Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Lussier Receives National TERO Director of the Year Award

Reno, NV - During the Council for Tribal Employment Rights 34th Annual 2011 National TERO Convention held July 16-20, 2011 at the Peppermill Resort/Casino in Reno, NV, Red Lake TERO Director, Bryan Lussier, received the TERO Director of the Year Award.

Upon first hearing he was going to receive the award, Lussier thought his friends and colleagues were joking with him, since they always did that amongst one another. That was until it was announced at the awards ceremony at the Convention Banquet.

Lussier received the national award for identifying a contractor that turned out to be a front company for another organization and was attempting to contract with the Red Lake Band on some construction projects.

A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups or corporations. Front organizations can act for the parent group without the actions being attributed to the parent group. In the business world, front organizations such as front companies or shell corporations are used to shield the parent company from legal liability.

In order for contractor to contract through Red Lake’s TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Office), the business must be 51% Indian owned. This unnamed company tried to hire Native Americans as fronts to obtain the qualifications necessary to do the contract work. This company turned out not to be a legitimate company.

When it happened, other tribes began communicating with Red Lake’s TERO Program after 8 other tribes were alerted on this company, and in the end their efforts to try and conduct business with other tribes were thwarted.

Receiving the TERO Program of the Year went to the White Earth TERO Program.

This year’s national convention focused on the tremendous opportunities created by the diverse economic and community development of tribes. Tribes and Alaska Natives have exercised their sovereignty and invested in innovative economic ventures to create sustainable wealth, careers, entrepreneurships, and economic self-sufficiency. From the oceans to mountain peaks, the tundra to desert plateaus, the plains to thousands of lakes, Indian Nations anticipate considerable opportunity in manufacturing, natural resources and energy development, not to mention the $400 billion plus in construction projects that will take place on or within ten miles of an Indian reservation or Native village.

The Red Lake TERO Program is one of ten TERO programs in the Great Lakes Region that include the Bois Forte Band, the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Keweenah Indian Tribe, the Leech Lake Band, the Mille Lacs Band, the Oneida Tribe, the Stockbridge Munsee Community and the White Earth Band.

Red Lake’s TERO Office is a program that assists tribal members and descendants in services that are provided. These services include: training opportunities, job placement, gas vouchers, bus passes, relocation, car repairs, clothing/uniforms, ID’s and union dues.

The Tribal Employment Rights Office enforces the TERO Ordinance on or near the Red Lake Nation by protecting the Native American “preferential” employment and contracting, improving wages, training careers and contracting, and assisting businesses to achieve TERO compliance.

TERO’s Job Skills Bank offers landscaping, roofing, drywall, painting, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, welding, heavy equipment operation, road construction, security and labor both skilled and unskilled.

Red Lake’s TERO staff members are Bryan Lussier Sr., Director, Pete Neadeau, Compliance Officer and Luwana Lasley, Secretary, and they are located in the New Beginnings building in Redby, Minnesota, 218-679-3350.

 

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