In most Tribal HR offices, the I-9 form has lived a quiet life. Signed in ballpoint, filed in a cabinet, joined to the other paperwork nobody expects to read again. For decades, that has been enough. It will not be enough much longer. Federal employment verification...
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...
We’re proud to announce that Blue Stone Strategy Partners will be attending the 2025 NNAHRA Annual Conference, the leading forum for Tribal Human Resources professionals committed to building stronger, more resilient Tribal Nations. Across Indian Country, many Tribes...
In Native cultures across North America, the canoe has long symbolized more than transportation. It represents journey, unity, and collective purpose. Today, as economic tides shift unpredictably in 2025, Tribal Nations are once again paddling together, uniting...
A Law That Changed Everything Fifty years ago, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) marked a monumental turning point in federal Indian policy. Prior to its passage in 1975, U.S. policy was dominated by assimilation, relocation, and...
As concerns continue to rise about the future of rural America—its economy, healthcare access, housing availability, and job opportunities, a critical truth remains too often overlooked: Native American communities are not just a part of rural America. In many places,...
Securing Our Future: A Call for Exercising Tribal Sovereignty By Chief Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (2000 - 2024) For over two decades, I had the honor of serving as the Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (2000 -...