New Tribalism Economy & New Era for All of Indian Country, USA

New Tribalism Economy & New Era for All of Indian Country, USA

By

Terrance H. Booth, Sr. – Tsimshian

All of the necessary tools are already in place for Indian Country, USA to take bold economic action steps to become very prosperous. Some tribes are already in the forefront succeeding for the good of their people. Some tribes even see the benefits of jointly working together to resolve their social and economic status and greatly improving their living standards that much improved their lifestyles.

This writer has already stated in pervious writings on why we have poor tribal economies and that is “economic leakages” meaning dollars spent leave the reservation settings and thus we have poor tribal economies. Our tribal economies can much improve if we stop these “economic leakages” by formation of our own Native Companies or Corporations be established within our own tribal settings. If individuals simply follow their daily, weekly or monthly spending we can see for insurance, clothing, groceries, fuel, energy, telephone service, gas, movies, restaurants, entertainment all of the dollars spent usually goes off the reservation settings. Supporting tribal governments we see “economic leakages” with consultants, lawyers, financial advisors, office supplies, electronic supplies, non-Native staff, and goods and services dollars spent go off our reservations settings. Thus, we have a poor Native Economy.

Just from ourselves as tribal people if we can build, establish more businesses to capture these dollars that go off our reservation settings and start to improve our tribal economies. Just from ourselves we have great buying power that in of itself can greatly improve our tribal economies.

Verification of our own Native Buying power here is part of a study done by Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, they study includes Native American buying power: “Buying power for Native Americans, the smallest of the four minority groups included in the Selig Center report, will total $53.9 billion in 2006 and rise to $73 billion in 2011. Native American buying power in 1990 was $19.7 billion. That projects to 270 percent growth in buying power from 1990 to 2011, which exceeds the estimated growth rate for U.S. buying power as a whole (190 percent) over the same period. But Native American buying power will account for only 0.6 percent of all U.S. buying power in 2011.”
(http://www.terry.uga.edu/news/releases/2006/buying_power_study.html)

It is time while we are now confronted with a poor America economy for us to begin to build our own tribal economies for the good of our people. We have the necessary tools to take beginning steps to completely eliminate poverty from our midst. We as tribes can take full advantage of creating substantial tribal economic wealth just in one area and that is alternative energy. By creation of Tribal Energy Parks selling much needed energy to America. Why? By the year 2016 all of American will need 70% more electricity. Further, every tribe has Solar, Wind, Water and Biomass that can be converted into energy. Waste by cities and towns in some cases they have ran out of space to store waste. Tribes can provide an answer by use of Waste into energy. Not only producing energy but through sequestering of carbon waste can be converted into a metal like substance replacing aluminum, copper or steel, Nine different major corporations uses aluminum, copper or steel and tribes can establish light industries manufacturing parts for all of these major industries.

Other necessary tribal entities are in place for substantial tribal wealth development is the universities; community colleges and tribal colleges in some areas have partnership with tribal advocacy organizations implementing tribal professionalism for many tribes. We have already gained tribal technical assistance, workshops for tribal economic development, conferences full addressing our tribal economies, state of Indian Affairs, companies and organizations promoting economic development from a Native Perspective.

First Nations of Canada have taken the lead on seeking out investors, joint ventures or partnerships for development of their natural resources. In November of 2008 100 First Nations Leaders embarked upon Beijing, China on a trade mission resulting into joint ventures or partnerships and some came away with $100s of millions of dollars for development of their tribal settings. This year another delegation from First Nations of Canada are going on another trade mission for full development of their tribes and their natural resources.

Among us is Native American Trade and Information Office that provides funding for tribes. Their website: http://www.nativeamericantio.org Contact Person: John T. Moss Email: john@nativeamericantio.org Its time we eliminate poverty from our midst and we as Tribes do this by working together.