HISTORY/BACKGROUND
The Tribal Service Delivery Area (TSDA) and Tribal Private Industry Council (TPIC) came into existence in 1983.
On February 9, 1983 Robert S. Segelbaum, Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona, sent a memo to Eddie F. Brown, Office of Intergovernmental Operations, in which he wrote:
“I have reviewed the material which you have provided me with regard to the JTPA and have had a meeting with Joe Sparks, Attorney for ITCA. Both Joe and I firmly believe that the JTPA does permit the development of a Tribal SDA separate and apart from the SDA for non-reservation areas. Not only would such a Tribal SDA meet the requirements of the JTPA, but same would be preferred based on an historical basis alone.”
Other interesting and noteworthy comments in Attorney Segelbaum’s memo include:
The Governor can designate an all-reservation service delivery area. Such an area would be comprised of the entire state; would promote effective delivery of job training services, and is consistent with areas in which related services are provided under state or federal programs.
While the act provides that Indian tribes are to be represented on local PIC’s the potential of abuse and subliminal discrimination is present. The recognition of an all reservation SDA would not be creating a new “sub-state” jurisdiction but would recognize the historical relationships between the tribal governments and the state government.
An executive order created the Presidential Commission on Indian Reservation Economics of January 14, 1983 when it was declared the policy of the President to “develop a stronger private sector on federally recognized Indian Reservations, lessen tribal dependence on federal monies and programs and reduce the federal presence in Indian affairs”. The underlying principles of that commission are stated to be the government-to-government relationship, the established federal policy of self determination and a federal trust responsibility.
The statute required the establishment of Private Industry Councils (PIC) in every service delivery area to consist of representatives of the private sector including owners of private businesses, chief executives of non-governmental employers and representatives of educational agencies, organized labor, rehabilitation agencies, community based organizations, economic development agencies and the public employment service. Tribal governments are included within the definition of a “community base organization”. Inasmuch as tribal enterprises are considered private sector employers, the PIC membership could be established so that Indians would constitute a majority of the members.
The Governor of Arizona designated the Tribal Service Delivery Area and a Tribal Private Industry Council was formed. The area included all of the tribes in Arizona, excluding the Navajo Nation.
The JTPA was repealed with the enactment of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. Governors of each state were required to designate service delivery areas, and Arizona Governor Jane D. Hull designated the Tribal Service Delivery Area as the Tribal Workforce Investment Area.
On July 14, 1999 the Tribal Private Industry Council met at the Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker, Arizona. The members voted to approve the name of “Nineteen Tribal Nations Workforce Investment Area” (NTNWIA) to identify our service delivery area and “Nineteen Tribal Nations Workforce Investment Board” (NTNWIB) to identify the board.
On November 19, 1999, the council again met at the Blue Water Resort and Casino and officially transitioned itself to the “Nineteen Tribal Nations Workforce Investment Board”. New bylaws incorporating changes to comply with the WIA law were approved, and board members were added to comply with the law.
The Nineteen Tribal Nations Workforce Investment Board is the only one of its’ kind. In other states, tribes are included in the traditional workforce investment area. Only in Arizona is there a separate Tribal Workforce Investment Area.
Each of the Arizona tribes, excluding the Navajo Nation, is entitled to representation on the NTNWIB. The representatives are appointed by the respective Tribal Chairperson or Council, and then their membership on the NTNWIB is automatic. While an individual may also represent another membership entity, tribal representatives are also considered to be Business/Private Sector representatives.
The NTNWIB ensures its’ members represent all of the required partners to comply with the law.