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...
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...
A well-designed Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is not just about data—it is about voice, values, sovereignty, and movement. When guided by Tribal leadership, a CHNA can support informed decision-making, strengthen community trust, and advance the Tribe’s...
Pay compression is a growing issue across many organizations, including Tribal governments, enterprises, and healthcare systems. It occurs when the pay differences between employees become too narrow regardless of differences in skills, tenure, or responsibilities....
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 federal-dependency model is terminally ill, and no amount of political optimism willresurrect it. Tribes can either design their economic future or have it designed for them.”— Joe Nayquonabe, Chief Strategy Officer, Blue Stone Strategy Partners Carpe Diem “Seize...
The Noonday Market Fuel and Convenience Store was opened by the Gun Lake Tribe of Michigan. Pride /prīd/ noun 1. a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from...
“You have to make a long term plan for diversification, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s important to commit to the reinvestment necessary to accomplish your goals so you are not bleeding enterprises dry while on the path. [It’s] critical to continually educate...
There have been considerable concerns raised throughout Indian Country about the uncertainty that lies ahead in 2017 and what changes might occur in the coming year with the New Administration. Do you believe your tribal leadership aligned and positioned to overcome...
“Tribal self-governance is inextricably linked to economy,” says Tribal affairs expert Richard “Dick” Trudell, a Blue Stone Strategy Group Advisory Board Member. Tribal nations, their governments, and their people are connected in ways that are rooted in tradition,...