Heard Museum hosts FBI training
Partnership brings federal agents and native people together

Photo courtesy of the Heard Museum

From left to right are Jason Meyers, Heard Museum Director of Marketing Communications; and special guests Dustinn Craig, Navajo, CEO and founder, Better Ones Productions; Mariddie Craig, Councilwoman, White Mountain Apache Tribe; Vincent Craig, Navajo, former tribal judge, White Mountain Apache Tribe.
Whiteriver, AZ.

Photo courtesy of the Heard Museum From left to right are Jason Meyers, Heard Museum Director of Marketing Communications; and special guests Dustinn Craig, Navajo, CEO and founder, Better Ones Productions; Mariddie Craig, Councilwoman, White Mountain Apache Tribe; Vincent Craig, Navajo, former tribal judge, White Mountain Apache Tribe. Whiteriver, AZ.

PHOENIX -- More than 30 FBI agents, analysts and support personnel from around Arizona converged at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on July 21 to attend a special training session designed to educate law enforcement about the history, challenges and cultural issues surrounding Native American communities. Native experts from the Heard Museum were introduced to Special Agent and Phoenix FBI Training Director, John Bruch who also attended.

The Heard training, conducted by Gina Laczko, Heard Museum educational services manager and Wendy Weston, Navajo, Native program specialist included an overview of Arizona's 22 tribes and the contemporary challenges they face. Also included was a tour of the Heard's new interactive experience "HOME: Native People in the Southwest as well as the powerful exhibit, Remembering our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience." A Q&A session featured a variety of prominent speakers representing tribal and federal law enforcement organizations.

Jason Meyers, director of marketing communications for the Heard Museum

spearheaded the partnership, which is the first of its kind in the nation for any museum specializing in Native American art and culture.

"As a living museum representing Native people, the Heard is uniquely qualified to train federal officials regarding tribal community matters. In our post-9/11 society, these types of partnerships are instrumental in improving homeland security and community relations. My hope is that this will be the first of many sessions offered by the Heard Museum, not only for the FBI, but other local and national law enforcement organizations," Meyers said.

Meyers is also a graduate of the Phoenix FBI Citizens' Academy, which helps foster relationships and understanding between FBI field offices and their communities. The result is an improved ability to solve crimes and help citizens make their communities a safer place.

Frank Goodyear, director of the Heard Museum said, "For more than 75 years the Heard has been committed to connecting with the communities we serve. We are increasingly seen as a world leader and the intellectual forefather for many museums dedicated to Native materials, including the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C."

About the Heard

Since 1929, the Heard has educated visitors from around the world about the art and cultures of Native people of the Southwest.

With more than 35,000 artifacts in its permanent collection, an education center and award-winning Shop and Bookstore and restaurant, the Heard remains committed to being a place of learning, discovery and unforgettable experiences.

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