DevelopmentTo provide the social and economic well-being of Tribal members by planning, developing, strengthening and supporting new and existing
businesses and Tribal government entities.
DEPARTMENTS
What is TERO?
TERO stands for Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance or Office. TERO Ordinances require that all employers who are engaged in operating a business on reservations give preference to qualified Indians in all aspects of employment, contracting and other business activities. TERO offices were established and empowered to monitor and enforce the requirements of the tribal employment rights ordinance.Why was the TERO ordinance enacted?
To address the deplorable rate of peverty, unemployment and underemployment that exists among native people living on reservations.
To eliminate discriminatory and other historical barriers tribal members face while seeking employment and business opportunities on or near reservations.
To ensure that tribal members receive their rightful entitlements as intended under the concept of Indian preference.
What is the purpose of the TERO program?
The primary purpose of the TERO program is to enforce tribal law in order is to insure that Indian/Alaska Native people gain their rightful share to employment, training, contracting, subcontracting, and all other economic opportunities on and near reservations or native villages.What does the TERO ordinance do?
Sets Conditions: Mandates the tribal requirements for Indian preference that all covered employers must comply with in order to be eligible to perform work on reservations.
Establishes authority: Empowers the TERO Commission & Staff with sufficient authority to fully enforce all provisions of TERO ordinance.
Provides due process of law: It provides principles of legal fairness to all parties involved in compliance or violation dispute issue.
What is Indian preference?
Indian preference ia a wunique legal right tribal members have that entitles them to first consideration to all employment, training, contracting and subcontracting and business opportunities that exist on and in some cases near reservations.
Are Indian preference and TERO new concepts?
No. Indain preference first appeared in Federal regulations in 1834. The first major Indian perference legislation passed by Congress was the Buy Indian Act of 1910 which has figured prominently in most subsequent, related legislation since then, e.g. the Indian Education Self determination and Education Assistant Act of 1974 and the Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Tribal Employment Rights Ordinances (TERO's) were initially founded in late 1976 and early 1977. Today there are almost 300 Tribes and Alaska Native Villages covered by TERO ordinances.