NRCS American Indian/Alaska Native Special Emphasis Program
Kelley Barkell, Program Manager (AIAN)

The American Indian/Alaska Native Special Emphasis Program Manager deals with a different set of criteria than other special emphasis programs. The program seeks to: support the unique role of American Indians and Alaska Natives within the federal government system; recruit potential American Indian/Alaska Native employees; develop mentoring processes among American Indian/Alaska Native employees; build coalitions with appropriate advocacy groups; develop annual objectives for the American Indian/Alaska Native program; provide information to all employees to keep them informed of American Indian/Alaska Native program activities; establish and maintain effective relationships with American Indian/Alaska Native organizations and groups (may require attendance and participation in their meetings); participate in recruitment efforts; contribute to the development of the overall Equal Opportunity program; attends, participates, and delivers quarterly reports at Equal Opportunity Committee meetings.

The November 2008 American Indian Heritage Month poster at the left is entitled, "Touch the Earth."  The painting recalls the passion the Choctaw people have for creation and their kinship with the earth. The artist, Kathy Sturch, is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Sturch remarked about the story behind the artwork, "The Choctaw people passionately love the earth. The earth nourishes and provides for man. Man must care for the earth and do it no harm. If the earth dies, man dies."



 

Resources:

American Indian/Alaska Native Employees Association

Document requires Acrobat Reader

American Indian/Alaska Native Program Brochure (PDF; 199 KB) 
 

Contact Information:

Kelley Barkell
2040 Riverfork Drive, West
Huntington, IN  46750

Phone:  260-356-6816, ext. 3
Fax:  260-356-9557
Email:  kelley.barkell@in.usda.gov