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National Native American Veterans Leadership Conference -
Albuquerque, NM
July 29, 2002
Good afternoon everyone.
I want to thank Mike D'Arco and the New Mexico Veterans' Service
Commission for extending me the privilege of speaking at this important
conference.
I was particularly pleased to accept when I found out the meeting was
in Albuquerque.
I attended the University of New Mexico and began my career as a
veterans' advocate here, serving as a district director for the Veterans of
Foreign Wars back in (year?). Albuquerque has changed a lot since then. It's
grown, diversified, and become a metropolis in the Southwest.
Unfortunately, there are some things that have not changed so
spectacularly for the better.
Some of them are the issues being discussed at this conference.
Native American veterans, wherever they may reside, still remain
America's invisible veterans.
I know Hollywood has recently given some belated recognition to the
role of Navajo code talkers in World War II.
Some historians may know that Native Americans served in our nation's
armed forces even before they were recognized as citizens with the right to
vote.
That five Native Americans have won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
And that today there are more than 190,000 Native American veterans.
But how many of us - and I must include government officials and policy
makers in this - truly understand the critical issues facing Native American
veterans in the areas of health care, housing, education, training, vocational
rehabilitation, disability compensation, and other important social programs?
That's why we have come together at this magnificent Cultural Center.
To put a spotlight on these issues, to gather information, and make
recommendations so that Native American veterans will be invisible no longer.
We must recognize and celebrate the special assets Native American
veterans bring -- a rich diversity of cultural experiences and sensitivities; a
commitment to integrating the needs of family with the demands of work; a
holistic concept of the relationship between society and the natural elements
that support it.
I am working to foster this kind of holistic approach for improving the
Veterans' Employment and Training Service.
And I know my friends Tony Principi and Leo McKay are doing the same
thing at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Bringing together such a broad a diverse group of experts like those
gathered here can generate powerful impetus for change and improvement.
President Bush's management agenda calls for a one-government approach
to providing programs and services and I agree with that approach for veterans'
services.
Veterans don't really care what agency administers the services they
need. They just want to know that they can count on getting what they need when
they need it.
Native American veterans understand, probably better than any other
group of veterans, that the best programs and services are no good if you can't
get to them; if they don't reach you where you live and work. A real life
example of this problem that comes to mind is the tragedy of Ira Hayes.
A true hero who overcame so much adversity only to die alone and
neglected.
We can only wonder what he could have accomplished with his life after
Iwo Jima if he had gotten the help and support he so desperately needed.
We cannot allow this generation of Native American veterans to suffer
the way Ira Hayes did.
We're trying out different approaches to overcoming these barriers.
Technology is one of the best ways I know of bringing information to
people no matter where they are.
We've just created a new Internet gateway that puts hundreds of web
sites with information for veterans just one click away. It's called e-VETS and
the web address is on the cards that I've left on the information table.
But what if you don't have a computer or can't get to one easily?
Technology was never intended to be a substitute for personal service -
for people to people interaction.
That's where our veterans' employment representatives - DVOPs and LVERs
-- perform an irreplaceable service.
I believe every veteran who looks to the public employment service
system deserves to find a good job and have a better life. DVOPs and LVERs are
trained in case management to bring individualized services to every veteran
that needs it.
They know the local labor markets, the employment trends, and the
employers who have jobs that match the skills of the veterans they serve.
In states with significant Native American populations, I want to work
with our state partners to make sure that DVOPs and LVERs are located, at least
part of the time, in rural areas and in locations convenient to Native American
veterans. We are re-engineering our Transition Assistance Program workshops for
recently separating service members.
These workshops will give our 21st century veterans the information
they need to be successful in our 21st century economy.
But information about available jobs is useless unless you have the
skills necessary to qualify for them.
And very often, Native American veterans need additional skill training
to qualify for good, career-building jobs.
While most of the job training funds allocated to VETS under the
Workforce Investment Act goes to states under a competitive process, I, as
assistant secretary, do have discretionary funds available.
July 1 began our new program year funding.
I would like to see proposals for training and job placement programs
geared to the particular needs of Native American veterans.
You know the situations in your communities; you know the organizations
that can provide the services.
Get together with your tribal leadership and develop a concept paper
that I can react to.
Demonstration projects on the local level are the best laboratories in
which to test new and innovative programs.
I know that in the past VETS has funded grants to serve Native American
veterans.
I would like to see VETS again be able to fund projects to help Native
American veterans obtain training and job placement services.
Let's see if this conference can open a dialogue between VETS and
Native American veterans organizations that will lead to programs tailored to
Native American veterans.
The People of the Seven Council Fires [this is how tribes of the Sioux
nation refer to themselves] have a prayer that says we are all relatives; we
are all within the circle of life.
When we put on that uniform, whether Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force, or
Coast Guard we became one and the same, men and women who are dedicated to
carrying on the task given to us by those who preceded us. In this way we
secure the liberties that all human beings deserve to enjoy in our global
community.
When we are relatives, we have obligations to each other; we have a
responsibility to care for each other.
In that spirit, I wish you every success in building a brighter future
for the generations yet to come.
Thank you.
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