Types of Small-Business Relief Through the CARES Act, and How to Get It
The CARES Act, signed into law amidst the ongoing COVID-19 health and economic crisis, provides for two kinds of small business loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). For owners of small businesses, this could be crucial relief in a lean time. The two...
Navajo Nation and Indian Country Strained by Sluggish COVID-19 Relief
“There’s frustration from leadership ― not just here on Navajo but all of Indian Country,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said of the delay in receiving emergency aid from the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.Tara Sweeney,...
Postponement of Santa Fe Indian Market to Impact Livelihoods of Native Artists
Left to right: Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty and Joyce Growing Thunder (Assiniboine/Sioux); Stetson Honyumptewa (Hopi); Jolene Bird (Santo Domingo Pueblo). (Photos by Gabriella Marks, 2016, Courtesy SWAIA Facebook)With Santa Fe Indian Market called off until 2021,...
Grand Canyon Closes Indefinitely After Tribal Insistence
The Navajo Nation, whose lands abut the Grand Canyon to the east, were among the governments and agencies requesting the closure of the National Park. The Grand Canyon closed indefinitely to visitors April 1 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tourists access...
COVID-19 Spurs Glove Manufacturer on Navajo Nation Into Rapid Production
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez tours the glove factory in Church Rock, New Mexico, in November 2019. (Photo/Office of the President and Vice President)A manufacturer of medical-grade nitrile gloves situated on Navajo land is meeting a critical need for personal...
THE LATEST NEWS
Michigan Band Garners a Win in Fight for Federal Status
The case Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians v. Jewell et al. is in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Band's representatives Bart Stupak of Venable LLP will now present evidence to the DOI that shows that under the 2015 rules, the...
Secretary Of Interior Strips Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of its Land
“It begs the question, what is driving our federal trustee's crusade against our reservation?” asks Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell. (Photo by Native Business Magazine)The U.S. Department of the Interior has “disestablished” the Mashpee Wampanoag...
PNM, Jicarilla Apache Nation to Build Solar Source for New Mexico
A first-of-its-kind solar source is coming to Jicarilla Apache land to power cities, municipalities and large businesses across New Mexico to help them achieve their sustainability targets. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission recently approved the PNM Solar...
Trump Signs $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill
House lawmakers approved the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package Friday, and within hours, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, allocates more than $10 billion to assist Tribes...
CARES Act to Deliver $10B to Indian Country, Previous Funds Yet to Reach Tribes
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill that delivers $10 billion in emergency aid to Tribes and Tribal organizations. The bulk of those...
Human Resources: Navigating Employment Issues in the Face of COVID-19
In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are facing major personnel challenges, and the office of Human Resources is where much of the delicate work is being done. How many people are needed? How much work is there to be done, and can it be done remotely? And...
Washington State Legalizes Sports Betting at Tribal Casinos
"To protect the health and well-being of the community and the casino team members, the Snoqualmie Tribe has decided to extend the temporary closure of its casino operations through April 6," the Tribe stated Wednesday.Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill yesterday allowing...
Cannabis Sales Surge Amid Coronavirus and Social Distancing
The Muckleshoot Tribe-owned cannabis retail outlet Joint Rivers opened in June 2018, boasting the largest sales floor in the state with 86 linear feet of cabinet space dedicated to flower alone. Since the coronavirus outbreak, Joint Rivers’ sales have skyrocketed. If...
Breakdown of How the $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill Would Impact Indian Country
A $2 trillion stimulus deal, the largest economic stimulus measure in U.S. history, aims to rescue a shutdown economy amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The agreement reached Wednesday between the White House and Senate leaders would authorize loans and grants to small...
Sanitation, Signage & Putting Employees First: Tribal C-Store Response to COVID-19
One of the Chehalis Tribe’s three End of the Trail c-stores. (Photo Courtesy Chehalis Tribal Enterprises) The Tribal Convenience Store Association and Tribal C-Store Operators Weigh in on Remaining Open, While Taking Precautionary Measures Against COVID-19 As many...
Pontiac Group Offers Drone Delivery of Life-Saving Medical Supplies
Pontiac Group was co-founded by visionary entrepreneurs Jonathon Araujo, Odawa from the Wikwemikong First Nation; and Jacob Taylor, Mississauga from Curve Lake First Nation. The Ohsweken, Ontario-based business acts as a think tank, innovating solutions for problems...
Chickasaw Nation Industries Recognizes its Employees Supporting CDC
Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. is fulfilling its role in stemming the coronavirus outbreak by continuing its work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CNI recently acknowledged its employees for both serving on the front lines, in the wake of...
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Washington State Legalizes Sports Betting at Tribal Casinos
"To protect the health and well-being of the community and the casino team members, the Snoqualmie Tribe has decided to extend the temporary closure of its casino operations through April 6," the Tribe stated Wednesday.Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill yesterday allowing...
Oklahoma’s Casino Market Is Closed Statewide to Curtail the Coronavirus Outbreak
Oklahoma Tribal gaming properties statewide have temporarily ceased operations to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, according to officials of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA). As the second-largest Indian gaming market nationwide, just shy of...
Don’t Miss Hard Rock’s Star-Studded Super Bowl Ad
Hard Rock’s Michael Bay-directed Super Bowl commercial is set to air directly before halftime. The Hard Rock empire has grown dramatically since the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s acquisition of the international company back in 2007. The purchase, a landmark in Indian...
Happy New Year! Native Business to Blaze Path of Innovation in 2020
The value add of our digital content in 2020 is intense. Native Business will bring news and information directly to Indian Country like never before.
Native Business Celebrates Groundbreaking Milestones & Achievements of 2019
As we close out 2019 and the current decade, we want to say thank you to our community, which is growing daily, particularly since the launch of the Native Business App this month. Propelled by your readership and support, we accomplished some exciting things at...
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Our Success & Finance issue charts the business breakthroughs of Tribes and Tribal entrepreneurs in “The Greatest Success Stories of 2019.” We also pay homage to perseverance and tireless devotion to Indian Country. Ernie Stevens, Jr., and Cheryl Stevens, his wife of 37 years, grace one of the covers. We honor Ernie Stevens’ nearly 20 years of stewardship to Indian gaming as Chairman of NIGA. Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite is featured on the opposite cover. He shares how gaming helped his Tribe “to transition from a surviving community to a thriving community,” and reflects on recent success in the financial services industry. We shine a light on financial institutions, such as Stearns Bank, and consider the investment strategy of Mno-Bmadsen. Meanwhile, the DOE’s James E. Campos, underscores: “Energy is our new economy, it is our new currency, and Native Americans play a large part in this equation.”
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FEDERAL CONTRACTING
Chuck Garrett, CEO, Cherokee Nation Businesses: Becoming the Best Employer
Chuck Garrett, a member of the Cherokee Nation, oversees what is often referred to as the economic engine of his Tribe.
Arctic IT Appoints Dave Bailey as President and General Manager
Dave Bailey has taken the helm as President & General Manager of Arctic Information Technology (Arctic IT) the highly awarded technology company under the Doyon, Limited family. “Technology, and how the world embraces it, continues to evolve at an unprecedented...
LDF Business Development Corporation Hires First Corporate Retail Director
The Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corporation, the non-gaming business development arm of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, today announced the hiring of its first Corporate Retail Director, Dan Bonavia. RELATED: LDF Construction Wins First...
GAMING
Tribal Gaming Excluded From SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program
A brief ray of hope came when the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, providing $2.2 trillion in aid, including $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to cover payroll and expenses during the COVID-19 crisis. ...
Washington State Legalizes Sports Betting at Tribal Casinos
"To protect the health and well-being of the community and the casino team members, the Snoqualmie Tribe has decided to extend the temporary closure of its casino operations through April 6," the Tribe stated Wednesday.Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill yesterday allowing...
Oklahoma’s Casino Market Is Closed Statewide to Curtail the Coronavirus Outbreak
Oklahoma Tribal gaming properties statewide have temporarily ceased operations to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, according to officials of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA). As the second-largest Indian gaming market nationwide, just shy of...
CANNABIS
2020 Oklahoma Hemp Summit to Help Tribes Capitalize on the Industry
Native American Hemp is hosting the 2020 Oklahoma Hemp Summit in partnership with the Absentee Shawnee Economic Development Authority this Friday, February 28, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Aaron Fournier, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, founded Native American Hemp in 2018...
USDA Approves Three More Tribes’ Hemp Plans
On Thursday, plans for hemp production put forth by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Santee Sioux Nation were approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the nation’s Domestic Hemp Production Program. These latest...
Agreement Grants Tulalip Tribes Cut of State’s Sales Tax From Quil Ceda Village
Quil Ceda Village was conceived and built for business. The 2,200-acre municipality houses not only Tulalip Resort Casino (pictured), but a premium outlet mall; several anchor stores, including Cabela’s, Home Depot and Walmart; a retail center; an amphitheater; and...
Cherokee Nation Work Group to Evaluate Cannabis for Economic & Health Benefits
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. has appointed a Cherokee Nation work group to study opportunities for leveraging hemp and cannabis through commerce, health care and agriculture. The “Executive Work Group on Hemp, Cannabis and Related Opportunities”...
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Tribes Sue Commercial Insurers to Cover Costs of Business Disruption
The Chickasaw Nation lawsuit attests its “all risk” insurance policy covers business interruptions. All Chickasaw Nation-owned businesses are temporarily closed to limit the spread of COVID-19, including WinStar World Casino and Resort. Two Oklahoma Tribes are...
PNM, Jicarilla Apache Nation to Build Solar Source for New Mexico
A first-of-its-kind solar source is coming to Jicarilla Apache land to power cities, municipalities and large businesses across New Mexico to help them achieve their sustainability targets. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission recently approved the PNM Solar...
Breakdown of How the $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill Would Impact Indian Country
A $2 trillion stimulus deal, the largest economic stimulus measure in U.S. history, aims to rescue a shutdown economy amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The agreement reached Wednesday between the White House and Senate leaders would authorize loans and grants to small...
FEATURED SECTIONS / SECTORS
Chickasaw Nation Industries Recognizes its Employees Supporting CDC
Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. is fulfilling its role in stemming the coronavirus outbreak by continuing its work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CNI recently acknowledged its employees for both serving on the front lines, in the wake of...
Tribal Organizations Emphasize Strain of COVID-19 on Tribal Governments
The number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached a total of 26 for residents of the Navajo Nation. That anecdote merely paints a picture of the escalating situation countrywide, and how all Tribal Nations are severely impacted. Tribal economies are taking a...
Types of Small-Business Relief Through the CARES Act, and How to Get It
The CARES Act, signed into law amidst the ongoing COVID-19 health and economic crisis, provides for two kinds of small business loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). For owners of small businesses, this could be crucial relief in a lean time. The two...
Calculated Risk Taker Holly Gagnon: This Industry Powerhouse Seriously Loves the Casino Industry
Holly Gagnon, Seneca Gaming Corporation President and CEO, is a certified CPA who started her career at large accounting firms.
The Nation Builder: Jason Campbell Gives All his Energy to Advancing Spokane Sovereignty
“If Jason Campbell were a chess player, he would be a grandmaster,” says Mike Tedesco, Executive Director of the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Honoring Canada’s First Indigenous Woman to Lead a Commercial Lending Institution
The 2020 Indspire Award for Business and Commerce recognizes the groundbreaking career of Dawn Madahbee Leach — the first Indigenous woman in Canada to head up a commercial lending institution.
Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite: Cherishing the Past and Building for the Future
Marshall Pierite is not only Chairman of the Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana; he’s also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a small business owner, a former social worker, a father, and a husband. “But the most important title I cherish is being a servant to all,”...
UW Launches Wind River Startup Challenge With $25K in Seed Funding
“Economic development must occur at the grassroots level in order to be successful,” says James Trosper, director of UW’s High Plains American Indian Research Institute. “With this startup challenge, community members will lead the change rather than wait for...
Puyallup Entrepreneur Launches App ‘TeePee – An Indigenous Directory’
TeePee, a new mobile app created by Miguel Douglas, an enrolled member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, acts as a digital directory, providing users with the resources to contact each of the 573+ federally recognized Tribes, their enterprises as well as Alaska Native...
Gun Lake Investments & Waséyabek Buy $17.5M Tower
Two Tribally owned investment arms have teamed up to purchase an historic building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The McKay Tower has transferred ownership form Steadfast Property Holdings to Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development Company — businesses...
Rincon Reservation Road Brewery to Open on Tribal Land
The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians is gearing up to debut Rincon Reservation RoadBrewery (3R Brewery), the first certified Native American owned and operated brewery on Tribal land in Southern California. Opening Thursday, January 30, 2020 adjacent to Harrah’s...
Navajo-Owned Mining Company Moving Closer to Permit in Wyoming
In October, NTEC bought three mines, two in Wyoming and one in Montana, from Cloud Peak Energy. Pictured: Antelope Mine in Wyoming (Photo by Kimon Berlin, via Flickr/CreativeCommons)The Navajo Nation's Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) is making progress with...
Meet Doyon, Limited’s President and CEO Aaron Schutt
Aaron Schutt is a Native Business Top 30 CEO.Aaron Schutt (Native Village of Tanana) has been with Doyon, Limited for more than two decades, rapidly rising through the ranks from Senior Vice President to Chief Operating Officer to, in 2011, President and CEO. Since...
South Dakota Approves $100M Solar Energy Project On Pine Ridge Land
There's been a lot of talk about renewable energy on Native lands, and particularly lands owned by Sioux tribes. With approval of the $100 million Luna Solar Park from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, that talk just got closer to reality. The planned Luna...
Leading Like A Native: Troy Clay Leverages Pokagon Band Strength
Troy Clay is a Native Business Top 30 CEO.“I don’t have all the answers and I am not bashful about that,” says Troy Clay, Pokagon Band of Potawotami, who is President and CEO of Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band's business operations....
NIGC Fills Core Leadership Team and Adds 4 Attorneys
Sharon Avery, a citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan (left), and Rea Cisneros, an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, will serve together Associate General Counsels for the NIGC.The National Indian Gaming Commission...
Juneau-based Goldbelt, Inc. Appoints McHugh Pierre as President & CEO
McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt's Inc. President and CEO (middle), with Richard A. Beasley and Lori Grant (right) at a Shareholder meeting in 2019. Juneau, Alaska-based Goldbelt, Incorporated is an urban Alaska Native, for‐profit corporation that derives the majority of its...
