Joan Timeche presents "Beyond Casinos: Understanding the Business Climate on Indian Lands" at the free business journalism workshop, "Covering Business on Tribal Lands," hosted by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism and the Native American Journalists Association.
For more information about free training for business journalists, please visit businessjournalism.org.
"Beyond Casinos: Understanding the Business Climate on Indian Lands"
1. Beyond Casinos: Understanding the Business Climate on Indian Lands July 13, 2011 Hotel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2. Village of Old Oraibi, Hopi Reservation, ~ 1980 ’s My daughter, Briana, in traditional Hopi dress. Hopi Buffalo dancers Long-Hair Katsina dancers, painting by Gilbert Timeche
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5. 1. What is the status of business development in Indian Country?
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7. 1. What is the status of business development in Indian Country?
8. Survey of Minority Owned Enterprises – American Indian and Alaska Natives (2007 Economic Census)
9. Survey of Minority Owned Enterprises – American Indian and Alaska Natives (2007 Economic Census)
10. Survey of Minority Owned Enterprises – American Indian and Alaska Natives (2007 Economic Census)
11. Survey of Minority Owned Enterprises – American Indian and Alaska Natives (2007 Economic Census)
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Notas del editor
If I could remind you of the diversity of Native nations across the US – cite facts
Talk about: Who entrepreneurs are in IC the variation one finds and different scenarios --- Many reservations – 90-95% could be tribal enterprises (casino, C-store, etc.) Or, on OST, there would not be much of a tribal enterprise sector, etc., etc.
In 1992, 0.01 percent (102,271) of all US businesses were owned by American Indians. Due Asians and Pacific Islanders being lumped with Aleuts, Alaska Natives and American Indians, no data on # employed and revenues. By 1997, the number of Indian owned firms increased by 84 percent, to 197,300 (0.9%), employing 298,700 people and generating $34.3 billion in revenues (179 percent increase). In 2002, the number of Indian owned firms increase to 201,400 increasing by 98%, employing 191,300 people and generating $26.9 billion in business revenues. In 2007, American Indians and Alaska Natives owned 236,967 nonfarm U.S. businesses operating in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, an increase of 17.7 percent from 2002. These American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms accounted for 0.9 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States, employed 184,416 persons (0.2 percent of total employment) and generated $34.4 billion in receipts (0.1 percent of all receipts).
Why does there continue to be high unemployment and poverty rates and fewer businesses in Indian Country? Why is Indian Country not an economic powerhouse?
Tribal government Local government The citizens External entities
Definition of wealth--- relate my grandparents’ definition – good crops, large family, health, etc. versus cash; individualistic vs. communal Goal of the business – what should be the goal? Jobs or profit, etc. Land – if on rez, it usually is access to – small or large rez; must be cognizant of trust status (cannot be sold or encumbered) Capital – lack of, access, lending issues on rez (good = CDFIs) Business dev process --- largely undefined, oftentimes political process
Land for development - land is our most precious resource and often the most controversial. Uncertainties can be reduced by adopting: a zoning ordinance an efficient leasing process a position on private sector development vs. tribal ownership