Bureau of Indian Education Safe Schools Summit

Lamar Associates was honored and pleased to coordinate the December 8, 2009 Bureau of Indian Education Safe Schools Summit. The Summit was convened at the Department of the Interior with the goal of bringing Federal agencies together in collaborative partnerships to ensure a safe and drug free environment for the 44,000 students in BIE funded schools.

FBI, DEA, EPA, US Secret Service, US Marshals Service, White House ONDCP, FCC, SAMHSA, State Department, DOI Law Enforcement, BIA Law Enforcement, DOI Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, Indian Health Service, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Department of Justice COPS Office, DOJ BJA, DOJ Tribal Services, BIE Line Officers and tribal school officials were all present at the historic and unprecedented event.

Lamar Associates applauds the vision of BIE leadership which is focused on safe and drug free schools for Indian Country youth.

BAT - Mobile Launched

Steve Juneau is pictured with Matthew Pryor, Special Agent in Charge and Danny Breuninger, Acting Associate Deputy Director - both of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. The occasion is the launching of
two BAT-Mobiles in Billings, Montana. The units are the first in the nation to be deployed in Indian Country.

The two units represent the latest tool in an ongoing effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities on the state's reservations. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, American Indians comprise 6.2 percent of the state's population but they represent about 17 percent of the crash victims in the state and about 25 percent of alcohol-related fatalities.

The units will be used at traffic checkpoints, held especially during high-traffic times, such as holiday seasons and special events. It would allow more accurate DUI testing to be done on the spot, in a controlled setting.

Lamar Associates is currently engaged in a pilot project with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop an Indian Country highway safety information sharing and reporting platform.

Click on the title to read more.

National American Indian Housing Council

While in Palm Springs at the National Congress of American Indians conference, Walter and Steve had an opportunity to visit with Mellor Willie, Director, National American Indian Housing Council. Lamar Associates provides training for NAIHC so we were pleased to discuss with Director Willie the training program's success.

On October 27 - 28, 2009, Steve - VP/Director of Training; Kodi Owens - Training Coordinator; Dr. Ron Glensor - Community Oriented Policing Instructor; and Joesph H. Rosen, J.D. - Criminal Jurisdiction Instructor, were in Anchorage, Alaska presenting Anti-meth Training to tribal housing participants from the Alaska and the lower 48.

We very much appreciate our partnership with NAIHC.

To learn more about Director Willie click on the title.

Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs at NCAI

Palm Springs, California

Steve and Walter are pictured with Mr. Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs. Much to the relief and delight of Indian Country, Mr. Echo Hawk has designated law enforcement a high priority. Considering Indian Country law enforcement has for decades operated in a jurisdictional maze with deficient numbers of officers and equipment, the priority is rightly placed. Mr. Echo Hawk's commitment, movement on the Indian Law and Order Bill, budget increases and Department of Justice's Indian Country re-emphasis will all serve to make desperately needed improvements.

We told Mr. Echo Hawk Lamar Associates enthusiastically stands at the ready to assist the effort.

Please click on the title to learn more about ASIA Echo Hawk.

Holocaust Memorial Museum

On November 5, 2009, Walter will have the honor of speaking to the employees of the Holocaust Memorial Museum as they celebrate Native American Heritage Month. The presentation will include an overview of Walter's law enforcement career and discussion relating to his Blackfeet and Wichita ancestry. Speaking in this place which memorializes the suffering, death and survival of millions will be a somber yet energizing experience.

Larry Parkinson - Deputy Assistant Secretary

On September 28th Walter had an opportunity to visit with Mr. Larry Parkinson who serves as the Department of the Interior's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management. Mr. Parkinson maintains oversight responsibility in those areas for the Department. Within his purview are the Bureau of Indian Affairs - law enforcement, security and emergency services programs.

Walter is always willing to offer his thoughts and ideas to improve services for Indian Country.

Click on the title to learn more about Mr. Parkinson.

National Indian Health Board Conference

Steve Juneau presented at the conference on behalf of Lamar Associates.

Dear Mr. Walter Lamar:

On behalf of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), thank you for your participation and support of our 26^th Annual NIHB Consumer Conference in Washington, D.C. Over 400 participants attended our informational plenary sessions and 35 different workshops while approximately 33 different vendors and exhibitors were showcased during the conference. This conference brought together Tribal leaders, federal representatives, health providers, and others from across Indian Country, and your expertise and enthusiasm were valuable to the success of our conference.

We deeply appreciate the sacrifice of your time, your efforts and the willingness to travel to attend our conference; we are grateful for your dedication to Indian Country. Because of your vast experience in the Indian health field, we feel your participation was of great benefit to our conference attendees.

Your support of the NIHB Annual Consumer Conference helps us in the advancement of our overall mission to eliminate health disparities in Indian Country. We hope we can continue to count on your support of our organization and its mission to advocate on behalf of all Tribal Governments and American Indians/Alaska Natives for quality health care.

Thank you for your part in making this year’s 26^th Annual Consumer Conference a success and we hope to see you at the next year’s conference.

Sincerely,

Reno Keoni Franklin

Chairman, National Indian Health Board

Stacy A. Bohlen

We've Moved

Lamar Associates has made the move to wonderful Albuquerque, New Mexico!!! Our headquarters has moved from Washington, DC to beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico effective immediately. We will maintain an office in DC, however, it will only be occupied part-time. Our telephone numbers remain the same but please see our new mailing address.

Please note our new MAILING address:

Lamar Associates
Po Box 7960
Albuquerque, NM 87194

Oh, in case you have not noticed, our friends, associates, clients and relatives, have visited this blog 1000 times!!! Thank you and keep coming back.