Jim Warne

Tribal Visions

Jim E. Warne, M.S.

Jim is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe. His mother, was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. Like his father, he grew up in Tempe, Arizona. Jim also has one brother, a M.D., who works with NIH.

“My experience growing up an a urban Indian was unique because I always grew up around “Indian Country”. I was fortunate to learn from both Tribal culture and mainstream American society. My family members worked with various tribal nations around Southern Arizona. I always go home to Pine Ridge to visit family, friends, and hunt. I utilize the Medicine Wheel philosophy everyday and have benefited from my interaction in both cultures”.

Since 1993, Jim has been a Human Resource Development Specialist for the Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) Region IX at San Diego State University (SDSU). He specializes with Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs that are located on Tribal lands throughout the county. He has visited and worked with over 100 different Tribal nations located on various reservations, trust lands, Alaska Villages, rancherias, and Tribal communities.

Currently, Jim is coordinating the Post Employment Training-American Indian Rehabilitation (PET-AIR) Project and working as a trainer for RCEP IX at SDSU. He has worked with various Tribal programs over the past few years. He is the former Co-Director of the Sycuan Inter-Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program. He also has been sub-contracted as a coordinator and trainer with the Dine` and Oyate` Projects with Western Washington University’s Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation.

Jim has also worked with the Navajo Nation coordinating a Disability Needs Assessment Project through a contract with the Navajo Nation and he also was the coordinator for the Circle of Support Project at the American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center/Northern Arizona University. He was also a contracted consultant trainer for the American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC) administered through the University of Montana. He was a former Vice-president for the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR).

Jim has been involved as a motivational speaker in “Indian Country” for his accomplishments in professional football and Hollywood TV and movie acting with coinciding academic and professional accomplishment.

“ I am very proud of my Lakota heritage and enjoy comparing and contrasting cultural world view form Tribal and American mainstream perspectives. My travels throughout the world have also allowed me to gain international perspectives about American culture and American Indian culture. It is good to learn from various world view! ”

“Be well and live in balance within your circle, Metakuye` Oyasin”.