JUNEAU, AK (February 24, 2021) – The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) is pleased to announce the hire of Amelia Smiley-Rivera (Jiyál’axch) as the Employment & Training (E&T) Manager.
As the E&T Manager, Smiley-Rivera will lead the Employment & Training team while working with families to support their efforts to reach self-sufficiency by obtaining long-term employment. E&T is one of five departments under the umbrella of the Tribe’s 477 Division and administers the following essential programs and services: Burial Assistance, Employment Assistance, General Assistance, Job Placement, Training Services, and Youth Employment Services.
"I am very happy we were able to hire Amelia Smiley-Rivera to fill the Employment & Training Manager position,” said 477 Division Director William Martin. "Amelia is highly educated and comes with nearly seven years of leadership and management experience. I know she will be a great addition to the 477 management team and will lead the Employment & Training team to new heights in quality services to our tribal citizens."
Smiley-Rivera has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and a Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching from the University of Alaska Southeast - Juneau. She has several years of experience in the fields of behavioral health, education, and social services. Smiley-Rivera was formerly a Social Studies teacher with the Juneau School District and comes to Tlingit & Haida from the State of Alaska, Office of Children’s Services where she partnered with Tribal Title IV-E tribes and tribal organizations to maximize federal funding reimbursement.
“I’m excited to serve our tribal citizens while supporting sovereignty and self-sufficiency, and to be working for a team whose traditional values are reflected in the work that we do," Smiley-Rivera said.
Smiley-Rivera grew up in Juneau and is the daughter of Leonora Florendo (Juneau) and Reinaldo Rivera, Jr. (Bronx, New York), granddaughter of the late Nora Marks Dauenhauer (Juneau), late Tony Florendo (Mindanao, Philippines), late Richard Dauenhauer (Syracuse, New York), Reinaldo Rivera, Sr. (Bronx, New York), late Louisa Brugman Rivera (San Juan, Puerto Rico); and great-granddaughter of the late Emma Frances Marks (Dry Bay) and late Willie Marks (Hoonah). She carries her great-grandmother Emma Frances Marks’ Tlingit name, Jiyál’axch, and is Lukaax.di, ádi, Raven Sockeye of the Canoe Prow House on the Alsek River. She is a mother and an artist, and enjoys spending time outdoors.
