A Native American employee group at Tucson Electric Power is working to raise awareness of cultural issues and support Indigenous recruitment amid industry competition for skilled workers.

As part of TEP’s Business Resource Groups initiative, employees can start or join groups that serve communities in ways that are meaningful to them.

One such group, Native American, Tribal, and Indigenous Voices in Energy, was started about three years ago by a small group of Indigenous employees who wanted to create a space where Native employees felt comfortable and seen in the workplace, according to Joseph Barrios, TEP’s manager of corporate communications.

N.A.T.I.V.E. aims to recruit and retain skilled Indigenous employees while raising awareness of issues and cultural events important to Native communities.

“There is fierce competition in this industry for skilled talent,” Barrios said.

While TEP supports employee groups by providing corporate spaces and equipment for volunteer members to use, staffers receive no paid time off or additional benefits for their participation.

Despite being only a few years old, N.A.T.I.V.E. has been busy, Barrios said.

The group recently sponsored and promoted a cultural event, attended a 5K walk/run to support Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and supported a Tucson Unified School District summer program for Native girls.

“TEP serves the community and it is important to be a part of it as well … to feel closely tied to it as well,” Barrios said. “That philosophy is key.”

Building on these community efforts, the group also takes part in statewide advocacy and engagement.

Earlier this year, employees from N.A.T.I.V.E. traveled to the State Capitol to represent TEP at the 30th Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day.

They met with legislative leaders and tribal members to discuss TEP’s work in tribal communities — from powering homes without electricity to sponsoring the Navajo Nation Fair parade — and to foster connections and understanding.

“Native people are represented in our community, and we’re represented in our customer base. Within our workforce, we want to create a place where employees who are Native can be who they truly are,” said Woodee Manuel, chair of the N.A.T.I.V.E. group and a TEP metering technician. “It's a very proud moment in our history to be able to connect with our community, and to create opportunities for others to ask questions and learn more about us.”

In addition to supporting these events and causes, TEP continues to focus on recruiting and promoting Indigenous talent.

But due to cultural misunderstandings associated with the recruitment process, the group is looking to adopt a new approach.

“A part of the interview process is to basically brag about yourself … to sell your skills,” Barrios said. “I did not know that this was frowned upon by Native Americans. How can candidates navigate the interview process when this is an issue?”

To address this, the group is partnering with the Tucson Indian Center to assist with recruitment. N.A.T.I.V.E. is also exploring early-stage collaboration with the University of Arizona.

Other employee groups at TEP include Women in Energy, a veterans group and another focused on professional development.

The groups frequently collaborate, with N.A.T.I.V.E. and the Women in Energy group teaming up in April to paint inspirational rocks over their lunch hour to donate to TMC for Women. The goal was to bring support and motivation to patients experiencing health challenges.

“Through our racial and social equity efforts, we hope to learn what we don’t know, to help raise awareness, to build capacity for improvement and to provide fair access to services, resources and opportunities as we shape a community where all of us can thrive together,” Barrios said.

Katherine Martinez is a a Kickapoo-Potawatomi Native majoring in journalism at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at martinezk29@arizona.edu.

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