It appears that some of our outstanding programs/organizations have only just one or two Native people integrated in upper-level management. I personally have seen hard-working Indian people within the entry-level jobs but in upper management there are few Native people.

Who are the directors, managers, grant writers? How was the selection considered? Were Native Americans actively sought for the positions?

I know many qualified, college-educated Native Americans living in the area that have been actively seeking employment with no luck. Some individuals shared with me that they called the agencies and asked why they were not considered, with poor adequate response.

This totally baffles me. We have not even discussed the issue of good role models in programs that serve 19.9 percent of the Indian population that reside in Beltrami County.

I am no expert nor am I attacking individuals, programs or suggesting Indians should be considered first. What I am suggesting is that this view should change. It appears to anyone watching the community closely that there is a problem.

The appearance looks like a lot of minimal community interaction, communication and cultural misunderstanding.

It feels offensive when programs in our area are asked to verify the native population that they could serve, and even submit grants that identify the program goals will directly serve Native Americans, but yet qualified, educated Native Americans are not considered to be employed by that program.

I did ask a few programs, with the response — no Native Americans applied, the job postings were put out!

I suggest that perhaps a better approach with a grass-roots effort might work. How does one often know about jobs in our beautiful north woods? Many times it goes by word of mouth before it even hits the paper.

Let us consider with the economics of our area that many do not even have access on the reservation and rural communities to media much less Internet?

I ask our wonderful programs — truly seek out and you will find such a beautiful diversity of people in our area qualified for these positions other than the same old same old. We can change, it would not hurt us. I do believe it is not always racism but fear itself. The fear of the unknown!

Audrey Thayer