The Tulalip Tribes of Washington state have been approved to participate in the Interior Department’s 477 Program, a comprehensive employment, education, training and welfare program for federally recognized tribes to address economic and workforce needs in their communities.
 
In making the Aug. 18 announcement, Interior Associate Deputy Secretary James E. Cason noted that according to the 2000 Census, nearly 40 percent of the Native Americans who reside on the Tulalip Reservation live below the federal poverty level.

“We are delighted that the Tulalip Tribes has joined the 477 Program,” Cason said. “They, like other tribal 477 Program participants, will be able to streamline the management of their federal workforce, training and welfare funds to better address their employment and economic development needs.”

The tribes plan to incorporate more than $1.3 million of federal resources from Interior and the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services into a comprehensive employment, training and welfare reform program to help tribal members succeed in the job market, improve each individual’s social and economic conditions, increase employment opportunities and prevent future generations from becoming welfare dependent.    

In fiscal year 2006, the 477 Program served more than 243 federally recognized tribes, with a combined funding of about $100 million. Since its inception, the 477 Program has enabled the tribes to use federal funds more effectively to educate and train an estimated 44,000 children, youth and adults.

The program has been highly rated under the Office of Management and Budget’s Program Assessment Rating Tool for meeting Government Performance and Results Act standards for accountability and efficiency.