Here is a round up of business news briefs from around Indian Country.
Government
• Terri Fitzpatrick, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was tapped to serve as Chief Real Estate Development and Engagement Officer by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Most recently, Fitzpatrick served as COO and vice president of development at Boji Group, a Lansing, Mich.-based developer. Her career has spanned the corporate, tribal and public sector, including a stint as vice president of tribal business development at the MEDC. In the new role, Fitzpatrick will coordinate site development and infrastructure needs throughout Michigan to aid business attraction and expansion opportunities.
• Santiago Almaraz, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, was named director for the Office of Management Services at the Indian Health Service, a role he was filling in an acting capacity since March 2020. Almaraz’s role focuses on grants, acquisitions, management policy, regulatory affairs, asset management and administrative and emergency services. Previously, Almaraz worked as a contract specialist with the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service and served in acquisitions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also served in various roles at IHS since 2016.
Real estate
• The Nanticoke Indian Tribe reclaimed a 31-acre property in Delaware’s Sussex County following a partnership with Arlington, Va.-based The Conservation Fund. For decades, the tribe had owned only 1 acre of its ancestral land that contained a historic school and leased other parcels for its powwows and other functions. When the adjacent property came up for sale, the tribe engaged with The Conservation Fund, who purchased the parcel and then donated it to the tribe. Mt. Cuba Center, a Hockessin, Del.-based nonprofit botanical garden, helped fund the acquisition. The Delaware Open Space Council also protected the property with a conservation easement. The tribe’s Native Roots Farm Foundation also plans to use the land for sustainable farming. “This is about us as a community, as a tribe, wanting to preserve our heritage, our culture and our traditions so they can be passed down from generation to generation,” Chief Natosha Norwood Carmine said in a statement.
Arts & culture
• Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) will discuss her debut novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter, as part of the National Writers Series’ year-round book festival on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. EST. Lawyer and community activist Holly Bird (San Felipe Pueblo/Apache/Yaqui/Perepucha/European) will moderate the discussion. The in-person event in Traverse City, Mich. will also be streamed live via the internet. More information is available at this link.
• The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, based in Towaoc, Colo., has partnered with nonprofit The Language Conservancy to launch a web and mobile Ute Language dictionary. The tribe estimates that about 110 people are fluent speakers of the tribe’s language. In launching the free Ute Language dictionary, the tribe aims to “reinvigorate the next generation of learners.” The development process involved engaging with 21 speakers and a team of linguists, as well as the use of “rapid word collections.” The website and mobile application launch of the dictionary comes ahead of UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages, which starts in January 2022.
Higher education
• Diné College signed a memorandum of understanding with Kirksville, Mo.-based A.T. Still University to create a pathway for students into the medical school’s physician assistant program. Qualifying students in Diné College’s biomedical sciences program will receive “first look” at admissions at ATSU, according to a statement. The college said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the health disparities for Navajo Nation, which led to discussions around how to address the challenges. “These disparities must end, and Diné College will put itself in the position of preparing students for positions in health care and taking leadership roles locally and nationally in this endeavor, thereby increasing its enrollment, reputation and more importantly helping the college fulfill its mission to the Native American People,” James Tutt, the college’s dean, said in a statement. This month, 21 Diné College students met with ATSU about the physician assistant program.
Funding
• The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board received a $445,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify sources of lead in drinking water at tribally operated schools and child care facilities. The funding stems from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act and will support expanded lead testing for drinking water in tribal communities. NPAIHB is a nonprofit tribal advisory organization serving 43 federally recognized tribes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The funding was part of a $4.3 million round of grants nationwide. “Children’s environmental health is one of the NPAIHB Environmental Public Health Program’s priority areas and we look forward to collaborating with our tribes to deliver this program,” Holly Thompson Duffy, environmental health science manager for NPAIHB, said in a statement.
Gaming
• The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and its partners have opened the $12.5 million Foxwoods El San Juan Casino at the historic Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico, with a soft launch beginning on Nov. 17. The tribe and LionGrove, a Miami, Fla.-based hospitality industry private equity firm, expect to hold a grand opening celebration in January. The casino features hundreds of slot machines along with table games that complement the luxury resort’s amenities, according to a statement. The partners are marketing the casino resort as a luxury destination for U.S. travelers, who can visit Puerto Rico without a passport. “Today is a landmark milestone for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as we expand the Foxwoods Resort Casino brand — for the first time ever — to the Caribbean," Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler said in a statement. “We’re honored to bring real economic value and tourism to the region — including an estimated economic impact of $22 million — with the launch of Foxwoods El San Juan Casino and remain a committed partner as we help build a bright future for the island.”
