A Nation hires a new accountant at $58,000 because that is what the market required to fill the seat. Three doors down sits an accountant with eleven years of service earning $59,200. The gap between them is $1,200 for eleven years of loyalty. In a workplace where...
A compa-ratio is one number: an employee’s pay divided by the midpoint of their pay range. An accountant earning $52,000 in a range with a $61,000 midpoint has a compa-ratio of 85%. She is paid 15 percent below the middle of her own range. Tracked across a workforce,...
With generous support from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and in partnership with Blue Stone Strategy Partners, Tribal Nations are moving their vision forward through strategic planning that is producing real results. Tribal Nation leadership teams...
Subject Matter Expert
The Time to Diversify is Now
My name is Jacquelyn Robinson and I am a member of the Hopi Tribe. I am Water Clan in Hopi, so most of my teachings growing up had to do with water. My grandparents taught me the importance of saving water, blessing ourselves with water, and continually praying for...
In March, nearly 100 Tribal economic development leaders joined our session at the NCAIED Reservation Economic Summit for a 3-hour workshop on Tribal business expansion, optimization, and governance. Tribal Nations from every corner of Indian Country, ranging from...
Across Indian Country and rural America, a significant shift is underway, one that has the potential to reshape how healthcare is delivered, accessed, and sustained for decades to come. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation...
For many Tribal Nations, Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) plays a critical role in ensuring access to specialty and emergent services that fall outside the scope of tribally operated health clinics. While PRC is a federally funded program, its success depends heavily on...
The Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) is one of the largest federal investment packages passed in recent years, touching nearly every sector of government, infrastructure, and public services. While the bill does not target Tribal Nations exclusively, its provisions could...
In Tribal communities across the country, strategic plans are crafted with care, grounded in cultural values, and designed to meet urgent and long-term community needs. These plans often represent a shared vision, shaped by elders, elected leaders, program staff, and...
In Tribal Nations across the United States, economic development is a vehicle for sovereignty, self-reliance, and future prosperity. However, when business operations become entangled with political dynamics, what begins as a strategy for growth can quickly...