Government Relations Council

Background

The Government Relations Council (GRC), established in 1984 is comprised of government employees throughout the United States. The GRC works to establish working relationships between AISES and government agencies. The GRC meets twice a year at the site of the AISES Annual Conference.

Purpose

In order to increase the representation of American Indian students in the science and engineering fields, the purpose of the GRC is to identify government resources, develop strategies, and promote government careers.

Goals

• To place American Indians into government jobs by working closely with the AISES student chapters, tribal colleges and other colleges with high American Indian enrollment.
• To coordinate and participate in government sponsored workshops at the National AISES Conference and Regional Conferences.
• To provide information on GRC activities. This includes the development of news items for publication in the Winds of Change magazine and to share information on agency American Indian programs.
• To make recommendations on ways to fund AISES and actively support conference and student chapter events and identify student employment programs supported by direct agency funding.

Employment Opportunities

The term government includes Federal, State, County, Local and Tribal governments. Employment opportunities are available in a wide variety of occupations throughout the United States. Occupations include biology, engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, accounting, medicine and education. Most employment opportunities with the Federal government can be found at: www.usajobs.opm.gov. If you would like to discuss career opportunities with the Federal government, please feel free to call or e-mail any of the GRC Representatives or GRC Regional Representatives.

GRC REPRESENTATIVES

For information about the AISES GRC, call or write to:

Co-Chair
Amanda James (Pyramid Lake Paiute)
Bureau of Land Management
Phone: (623) 580-5568
Email: amanda_james@blm.gov

Co-Chair
James Daugomah (Kiowa)
Bonneville Power Administration
Phone: (843) 762-8617
E-mail: james.daugomah@noaa.gov

Co-Chair
Noller Herbert (Navajo) 
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Phone:(202) 690-2152
E-mail: Noller.herbert@wdc.usda.gov
 

GRC REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Please feel free to call the following GRC Regional Representatives. They have indicated an interest in assisting AISES student chapters with general information on their agency, government employment and career opportunities and with student regional conferences.

REGION 1
AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY

Dora C. Reyes
EEO Manager/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876
Phone: (509) 527-7081
Fax: (509) 527-7806
E-mail: dora.c.reyes@npwol.usace.army.mil

Johnny Duplantis
(United Houma Nation)
Alaska Native Liaison/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 898, Anchorage, AK
Phone: (907) 753-2829
Fax: (907) 753-5526
E-mail: Johnny.J.Duplantis@poa02.usace.army.mil

REGION 2
CA, HI, NV

Bruce Williams
(Navajo)
Hydraulic Engineer/Department of Interior - Bureau of Reclamation
P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006-1470
Phone: (702) 293-8571
Fax: (702) 293-8042
E-mail: bwilliams@lc.usbr.gov

REGION 3
AZ, CO, NM, UT

Ophelia Goatson
(Navajo)
U.S. Forest Service
Email: ogoatson@fs.fed.us

AZ - Noller Herbert
(Navajo)
Civil Engineer, USDA/NRCS
Phone:(202) 690-2152
E-mail: Noller.herbert@wdc.usda.gov  

REGION 4
AR, KS, LA, MS, MO, OK, TX

Jade Vardeman
(Cherokee)
Biological Lab Technician, USDA/ARS/NPA
Insect Resistant Packaging and Insect Monitoring
1515 College Ave
Manhattan, KS 66502
E-mail: vardeman@usgmrl.ksu.edu

REGION 5
IA, IL, MN, NB, ND, SD, WI

Louis Erdrich, P.E.
(Turtle Mountain Chippewa)
Director, OEH&E, IHS Bemidji Area Office
522 Minnesota Avenue, RM 216A
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 444-0507
Fax: (218) 444-0510 (fax)
Email: louis.erdrich@mail.IHS.GOV

REGION 6
CT, DE, IN, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT

Vacant

REGION 7
AL, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV

Carl Etsitty
(Navajo)
Microbiologist/Environmental Scientist
EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (7511C)
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (703) 605-0749
Fax: (703) 308-7026
E-mail: Etsitty.Carl@epamail.epa.gov