the new program is to help Indians successfully choose and pursue a career as well as to channel community manpower potential to fit community needs.
Testing, counseling and career information services are provided by specially trained staff members in newly equipped analysis and referral centers. Programmed kits of audiovisual materials are available to enable individuals to learn about the opportunities and challenges of different occupations or professions on and off the reservation. The programs are also developing skills banks on job applicants and job banks on skills needs of their areas. The area job needs banks will also be used by the counselors.
This is a new effort by BIA and the Navajo Tribe to link training and education to career and employment needs.
