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Indigeneity’s data dilemma
What kind of story does the data tell about Indigenous communities? That, dear reader, is a trick question. Any answer is complicated and nuanced. And this is especially true because there is no shared definition of race or ethnicity (on the other hand, tribal citizenship is clear. You are either a member or not.) The […]
Memories that start with a pickup truck
I am flooded today with memories of Peterson Zah. The first time I met him was when I was covering the 1982 Navajo Nation election between Zah and Peter MacDonald Sr. One of the stories he told – and I used high up in the story – is now legend. If elected, he promised to […]
Work from home? Native Americans are left behind
Let’s start with an important question: What would the economy look like for tribal nations if every citizen could work at home? The idea of remote work – something that boomed during the pandemic – could be a vehicle to end the “out migration” from rural tribal communities and create new opportunities. Now hold that […]
At the Crossroads: State of the Economy in Indian Country
Study after study reaches the same conclusion: Tribes are often the largest drivers of regional and rural economies. In Oklahoma, a new report said tribes and tribal enterprises added $15.6 billion in direct contributions in 2019 to the state’s economy. In addition, many more billions were spent by suppliers and those developing products for the tribes. […]