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.

Steve Juneau at the White House

White House Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control

August 24, 2009, Lamar Associates was invited to a meeting at the White House to offer thoughts and ideas regarding gangs, drugs and violence in Indian Country. Steve Juneau, Vice President/Director of Training, represented us at the meeting and did a great job providing insight and information to top decision makers. Here he is pictured with Attorney General Holder and Drug Czar Kerlikowske.

The Attorney General is promoting the following:

1. Innovate. 2. Devise evidence-based strategies. 3. Show results. 4. Learn from peers. 5. Collaborate.

Click on the title to see the Attorney General's prepared remarks.

Ray Perales Joins Lamar Associates

Raymond Perales, is of Arapaho and Hispanic descent. His Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice experience spans over 22 years in key positions as Deputy Public Safety Director and Director of Juvenile Services for the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. He also served as Chief of Police of the Poplar City Police Department in Northeast Montana, and as a consultant for over fifteen years on various Tribal/U.S. Department of Justice initiatives throughout “Indian Country”.

As a consultant and trainer Ray has worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), Tribal Law & Policy Institute, the University of Alaska, the National Judicial College, and numerous Tribal communities throughout the United States.

He is a certified instructor through the National Institute of Ethics and as a Community Policing trainer through the Western Regional Institute for Community-Oriented Public Safety (WRICOPS), and as a “Community Policing in Indian Country” Instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

His experience with Community Policing and Native Youth gangs began in the early 1990s, and he is a 1997 “Top Cops” award recipient, given by the National Association of Police Organizations.

We welcome Ray and know his professionalism and expertise will ensure Lamar Associates continues to provide the best possible service to Indian Country.

Lamar Associates Officially Launches a New Division

Lamar Associates announces the official formation of our new Division - Indian Country Training. The new division will ensure the continued excellence in training started under the Lamar Associates banner, but will ensure the necessary resources are dedicated to the rapidly developing demand for our training in all topics related to Indian Country law enforcement, prescription drug abuse and diversion, anti-methamphetamine, gangs and community oriented policing.

The new division will be headed by our Director of Training, Steven Juneau. In less than two years Lamar Associates and Indian Country Training have provided training to over 1300 Indian Country participants.

We look forward to collaborating with you to bring our expert presenters to your area.

Click on our new banner to see it in full size.

Indian Country Today (audio) - Prescription Drug Abuse

Walter appeared with host Ray Cook on the radio show In Depth, an Indian Country Today feature. Prescription Drug Abuse in Indian Country was the topic.

Click the title to listen in.

Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE)

On June 4, 2009 Walter Lamar and Patrick Shining Elk conducted a session on Methamphetamine in Indian Country at the Annual SAIGE Conference held in San Diego, CA. Walter talked about the history of meth and Mexican cartel case studies that relate to Indian Country.

Patrick, a Shoshone from the Wind River Reservation, is a veteran Hollywood movie actor and stuntman. He offered candid insights into his personal struggles with meth. His presentation was a powerful message that needs to get out to our youth, Indian Country-wide. His story riveted folks to their seats.

Both Walter and Patrick appreciate being invited to speak to American Indian Government Employees.

Click the title to visit the SAIGE website.

Tulsa Anti-Meth Training

Pictured is Lamar Associates' Vice-President Steven Juneau with James L. Capra, Dallas Division DEA Special Agent in Charge.

On the morning of May 18, 2009 SAC Capra welcomed 70 plus participants of the Lamar Associates Anti-meth training convened in Tulsa, OK.

Three Lamar Associates instructors, including VP Juneau, presented the attendees two days of training that offered information on the methamphetamine issue in Indian Country and affirmative steps to collaborate through problem solving and community policing. Materials included an agenda; Indian Country Anti-meth CD-ROM containing dozens of documents, Power Point presentations and templates; DOJ-COPS publications - Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse; Drug Sales In Open Air Markets; Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs; and DOJ-COPS CD-ROMs of Tribal Resources and Drug and Crime.

One participant wrote, "Great Training!! Will definitely be able to help us develop a coalition at our tribe."

Native America Calling

Walter appeared on Native American Calling to discuss Lamar Associates July 22-23, 2009 Prescription Drug abuse/diversion training. The following is from NAC's website description of the show, you can use the "listen" link to hear the program:

"Thursday, May 28, 2009 – Prescription Drug Abuse: (listen)
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a shocking 40 percent of teens and an almost equal number of their parents think abusing prescription painkillers is safer than abusing “street” drugs, causing widespread problems across America and Native America is not immune. Reports of people stealing and selling prescription drugs are common. People staking out hospital parking lots and soliciting people to sell their prescription medications are not uncommon. What can tribal communities do to combat prescription drug theft and abuse? Guests are Walter Lamar (Blackfeet/Wichita) CEO & President/Lamar Associates and John Burke, President of the National Drug Diversion Investigators Association."

Click on the title and you will be directed to the NAC website.

Earl Devaney - Chairman

In February, 2009 Earl Devaney was named the chairman of the new Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board. Mr. Devaney will work with Vice President Joe Biden to monitor for wasteful spending and issue periodic reports to the public.

Mr. Devaney is known for his tenacious pursuit of the infamous Jack Abramoff.

Click the title to read more.

Walter at the White House - March 16th

On March 16th, Walter Lamar attended a White House announcement by President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. They announced plans to unlock credit for small businesses. Walter urged the President to ensure that the Buy Indian Act is used to the fullest extent possible to assist Native Business to completely engage in the Stimulus process and to further ensure unemployment in Indian Country is positively impacted.

Click on the title to see the President's remarks.

Walter Lamar White House Visit - February 6th

Walter was invited to the White House to witness President Obama sign the Executive Order creating the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The signing was held on February 6, 2009 and before attending the signing the group of invitees had a chance to interact with top White House staff who fielded questions regarding the Stimulus Package. There is a strong focus on engaging small business in the economic recovery plan.

The atmosphere at the White House follows with the President's promise to ensure a more open and accessible administration. Walter had a chance to shake the President's hand and said, "the job loss numbers are critical to the country's overall economic stability; they are less important to Indian Country as unemployment rates have historically hovered upwards of 60 to 80 percent. Can't lose jobs we didn't have in the first place. Native owned business is ready to help bring employment to Indian Country." The President agreed and replied, "we must work doubly hard to create employment in Indian Country. Walter gave him a "Buy Native" button.

Click on the title to veiw the CSPAN video of the event. Near the end of the video, when the President is greeting the visitors, you will see Walter talking to him.

Dr. Earl R. Smith II visits Lamar Asssociates

Dr. Smith a proven entrepreneur, seasoned senior executive, political and social theorist, published author and speaker took time to stop by our office on Capitol Hill. A veteran of Wall Street, he founded two non-profit and six for-profit companies. He and Walter enjoyed a good long visit, which included discussion regarding the valuable and important governance and entrepreneurship training Dr. Smith can bring to Indian Country.

Dr. Smith's experience includes designing and organizing companies, business/technology management, team building, strategic alliances, negotiating complex arrangements, governance & compliance, resourcing & financing, mergers & acquisitions, management/team/board assessment, coaching and strategic and tactical planning and implementation.

While in Scotland, Strathclyde University Press published his scholarly papers. Since returning to the States, he has authored a regular column for a newsletter and a series of columns focusing on management issues, turnaround management, governance, advisory and coaching.

Here he presents Walter with his latest book Amazing Pace. The book's keynote centers with the creation of a board of advisors dedicated to driving the top line and resourcing/preparing the company to capitalize on the new "turbo-charged" business dynamic. The book also delves into the all important business capture and proposal processes of companies large and small.

To learn more about Dr. Smith please click on the title.

Head West Young Woman!

An emotional day. After nearly four years Cyndi, our Chief Operations Officer, spends her last day working in her DC office. Lucky for us she is not leaving the company only the DC office, but it was a difficult day nonetheless. Cyndi and her husband Keith are relocating to beautiful Oregon.

Lamar Associates has employees and contractors all over the United States and with Cyndi being our centerpoint - we communicate by telephone and computer and as we do, we picture Cyndi in our mind's eye setting at her desk on the second floor of the grand old place just behind the Capitol, pounding the letters off the keyboard with her two finger style (she has literally beat the letters off every keyboard she's had). Her chair rolls over the wooden floor as she works at a blinding pace; not allowing the petty distractions of the street noise, creaks of the old house, or some passing street person screaming in a psychotic rage, distract her from the task at hand. In our mind's eye we see her in the morning sun out sweeping the porch and sidewalk while checking the plants, greeting the FedEx man, and a pot of coffee brews.

We know the investigations we worked to locate American Indians for the Office of Special Trustee who were owed money had such joyous and happy outcomes that her tears are forever there, etched into the fabric of the place we call our office. We reconnected families and were even able to tell those adopted at birth who they were.

She has been known, while sitting at her desk, to sing along with Johnny Cash's Burning Ring of Fire - ouch!! She has been the professional face people first see when visiting our place on the Hill. She prepared the fare for our receptions and made sure everyone was tended to and made to feel welcome.

One only take time to read her Blog entry (see Nov posts) the day after the national election to know what DC has meant to her and to learn that her presence left ripples even in the most powerful city in the world.

We will adjust to the change and wish Keith and Cyndi the best in their new surroundings - good things for good people.

BIA Office of Justice Services

While visiting the National Sheriff's Association (NSA) Winter Conference in Washington, Walter had an opportunity to attend the Indian Affairs Committee and listened in as John Harte, Policy Director, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discussed the Law and Order Bill sponsored by Senator Dorgan, and the current Stimulus Package. Both hold significant promise for Indian Country public safety, and will require us all to follow closely and offer informed input at critical junctures.

Walter is pictured here with his former colleagues from the BIA Office of Justice Services. The group pictured represent the top management of the organization. Pictured left to right, Bill McClure - Acting Special Agent in Charge, Laura Naranjo - Acting Associate Director, Danny Breuninger - Acting Associate Director, Elizabeth Hall - Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Walter Lamar - Former Deputy Director, Tom Woolworth - Chief Indian Police Academy and Elmer Four Dance - Special Agent in Charge. They are a sincere and dedicated group of law enforcement professionals faced with the critical task of ensuring the safety of tribal citizens nationwide.

DynaSec International

Tom Lafreniere is the President/CEO of DynaSec International. Walter and Tom were partners while serving the San Francisco FBI. They investigated all types of violations together and arrested countless bank robbers and fugitives. On one particular occasion the duo was looking for a robber good for 21 banks when they took an informant to an area and asked him to visit likely residences that the robber might be located. The informant was told to call a pager and submit all 1's if the robber was there, all 2's if he had been there and would be back, or all 3's if there was nothing. The informant went to the first house and immediately entered all 2's and shortly there after a bank robbery in progress was transmitted over the radio. Walter and Tom got ready and when the robber showed up in a taxi cab they waited until he walked by the van they were in. They sprung out of the van and arrested him at gunpoint. He had bank robbery bait bills in his pocket and in his shoes, 21 robberies solved. The case was only one of many Tom and Walt enjoyed working together.

Both were on the San Francisco Regional SWAT team.

Subsequent to the culmination of their FBI careers, they worked several contracts together that were equally as successful as the work they did together in the FBI. They are truly brothers of the badge and will continue to work on projects yet to come.

Click on the title to visit DynaSec's website.

Pivot3 in Albuquerque

On the heels of the announcement that Pivot3 and Lamar Associates formed an alliance, Bob Fernander, President and Adam Radford, Indian Gaming Director, visited Walter in Albuquerque. The trio visited two major gaming properties in the area. The two companies are working on several major projects together that promise to strengthen gaming integrity.

Please visit the Pivot3 website by clicking on this Blog entry title.

Pivot 3 Lamar Associates Form Alliance

President Bob Fernander

Pivot3 Announces Partnership with Lamar Associates

Alliance to Focus on Indian Gaming Video Surveillance Opportunities

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pivot3®, Inc, the market leader in High-Definition Storage™, today announced an alliance with Lamar Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based security consulting firm, to identify, pursue and secure Indian gaming video surveillance storage opportunities in the United States.

“As a 100 percent American Indian-owned firm, Lamar Associates has a long history of advising Indian nations across the country about security and technology. This alliance both broadcasts our value to the Indian community and speeds the inflow of information to Pivot3 as we look for ways to better address the needs of the dynamic Indian gaming market,” said Lee Caswell, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Pivot3. “We have already implemented a number of initiatives to communicate with Indian gaming enterprises, including our new associate member status with the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA).”

“At Lamar Associates, we are constantly on the lookout for innovative technology that will assist tribal communities protect their assets, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Walter Lamar, principal of Lamar Associates. “We have been impressed with both the tremendous economic benefits of Pivot3 video surveillance platforms, as well as the steadfast support that Pivot3 commits to make their installations successful. Both the Pivot3 product and strategy are beneficial to the Indian gaming market.”

This announcement comes on the heels of a number of successful Indian gaming wins for Pivot3, including the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., the Creek (Muscogee) Tribe in Okla., and the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, Ore.

About Pivot3

Pivot3 is the fastest-growing surveillance storage company, with its award-winning products widely deployed in the gaming, homeland security, public safety, education and transportation markets. The company’s innovative and patent-pending RAIGE® architecture offers advanced availability, massive bandwidth for video applications, large scaling of capacity, and an intuitive interface for ease of use. The Pivot3 core product lines are High-Definition Storage™, a clustered iSCSI SAN, and Serverless Computing™, the industry’s first combined NVR/SAN product, which consolidates NVR servers into the High-Definition Storage IP SAN platform for real savings of cost, power and cooling. To learn more about Pivot3, visit www.pivot3.com.

Nearly 600 Trained - Anti-Meth

The Lamar Associates training experts wrapped up their 10th COPS sponsored Anti-Meth training last week in
Oklahoma City (01/12-13/2009). Evaluations included statements that offered it was the "best" training yet to be received regarding Methamphetamine use and trafficking.

As it turned out the training coincided with the Oklahoma premier of the Crystal Darkness campaign. That being the case three television stations were on scene for interviews of Walter and Steve.

Lamar Associates has long realized prescription drug diversion is a problem in Indian Country and is, unfortunately, exploding in severity. During the training, participants discussed the issue and emphasized the threat posed to our communities. Several mentioned "pharm parties" being held by community youth. Pharm parties are gatherings of youth who all bring pharmasuticals that are placed in a bowl for random consumption. Lamar Associates is quickly developing training to create an awareness.

Blackfeet Department of Public Safety

For over a year Lamar Associates Vice President Steven Juneau has been working hand-in-hand with the Blackfeet Nation's Department of Public Safety. He assisted in the creation of the Police Explorer Program, help generate new funding, established positions, and implemented a recruitment strategy.

Steve offers the following:

"Policing on the Blackfeet Nation requires sensitivity to the history, culture, and protocol of the tribe and individual communities. Equally important is a transparent proactive and progressive law enforcement structure internally enabled with short and long term strategies, crime fighting methodologies, and grounded in the community policing concepts expressed through action.

Externally, a professional department must model proactive partnership with tribal justice programs and individual communities expressed through problem solving strategies."

Hats off to Steve and the Department for their accomplishments and continued effort to serve the Blackfeet people.

Joe Rosen - Lamar Associates Instructor

Joe and Walter attended the FBI Academy at the same time over 25 years ago. They were both then assigned to a violent crimes squad in the San Diego Division of the FBI and were partners working bank robberies, kidnappings and fugitive cases together. They became fast friends - to the extent that Joe was actually adopted "Indian Way" by Walter's mother Catherine.

Joe is an immigration Attorney in Atlanta, however, having taught criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country for the past seven years, is one of the foremost Indian Country jurisdiction experts in the Nation. He has worked with Lamar Associates as an Indian Country legal instructor for the past three years.

Joe transferred from the FBI to the United States Customs Service and in the years 1998 through 2000 he was a Senior Special Agent assigned to investigations of internet sexual exploitation of children. His assignment was with the FBI Innocent Images Project. For his outstanding work he was presented the 1999 National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrens' National Award for Investigative Excellence and in 2001 the Eastern District of Virginia's United States Attorney's Public Service Award.

In 1992 through 2000 Joe was the General Counsel for the National Native American Law Enforcement Officers Association.

We are extremely proud to have an opportunity to work with Joe and appreciate his sincere dedication to Native people.

Click title to see Joe's website

New Training Logo

John Horse and Matt Aller collaborated to design our new Lamar Associates training logo. Please post a comment to let us know what you think.

Training update: Our Training Division was recently selected by the National American Indian Housing Council to offer training related to methamphetamine use, abuse and sales in and around tribal housing. We will be providing five training sessions in 2009. March 10-11 Las Vegas, NV; April 7-8 Albuquerque, NM; July 14-15 Seattle, WA; September 9-10 Rapid City, SD; and October 27-28 Anchorage, AK.