NPQ kicks off the 2021-22 season of our Remaking the Economy series in Indian Country. In partnership with the First Nations Development Institute (“First Nations”), we bring three leading Indigenous economic justice leaders who will speak to their work and the challenges they face in a discussion-style format. Our panelists are:
Heather Fleming (Navajo) is executive director of Change Labs, the only business incubator and accelerator on Navajo land. Fleming works with Hopi and Navajo (Diné) citizens to create a supportive business ecosystem for Native entrepreneurs.
Vanessa Roanhorse (Navajo) is CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, a firm co-designing a character-based lending program, with a vision of redesigning underwriting to meet Native community needs. She is also a cofounder of Native Women Lead.
Lakota Vogel (Cheyenne River Sioux) is CEO of Four Bands Community Loan Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI) in South Dakota. The CDFI she leads is redesigning lending to enable Native residents to build homes on trust lands.
This webinar will explore:
What does economic justice in Indian Country look like? How do Native economic values differ from those typically espoused in US discourse?
How does ongoing colonialism constrain economic development? What levers are Native leaders using to build self-sufficiency and economic sovereignty?
What are some of the key components of a Native economic development ecosystem? How does one go about filling the gaps that exist?
What are some leading examples of successful Native-owned businesses?
What are the 5Cs of credit? Why does the traditional credit system fail to meet the needs of Native communities? What might an alternative look like?
What will it take to put trust lands to work for Native American benefit? Why are present remedies like “loan guarantees” inadequate?
What steps can nonprofits and philanthropy take to support Native leaders?
Whether you’re a social movement activist, nonprofit leader, board member, or engaged in community-based organizing, this webinar will provide you with real-life examples and lessons learned that can inform your work in your own community.
The moderator for this webinar is NPQ senior editor and economic justice program director Steve Dubb. Steve has worked with cooperatives and nonprofits for over two decades and has been both a student and practitioner in the field of community economic development.
You can send your questions to editorinchief@npqmag.org to have them answered during the web event. CLICK HERE to register for this discussion.
*The recording and slides of this webinar will be available on the NPQ website 2-3 days after the live event.