Fiscal power allows us to do what works for us.
Tulo Centre Chair, Chief Michael LeBourdais
How do we move beyond transfers? What would you do with new fiscal powers?
Michael LeBourdais from the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics
Original Indigenous Economies
Native Americans innovated and prospered for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.
Prior to European contact, indigenous peoples had a long history of engaging in the dynamic economies and governance structures that we recognize today as the necessary ingredients for prosperity. Traditional systems of governance, clear ownership claims, and robust trade networks allowed indigenous peoples to innovate and prosper in a changing world.
Colonialism: Then and Now
Colonial-era policies and paternalistic attitudes continue to restrict economic activity on reservations.
Persistent colonial policies stifle today’s reservation economies. Breaking the bonds of colonialism requires defining tribal jurisdiction, establishing new governance structures built on rule of law and tribal heritage, and securing property rights—both collective and individual—that help tribal members fully participate in and benefit from the modern global economy.
A New Path Forward
As tribal leaders rebuild their nations and renew their economies, it is time to liberate Native Americans from federal oversight.
Despite the persistence of colonial obstacles, Native Americans are regaining control over their lives and resources. Tribal leaders are rebuilding their nations in ways that honor their unique customs and culture while allowing their members to fully participate in and benefit from modern market economies. This economic renaissance in indigenous communities is about more than prosperity—it’s about dignity.
“It is vital to exercise our right to make choices for ourselves and our communities. Renewed indigenous economies provide a foundation to build our freedoms.”
Misty Kuhl, Aaniiih
Director, Native American Outreach, Rocky Mountain College
“Renewing indigenous economies requires repaving the roads to the old trade hubs and re-engaging in business the Native way: internationally.”
Joseph Austin, Navajo Nation
CEO of Olea, Solorzano & Austin and cofounder of the ACES School (Austin, Crepelle & Ernest Sickey’s School for Wards and Domestic Dependent Nations)
“By renewing indigenous economies, tribes increase their autonomy. When tribes are economically independent, Indian country and Native peoples are best served.”
Sam Schimmel, Siberian Yupik and Kenaitze Indian
Member, Cook Inlet Tribal Council and class of 2022, Stanford University
"Renewing indigenous economies is about relationships, tradition and trade."
Ernest Sickey, Coushatta Tribe
Former chairman, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
“The renewal of indigenous economies is the ultimate path towards true tribal sovereignty and self-determination.”
Daniel Stewart, Spokane Tribe
Professor of Entrepreneurship and director, Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Gonzaga University
“My reservation community will thrive in the twenty-first century only if we re-energize our traditions of private entrepreneurship and self-reliance.”
Bill Yellowtail, Apsaalooke (Crow)
Former Montana state senator and Katz Professor in Native American Studies at Montana State University
How Economies Grow
from the Tulo Centre for Indigenous Economics
Tribal Hatcheries: Key to Salmon Survival
This video from the Washington Policy Center offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Nisqually tribe’s hatchery management.
“Understanding the tribe’s goals is really important, but for us to be successful,” we need to understand others’ goals. “If we leave anybody behind, then it’s not sustainable and it’s not successful.”
— David Troutt, Natural Resources Director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe
Wolf & Wildlife Management with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
This video from the Washington Policy Center sheds light on best practices for wolf and wildlife population management.
Our big game management strategy is “to ensure that there’s plenty of animals out there for the membership to harvest for their own subsistence and for their cultural and spiritual reasons.“
— Cody Desautel, Natural Resources Director, Colville Indian Tribes
Healthy and Fire-Resilient Forests with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
This video from Washington Policy Center sheds light on how the tribes manage forests to deal with the pressures of insect infestation, climate change, and decades of fire suppression.
“Tribes understand how they managed the landscape historically, how they used the land, and how the land provided for them.”
— Cody Desautel, Natural Resources Director, Colville Indian Tribes