A Need for More Work on Reservations | Video

Amy Fox | 3/7/2013

The average unemployment rate for North Dakota is 3.5 percent. But, on the Native American reservations here, that number is 55 percent. That`s why the North Dakota Association of Tribal Colleges is supporting Senate Bill 2218. The bill would give five million dollars in workforce development grants to the five tribal colleges in the state through North Dakota`s Department of Commerce.

The funds would provide more job training and educational programs for students on the reservations.

"Through the tribal colleges, we think we can train more people, more North Dakota citizens to be put to work in various sectors, including the oil boom and with what`s happening on the western part of the state,” said Cankdeska Cikana Community College President Cynthia Lindquist.

The bill passed in the Senate and will move to the House for consideration next week.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY