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Nez Perce Tribe Launches Innovative TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program

Lapwai, Idaho – The Nez Perce Tribe is proud to announce the expansion of its Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) Youth Apprenticeship Program, designed to create sustainable career pathways for young people in the region. The TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program, in partnership with Baker Technical Institute, provides a comprehensive five-week heavy highway construction trades academy that equips youth and young adults with the skills and certifications necessary to thrive in the construction industry.

This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at empowering 16 to 24-year-old participants, offering hands-on training that counts toward apprenticeship certifications. The program also offers equitable access to employment opportunities for Nez Perce Tribal members, other tribal members, and community members within the tribal jurisdiction. TERO plans to offer this five-week heavy highway construction trades academy twice a year for clients in the Youth Apprenticeship Program and for TERO clients who want to earn more certifications to help them gain full-time employment.

“The TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program is a significant step forward in our efforts to build a stronger, more skilled workforce that can contribute to the economic resilience of the Nez Perce Reservation,” said Laatis T.C. Lawrence, TERO Client Advocate/Youth Apprenticeship Program Sponsor. “We are committed to providing our youth with the training and tools they need to succeed in high-demand industries.”

The partnership with Baker Technical Institute enhances the training experience by integrating the curriculum into a formal apprenticeship pathway. This ensures participants gain industry-relevant skills while providing local businesses with a steady pipeline of skilled workers. Upon successful completion of the TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program, participants can earn certifications, including heavy equipment operation, Hazmat first responder, flagging card, construction First Aid/CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, OSHA 10 for construction, excavation and trenching safety, basics of land grade, load securement, commercial vehicle inspection, construction math and blueprint reading, forklift operation, and employee wellness/physical conditioning.

The TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program is aligned with the Tribe’s five-year Strategic Plan, which emphasizes youth employment, career readiness, and the development of local economies. By investing in this program, the Tribe is fostering future generations of leaders and skilled professionals who will strengthen the community for years to come.

For more information about the TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program and upcoming training sessions, please contact Laatis T.C. Lawrence, TERO Client Advocate/Youth Apprenticeship Program Sponsor, or Melvin Wheeler, TERO Director, at (208) 843-7363; they can be reached between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.