Volume IX Winter 1997-98 Number 3

Resources on American Indian Economic Development and Entrepreneurship

by Shawn Olson-Crawford

The resources listed here are, for the most part, published since 1992. They represent both analytical and how -to materials and organizations related to American Indian economic development issues and entrepreneurship. 

The resources were found using computerized database subject area searches of Academic Index Full Text, Business Index Full Text, Dissertation Abstracts, Government Documents Index, Government Periodicals Index, Indians of North America Bibliography, LaserCat, WorldCat, UncoverWeb, and sites on the Internet. Major descriptors for the search included American Indian and Native American (NA) economic development, American Indian and NA business, American Indian and NA economy, American Indian and NA entrepreneurship, American Indian and NA employment, American Indian and NA enterprise, American Indian and NA finance, and American Indian management. 

ORGANIZATIONS

Administration for Native Americans (ANA) promotes the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency of all Native Americans through grants and technical assistance. Phone (202) 690-5787. Publications include Pathway to Self-Sufficiency: Social and Economic Development Strategies of Native American Communities. Office of Human Development Services, Department of Health and Human Services. 

American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) promotes and supports the American Indian business student and entrepreneur in culturally appropriate development of reservation-based businesses. For information about the annual national conference, career fair, and business plan competition as well as scholarship and internship opportunities contact Executive Director Michelle Henderson at the University of Montana at (406) 243-4879.

Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) is an organization of tribes based in Denver that supports member tribes in developing their management capabilities and building stable, self-governed economies. For more information about publications, call (303) 297-2378.

First Nations Development Institute is a national, non-profit organization based in Fredericksburg VA whose mission is to help tribes build sound, sustainable reservation economies through training and technical assistance in economic development, marketing, micro-enterprise lending, tribal investments and research. For a current list of resource documents call (540) 371-5615 or visit their web page: http://www.firstnations.org

Indian and Native American Employment and Training Coalition is an informal, voluntary information network linking over 200 Indian tribes, Alaska Native groups, and off-reservation Indian and Native American organizations that provide employment and training services to American Indian and Alaska Native workers in the United States. One of the people most knowledgeable about welfare reform as it relates to Indian Country, Norm DeWeaver writes a newsletter, the "Coalition Welfare Reform Update." For information, contact the coalition at 1000 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC 20007 or call (202) 342-0594.

National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) provides management and technical assistance, loan packaging, American Indian business assistance, start-up and expansion, SBA loan information, contract procurements. Phone (602) 545-1298. Web page: http://www.ncaied.org

National Indian Business Association (NIBA) is an Indian networking group that helps young, Indian businesses cope with the dominant business culture as well as provide contacts with other Indian firms. Call (505) 256-0589 for more information.

National Indian Policy Center gathers, analyzes, and disseminates information on Indian policy issues such as economic development. Phone: (202)973-7667 Web page: http://gwis.circ.gwu.edu/~nipc

Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit corporation of Native American lawyers based in Boulder CO. Phone (303) 447-8760. Publications: NARF Bibliography on Indian Economic Development and A Self-Help Manual for Indian Economic Development. 

Network Services Tribal Coalition (NSTC) provides information access technology and support services to its members for their economic empowerment, social development, and cultural preservation.  Web page: http://www.cowboy.net/nstc

Onaben is a Native American business network offering training and support focused on developing entrepreneurship in Indian communities. Web site: http://www.onaben.org

Spirit of Aboriginal Enterprise (SAE) prepared the Entrepreneur's Tool Kit for teachers, trainers, business development organizations, community economic development officers, and others promoting Native business. The tool kit includes a 6-video and print package about successful large and small aboriginal entrepreneurs in Canada; a CD ROM multimedia edition; and the Business Idea Developer for potential entrepreneurs. The web site enables entrepreneurs to complete their business plan online and also contains several articles on business startup and other management topics. Contact SAE at: http://sae.ca/business/entrepre/entrepre.htm

Timmons, Jeffry, Ph.D. New Venture Creation, Irwin Publishing. This text is useful for upper-level students working toward a bachelor's degree. Available at college bookstores. Timmons specializes in entrepreneurial studies and has assisted the American Indian Entrepreneurship Project. To reach him, write Jeffry Timmons, Babson College, Babson Park MA 02157 or call (617) 239-4449.

Tribal Business Information Centers (TBICs) are Small Business Administration resource partners that offer entrepreneurs access to state-of-the-art computer software technology, one-on-one business counseling services, and business management workshops. For a site near you, call the SBA Office at (202) 205-7364 or visit their web pages: http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/gopher

United Indian Planners Association (UIPA) is an organization of professionals employed as socio-economic development planners by American Indian tribes and organizations. Contact them at (202) 466-8212.

PUBLICATIONS

Administration for Children and Families (1994). Native youth businesses: Native American youth entrepreneurship projects. Children Today 22 (4), 24-26.

Ambler, M. (1992). The wealth of Indian nations: Tribes creating a new model of economic development by building on old strengths. Tribal College Journal 4 (2), 8-12. This issue included several articles related to the theme, "Reshaping Tribal Economies."

Anderson, T. L. (1995). Economies: An economic history of American Indians, Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy. 

Baker, P. and Lynch P. D., in collaboration with Mike Charleston (1994). Tribal governance and economic development of American Indian nations. Tribal College Journal, 6 (2), 26-32.

Blaschko, Beverly A. (1992). The application of Native American philosophy to management today. 

Boyer, P. (1992). Education for economic development. Tribal College Journal 4 (2), 4-5.

Burcell S. M. (1993). The Indian business owner's guide. North Coast Small Business Development Center. This easy-to-follow guide can be used by anyone interested in starting a business for themselves or for their tribe. The format is easily understood by middle school students yet full of enough information to satisfy a graduate student. Call Burcell at (916) 493-5376 for information about a new edition in 1998.

Career Path--Tribal Employment Newsletter: http://users.moscow.com/careers/newsletr.htm

Chingwa, M. and Haskins, B. Approaching American Indian economic development for the seventh generation. A joint project of Cheyenne River Community College and Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Economic Development Office of Indian Education Programs. Includes resource list (35).

Cone, J. Fast Track. Kauffman Foundation, 4900 Oak, Kansas City MO 64112. (816) 932-1000. Especially good for community college courses. 

Cornell, S. and Kalt, J.P. (Eds.). What can tribes do? Strategies and institutions in American Indian economic development. American Indian Manual and Handbook Series No. 4. American Indian Studies Center. Los Angeles: University of California Press. Discusses what kinds of policies and institutions will help to promote desirable economic outcomes in tribal communities. 

U.S. Department of Labor. (1989). Facts on working women, American Indian/Alaska Native women business owners; Women's Bureau. No. 89-9. 

Guyette, S. (1996). Planning for balanced development: A guide for Native American and rural communities. Clear Light Publishing.

The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. Project Report Series. Sixty articles on economic development and management issues. For a listing call (617) 495-1338 (Harvard University) or visit the web page: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/hpaied

Haase, E. (1992). Joining the circle: Circle banking on the Rosebud Reservation. Tribal College Journal 4 (2), 16-18.

Herzberg, N. (1990). Perspectives on economic development in Indian country. A report of the National Symposium on Native American Enterprise Zone Development. Perry, Maine: Office of Training and Development. Pleasant Point Reservation.

Houser, S. (1992). No easy money: An interview with Cris Stainbrook. Tribal College Journal 4 (2), 13-15.

Jahrig, S. H. (1996). Crossing the cultural divide: Organizational support for Indians in business. Montana Business Quarterly. 34 (2), 7.

JIAN, The BIZ plan builder, order on-line: http://www.jianusa.com or through your local Tribal Business Information Center. This is a very easy computerized template that takes the user step-by-step through the creation and design of a business plan.

Landsdowne, M. (1992). Entrepreneurs with the power of a tribe behind them. Tribal College Journal 4 (2), 19-20.

McKoy, D. and Haukeland, P. I. (1997). Tribal college entrepreneurship workshop report. The Theodore R. & Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Foundation. Phone (510) 524-7797.

Metoyer-Duran, C. and Hernon, P. (1995). Economic development on American Indian reservations: A citation analysis. Library and Information Science Research 17.

Nx Level: This business program is used on all seven reservations in Montana. It is useful because its  subjects can be taught as individual workshops. Western Entrepreneurial Network, University of Colorado  at Denver, Campus Box 128, P.O. Box 173364, Denver CO 80217.

Overcoming Economic Dependency (1988). Proceedings from the First Newberry Library Conference on Themes in American Indian History. Call (312) 943-9090 to order.

Robinson, S. and Hogan, S. (1992). Tribal college entrepreneurship programs: The family emphasis. Tribal College Journal, 3 (4), 27-30.

Hearing before the Committee on Small Business. Small business development in Indian Country. U.S. Senate, 103rd Congress, Sept. 3, 1993.

Smith, D. H. (1994). The issue of compatibility between cultural integrity and economic development among Native American tribes. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 8 (2), 177.

Native American economic development: A modern approach (1994). The Review of Regional Studies 24 (1), 87.

Velarde-Tiller, Veronica E. (Ed.). (1996). Tiller's guide to Indian Country--economic profiles of American Indian reservations. Albuquerque: BowArrow Publishing Company. Tiller's book provides information about every reservation, rancheria, and Alaska Native Village in the United States. The authors describe climate, community facilities, education, the local economy, and location. They cite statistics on population, enrollment, land holdings, and employment.

Wuttunee, W. A. (1993). In business for ourselves--northern entrepreneurs: Fifteen case studies of successful small northern businesses. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Shawn Olson-Crawford, mother of three, is finishing her master's in business administration at the University of Montana-Missoula where she received a bachelor's degree in zoology. She is a member of the Assiniboine Tribe, Fort Peck, Mont.