Newsletter
Fall/Winter
2001
In this issue:
NIBA Announces New Program for Tribal Businesses
Postponed Gala Event an Enormous Success
Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center site for 10th Annual
Conference and Trade Show
DOI Creates New Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management
Contracting News: Rich get Richer
Native American Bancorporation
open for Business
Native American Businesses Seek Amendments for New DOD
Incentive
NIBA Announces New Program for Tribal Businesses
The
National Indian Business Association (NIBA) is unveiling a new effort in its
training and economic development program for Indian Country.
NIBA will
kick off this exciting initiative in April 2002 at its 10th Annual
Conference and Trade Show in Miccosukee, FL.
“Creating Partnerships and Promoting Technology Platforms for Successful
Business Development and Growth in Indian Country,” is designed to assist
Indian businesses to meet the demands of the new market, create strategic
alliances, and use information technology to strengthen and increase business.
The program offers specialized training, complementary training
materials, an interactive website and robust database. Forty Tribal
businesses varying in size, products, and location will be selected for year
one of this program with sixty additional businesses selected for year two.
A long-time supporter of Indian
enterprise, NIBA will provide Indian businesses the information and access to
technology, which has long served as a barrier to competing in the growing
market.
The advantages of such a solution
mean access to useful information of Indian businesses, public and private
sector programs, and potential partners. NIBA’s long-term vision is to host a
platform for strengthening inter-tribal business communications through access
to a single best practices database. All Tribes would have access to
pertinent information relating to Indian business.
This comprehensive initiative seeks
to lead the way for Indians, non-Indians, and Government to engage in business,
as well as to enable Indian Nations to further the vision of sustainable
development for their respective communities.
NIBA will continue to serve as a
liaison between Indian businesses and the public and private sectors in an
effort to facilitate training in business development and Federal
certification, form strategic alliances, and strengthen and inspire an entrepreneurial spirit
throughout Indian Country.
This
initiative will be presented at NCAI’s annual
session,
Postponed Gala Event an Enormous Success!
In the
wake of the September 11th national tragedy, NIBA rescheduled its 5th
Annual Corporate Outreach Gala and Awards Banquet. It was thought that
the event might suffer as a result, yet the enduring American spirit prevailed,
and over two hundred representatives from Indian businesses and Tribes,
congress, corporate
“This was
the most successful gala in the history of NIBA. Every seat was filled,
smiles and good feelings floated contagiously around the room, and there was an
excitement that buzzed around touching every one. People came from all
across the country to honor the leaders and supporters of Indian business, and
also made evident their continued commitment to unifying and strengthening our
diverse economies,” states Pete Homer, President and CEO of NIBA.
Located in
the reception area was a tipi, a traditional dwelling for plains Indians, set
the tone for the evening. Many people were drawn
to it, took pictures in front of it and peeked inside to see its
contents. The tipi not only served as a symbol of enduring Tribal
heritage and culture, but also as a reminder of the commitment we all share to
strengthen and sustain our communities.
The dinner
began promptly at
NIBA’s
honored guests, seated at the head table, included: Phillip “Yogie” Bread, President, Phillip Bread Enterprises,
Patricia Parker,
President/CEO, Native American Management Services, Inc, McLean, VA; Pete
Homer, President/CEO, NIBA, Washington, DC; Curtis Zunigha,
Master of Ceremonies, Eastern Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma; Congresswoman Mary
Bono; Lou Torres, Apache Tribe, Providence, Rhode Island; and Alicia Dugan, ADA
Consulting, Washington, DC.
The dinner
continued with a delicious lobster salad, followed by filet mignon and sea
bass, which was followed by the Presidential dessert of mixed berries with a
Capitol Dome shaped in white chocolate filled with chocolate mousse. The
audience was entertained by the magical harmonica of Phillip “Yogie” Bread, Kiowa, and the soulful blues sounds of the WayItOughtaBe All Star Band.
The
evening progressed with presentation of awards to the honorees followed by an
honor song performed by the Cedartree Drum and
Singers.
In her
acceptance remarks, Congresswoman Bono stated, “As a small businesswoman, one
of my priorities in Congress is working to strengthen our local economy through
job creation and economic interests for all. Native Americans play an
important role in strengthening our economy, creating jobs, and empowering
local communities.”
The Cedartree Singers and Drum provided an ending friendship
song to close the evening.
Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center site for 10th
Annual Conference and Trade Show!
NIBA’s Tenth Annual Conference and Trade Show, April
7, 8 and 9, 2002 at the Miccosukee Resort and
Convention Center, co-sponsored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of
Economic Development and the General Motors Corporation, will bring together
the most influential Tribal, individual businesses, corporate America,
government agencies and other
public and private sectors in the Country. We anticipate 500
conference participants and approximately 80 exhibitors to discuss accessing
business development with the Bush Administration and the 107th Congress.
You cannot afford to miss this premiere conference and networking event.
By showcasing your
business or attending the conference, you will be taking advantage of great
opportunities to develop business relationships when Indian businesses will be
aggressively identifying new avenues for growth. The conference is
designed to address national issues, make available experts in Banking,
business development, federal and corporate procurement and provide excellent
opportunities for business networking.
The conference and trade show will
be held at the Miccosukee Resort and
DOI Creates New Bureau of Indian Trust Assets
Management
Secretary of the Interior Gale
Norton today unveiled plans to reorganize and consolidate Indian trust asset
management functions into a separate new organizational unit. The new
Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management will report to a new assistant
secretary who will report directly to the Secretary. The new assistant
secretary, Ross Swimmer, will have authority and responsibility for Indian
trust asset management.
“The Bureau of Indian Trust Asset
Management is needed to ensure that we move forward in the management of Indian
trust reform,” stated Secretary Norton. “This administration is committed
to taking action now that will chart a new course for positive, productive
trust reform that will work to benefit American Indian tribes.”
Under the proposed plan, trust asset
management functions will be organized into the new Bureau of Indian Trust
Asset Management. The proposed BITAM will concentrate on four main areas
of enhanced capability: trust reform, performance and program management,
beneficiary services, and trust asset and investment strategy
development. The new assistant secretary will be responsible for many of
the functions currently performed by the Office of the Special Trustee.
In addition, the new assistant secretary will assume responsibility for trust
reform implementation. In addition, all Indian trust assets management functions
currently within the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be transferred to the new
Bureau.
Contracting News: Rich Get Richer
The
American Indian Summit (AIS) reports that half of all 8(a) contract dollars
(5.8 billion) went to only 218 out of an estimated 6,700 8(a) certified
companies in the year 2000. Four years ago the AIS reported, based on a
General Accounting Office audit, that these same facts and statistics,
illustrate that Federal procurement in Washington, D.C. continues to remain
stagnant.
The report stated that about ½ of
the 8(a) contracts went to firms in the
The AIS report also stated that
Native American 8(a) companies were ranked last in receiving minority set-aside
contracts.
How can you help promote change in
this “old school” contracting system? Become an advocate, write your
local congressional representatives, and continue to support NIBA in its
efforts to voice the concerns of Indian businesses nation-wide.
Native American Bancorporation open for Business
In
development for the past several years, NAB has opened its doors for
business. NAB is a holding company that includes the Native American
National Bank (NANB). Its purpose is to help pool Indian economic
resources in an effort to increase tribal economic independence.
As a part
of its plan, the NAB acquired the Blackfeet National
Bank to provide it with an established and fully functioning banking platform
that is consistent with its mission. The NAB and NANB will provide Indian
Country with a commercial bank that is knowledgeable in the needs, traditions,
and cultures of tribal nations. It will focus on large commercial,
tribal, and corporate loans and will endeavor to break down the barriers that
have caused Indian Country to be vastly under-served by the banking
industry. One of NAB’s first major projects
will be to establish a community development corporation to focus on
infrastructure needs of reservation based small businesses. While the NAB
and NANB currently have offices only in
Native American Businesses Seek Amendments for New
DOD Incentive
Many Native American businesses are
requesting that the Department of Defense (DOD) amend a rule that excludes
commercial off-the-shelf purchases from the DOD American Indian Incentive Program.
This exclusion has limited the program’s success and allowed thousands of
dollars, set-aside for prime contractors and Native American businesses, to go
unused year after year.
DOD’s American Indian Incentive
Program enables contractors to receive a bonus of 5 percent of the amount
subcontracted to Indian owned enterprises. First tier Indian enterprise
sub-contractors also receive a bonus of 5 percent when they sub-contract to
another Indian business.
National Indian Business Association
Vice President, Andrew Akins, supports the inclusion of commercial
off-the-shelf purchases in DOD’s incentive program. A business owner and
seller of commercial products, Mr. Akins has been frustrated by the limitations
of the program. Based on his findings, DOD had not spent any money from
1994 until 1998, and during the first four years did not even implement the
program losing $32,000,000 in bonus payments to prime contractors and
$640,000,000 in sub-contracts to Native American businesses.
NIBA has also been a strong advocate
for DOD’s increased implementation of the program. In 1999, DOD processed
an estimated $2 million in bonus payments and an estimated $1.8 million in
2000. It is expected that about $2 million may be spent in 2001.
NIBA thanks the many Indian
businesses and other supporters that assist in its efforts to spread the word
about DOD’s incentive program, and its inclusion of commercial purchases!
DOD received a substantial number of comments to its proposed rule (DFARS case
2000-D024), published in the September 11th Federal Register.