There is an interesting history between Jim Walls and Harrison Lowe, the founder and publisher of this e-zine. Jim knew Harrison from his work with the Indian Theater in Oklahoma. “I was always looking for him, in anything that he did…..always looking out for any of the Native actors”. One day Jim was inspired to do a search on the web and up came renaissanceindian.com. Jim contacted Harrison and when this edition on education came up, it was natural to contact Jim who is a welding teacher with the East Los Angeles Occupational Center.

Jim, who is ¼ Comanche, began teaching welding last February. At 39, he’s been in the business over twenty years. After graduating from high school, the economy was bad, jobs were scarce and he couldn’t go on to college, so he started studying metals and welding. This was a natural choice as he his father had an inspection company and Jim had absorbed an interest in this field. His father moved the company to Los Angeles in 1984 and Jim followed in 1990. As a welding inspector for public utility equipment and petrochemical companies Jim found that he enjoyed guiding and encouraging the workers; suggesting that they learn different processes of welding and that they strive to higher levels of knowledge and income. He also recognized that many of his family and friends were teachers or in some kind of public service. This, coupled with the birth of a son with Downs Syndrome, influenced Jim to look for a line of work that didn’t require traveling as the inspection duties did.

Jim’s desire to be of service led him to the vocational school. Here he teaches a much needed skill to students who have a variety of backgrounds. Some are displaced workers that have to be re-trained due to downsizing or a company closing. Some are part of a rehabilitation program either because they are fresh out of incarceration or because of a physical or mental handicap. The State of California provides counselors who guide the prospective students to the right courses after taking aptitude tests and the State provides the funding.

Although the ages range from 18 to 55 and there is only one woman in the class, there are no conflicts, no trying to out-do each other. “ When they get in that room, they know it’s all about the welding”. Some weld like they’ve been doing it all their lives. “There’s something natural about it for them, you can either do it or not and it’s really neat to watch that happen….how someone can just do it”.

Jim gets involved on a personal basis as well, especially with adults who have a more difficult time dealing with a major change in their life and livelihood. He tries to provide a positive environment and role model so they can learn as easily as possible.

Marriage and a family of three boys keeps him very busy away from the school. The whole family takes part in going to baseball games, movies and live concerts. Although they used to attend powwows regularly, they haven’t been to many in California. But, he makes sure that the boys are exposed to their Native American heritage as well as his wife’s Mexican culture. A lot of time is spent on securing the speech therapy and special instruction needed by the 3 year old. ‘I learned from my youngest son how important it is to be an advocate”

For information on taking this class from Jim Walls, call him at (323) 581-3283.

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