Here is a round up of business news from around Indian Country.
Philanthropy
• A pair of Native-focused family engagement and home-school partnership programs were among 10 organizations to receive $100,000 grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Association of Alaska School Boards will use its funding to collaborate with families to create coaching and at-home learning materials grounded in the Alaska Native cultural values. Meanwhile, the West River Foundation and South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center will recruit family champions from high-need schools on or near tribal lands near Black Hills, S.D. to host community chats, gather authentic voices, and implement data-driven plans. The grants are renewable for a second year. Carnegie Corporation’s grant program prioritized applicants that have deep community roots and support learning among students of color and from low-income backgrounds. The organization also gave preference to nonprofits in communities that have not traditionally benefited from national funding. “We were gratified by the tremendous response to the RFP, the caliber and creativity of the submissions, and the competitive process that surfaced our 10 grantees,” Ambika Kapur, program officer for the Corporation’s Public Understanding portfolio of grants, said in a statement. “These nonprofits are meeting the distinct needs of their communities. They are overcoming barriers and enabling educators and parents to be true partners in helping students thrive. As we emerge from the pandemic, these collaborations will remain essential to student learning and to the nation’s recovery.”
Economic development
• The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, based in Dowagiac, Mich., was among eight employers statewide to receive a 2021 Healthy Michigan Worksite Award from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Pokagon Band took home a bronze award and was the only Michigan-based tribe to be honored. The awards program recognizes employers who use Designing Healthy Environments at Work (DHEW) tools and actively invest in wellness programs designed to improve the health of their workforce. “These organizations serve as models for other Michigan businesses by taking proactive measures to develop and promote a culture of health and implementing data-informed objectives, often led by diverse and representative wellness committees,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “Their efforts have the potential to pay off with improved employee well-being, more effective management of health care costs and the ability to attract and retain top talent.”
• The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes in Wyoming can now participate in the state’s Business Ready Community grant and loan program for publicly owned infrastructure following Gov. Mark Gordon signing new legislation into law. Under the new law, the tribes also will have the ability to collectively apply for the grant and loan program. The bill is aimed at increasing “opportunities for economic growth and job creation,” according to Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell. “Our agency is grateful to the Select Committee on Tribal Relations; the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee; and the Governor’s Office for their collaborative work during the Legislature’s interim period to identify gaps and create solutions resulting in these effective policies,” Dorrell said in a statement.
Hospitality
• Highland, Calif.-based Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, a gaming and hospitality venture of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, is creating an exclusive partnership with Live Nation for booking shows at the Yaamava’ Theater, a new 3,000-seat entertainment venue the tribe will open this spring. The partnership will bring national touring acts to the Southern California venue, which features a retractable seating platform that can be adjusted to accommodate various styles of shows. “We are thrilled to partner with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company,” Yaamava’ Resort & Casino General Manager Peter Arceo said in a statement. “As we expand our entertainment offerings and feature premier artists, we are proud to work together with Live Nation to bring a best-in-class experience to life at our unique, one-of-a-kind Yaamava’ Theater.” Yaamava’ Resort & Casino features a 17-floor, 432-room hotel tower, full-service spa and salon and various dining options. The casino offers more than 6,500 slots and five high-limit gaming rooms.
Gaming
• The Little Creek Casino Resort, the gaming enterprise owned and operated by Squaxin Island Tribe in Washington, signed an agreement to partner with VizExplorer to deploy its VizOnDemand Slot solution. The software will provide Little Creek with automated game change recommendations to drive incremental slot machine revenue. The system also gives the tribe various reports and dashboards on the performance of the casino floor, allowing Little Creek to explore various data to improve the player experience, according to a statement. “The ability to capture and review large sets of data is crucial in helping management make good sound slot decisions," Steve Griffiths, COO of Little Creek Casino, said in a statement. The Little Creek Casino Resort is located about one hour from Seattle and Tacoma, and includes a 190-room hotel tower, the Salish Cliffs Golf Club, Seven Inlets Spa and Skookum Creek Event Center.
Government
• Roselyn Tso, a citizen of the Navajo Nation and the current director of the Navajo Area of the Indian Health Service, received a nomination from the Biden administration to serve as director of the IHS. Previously, Tso served as director of the Office of Direct Services and Contracting Tribes at IHS. She started working for the agency in 1984 and has served in various capacities, including as the Portland Area Planning and Statistical Officer, Equal Employment Officer, Special Assistant to the Area Director, and as Director of the Office of Tribal and Service Unit Operations.
