Overcoming Challenges to Business and Economic
Development in Indian Country

August 2004

Walter Hillabrant, Judy Earp, and Mack Rhoades
Support Services International

Nancy Pindus
The Urban Institute, Inc.

Submitted to:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

Project Officer:
Alana Landey

Submitted by:
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Project Director: Alan Hershey

Contract No.: 100-98-0009
MPR Reference No.: 8550-931

This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/wtw-grants-eval98/tribal-dev04/

Printed Copy (in PDF format)

Contents

Executive Summary

Acknowledgements

Chapters

1. Introduction
   1. Study Sites
   2. Study Methods and Data Collection
2. Legal, Historical, and Cultural Context of Tribal Economic and Business Development
   1. Tribal Legal Status and BD/ED in Indian Country
   2. Special Circumstances Pertaining to Alaska Native Villages and Tribes in Alaska
   3. Impact of Historical Events on Tribal BD/ED
   4. Cultural Factors Affecting Tribal BD/ED
   5. Legislation Supporting BD/ED in Indian Country
3. Tribal BD/ED Planning and Activities
   1. BD/ED Planning
   2. Types of Tribal BD/ED Activities
   3. Federal Programs/Initiatives Most Beneficial to Study Tribes
   4. Measuring BD/ED Success
4. Challenges and Solutions to Tribal BD/ED
   1. Overcoming Legal, Administrative and Organizational Barriers
   2. Increasing Access to Investment Capital
   3. Improving Collaboration with States, Counties, and Other Tribes
5. Conclusions and Key Findings

References

Appendix: A Primary Federal Initiatives Promoting Business Development/Economic Development in Indian Country

Appendix: B Profiles of the Study Participants

• Bristol Bay Native Corporation
• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRS)
• Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• Colville Confederated Tribes
• Doyon Limited
• Gila River Indian Community
• Mississippi Band of Choctaw
• Navajo Nation
• Three Affiliated Tribes (TAT)
• Turtle Mountain Chippewa

[ Go to Contents ]

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the time, effort, and information provided by the eight tribes and two Alaska Native regional corporations that participated in this study: Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC); Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Citizen Potawatomi Nation; Colville Confederated Tribes; Doyon, Ltd.; the Gila River Indian Community; Mississippi Choctaw Nation; Navajo Nation; Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation; and Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe. We are especially grateful to the Colville Confederated, Mississippi Choctaw, and Navajo tribes for their participation in site visits. The grantees in this study face many challenges, have unmet needs, and have limited resources. Nevertheless, they have freely given time and assistance to the study, with the goal of improving their own efforts and those of all tribes and Native Villages to help Indian people achieve self-sufficiency and end dependence on welfare. Without their cooperation and support, this report would not have been possible.

In addition to the authors of this report, Michael Egner of the Urban Institute and Charles Nagatoshi of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. conducted interviews for this study and contributed valuable insights for the report. Alan Hershey of Mathematica Policy Research reviewed drafts and provided many helpful suggestions. Valuable contributions to the report were made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Project Officer, Alana Landey.

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Last updated:  10/8/04