The current national unemployment rate, hovering below 4 percent as of June, gets a lot of attention in the press — and from politicians touting a “great” economy. But the picture is not rosy for all Americans. According to the December 2018 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, approximately 12 percent of Native Americans are unemployed. That’s more than triple the current national average, but those living on reservations are looking at an unemployment rate of about 50 percent — in some tribal communities the rate soars as high as 80 percent. And many of those reservation residents who do work must commute long distances, and even so the income gap is substantial: the median household income for Native Americans of $39,719 is one-third less than that of white Americans.
So it’s especially important to take time to focus on job creation in Native communities. And there the news is better. According to the SBA’s Survey of American Indian– and Alaska Native–Owned Businesses, there are more Indigenous business owners under age 35 than the national average. And the growth in the number of Native-owned businesses — 15 percent from 2007 to 2012 (the latest census data available) — outpaces the 2 percent national average growth in the number of businesses. That trend makes it exciting to speculate about possible implications for career opportunities appearing in places that were once on the sidelines.
When Native enterprises create good jobs in Indian Country, look for the benefits to be far reaching. More dollars in circulation on reservations translates to improved education, health, and housing options, which in turn attract more skilled people to stay in or come home to the community. This well-trained workforce may be expected to staff — and start — more new businesses. Many communities place a premium on cultural preservation, and when prosperity makes funds available for endeavors like language instruction, teaching tribal knowledge, and researching history and heritage, more jobs will be created for specialists like teachers, librarians, and archivists while strengthening community ties for
all members.
Job growth in Indian Country and beyond is also important to AISES as an organization. Fostering the growth of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) opportunities within our communities is central to the AISES mission. And as the organization grows and extends its reach, the number of AISES graduates will continue to multiply — and delivering on the AISES mission will be increasingly important.
In our annual roster of 25 Native STEM Enterprises, you’ll see a variety of fields represented and contrary to what is often supposed, when it comes to STEM opportunities in Indian Country, gambling, while important, is far from the only game in town. In addition, we are taking a closer look at some representative organizations among the 25 and people behind them who are helping to build the future for Indigenous STEM professionals.
The 25 to Watch
This roster of 25 Native STEM Enterprises is not intended to be a definitive list. Instead, it is meant to be representative of the variety of organizations large and small that are making Indian Country an increasingly interesting place to be for STEM professionals. Enterprises on the list were chosen based on broad criteria, such as workforce and business development, philanthropy, support of education, STEM knowledge, and overall corporate values.
Akana
Portland, Ore.
Field: Architecture and engineering
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation)
akana.us
Beaver Creek Archaeology
Bismarck, N.D.
Field: Environmental Services
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Comanche
bcarch.org
Caribou Thunder LLC (DBA: CTL Resources)
Hayward, Wisc.
Field: Engineering
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: White Earth Nation
ctlresources.com
Cherokee Data
Solutions LLC
Claremore, Okla.
Field: Sales and support for technology and business products
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cherokee Nation
okcds.com
ConsumerAffairs
Tulsa, Okla.
Field: Software
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Kaw
consumeraffairs.com
Data Holdings
Milwaukee
Field: Data storage
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Forest County Potawatomi
dataholdings.com
Eastern Band of Cherokee
Cherokee, N.C.
Field: Educational support for STEM students
ebci.com
FirstNation Health
Tulsa, Okla.
Field: Health care
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Multiple
firstnationhealthcare.com
Forest County Potawatomi
Crandon, Wis.
Field: Educational support for STEM students
fcpotawatomi.com
Greenfire
Milwaukee
Field: Construction management
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Forest County Potawatomi
greenfire.com
Lumbee Tribe of NC
Pembroke, N.C.
Field: Educational support for STEM students
lumbeetribe.com
Mandaree Enterprises
New Town, N.D.
Field: Government contractor, defense, real estate, business services
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: MHA Nation
mellc.co
Menominee Tribal Enterprises
Keshena, Wis. (Menominee Reservation)
Field: Sustainable forestry, lumber supplier
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Menominee Nation
mtewood.com
Metcon Construction
Pembroke, N.C.
Field: General contracting and construction management
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Lumbee
metconus.com
Mohegan Renewable Energy
Uncasville, Conn.
Field: Renewable energy
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: The Mohegan Tribe
mohegan.nsn.us
Native BioData Consortium
Eagle Butte, S.D.
Field: Biomedical research
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Multiple tribes, primarily Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
nativebio.org
Navajo Nation Office of Diné School Improvement
Window Rock, Ariz.
Field: Educational support for STEM students
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation
odsmt.org
Nueta Hidatsa
Sahnish College
New Town, N.D.
Field: Educational support for STEM students
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation
nhsc.edu
Oneida ESC Group
Milwaukee
Field: Construction, engineering, environmental science, transportation
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
oescgroup.com
Ongweoweh Corp
Ithaca, N.Y.
Field: Wood products
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cayuga Indian Nation of New York
ongweoweh.com
Pawnee Seed
Preservation Project
Pawnee, Okla.
Field: Agriculture
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Pawnee Nation
facebook.com/pawneeseedpreservation
Riley Engineering
Tucson, Ariz.
Field: Engineering and design
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation
riley-eng.com
Tribal Diagnostics
Oklahoma City
Field: Medical testing services
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Chickasaw
tribaldiagnostics.com
Tribal Nations
Research Group
Belcourt, N.D.
Field: Data research
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
tnrg.org
Youngs Forestry
Nipissing First Nation, Ontario, Canada
Field: Forestry, high-performance painting
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Nbisiing Anishinaabeg
youngforestryservices.com
Five Indigenous Canadian Enterprises
First Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs are creating jobs and building communities across Canada. Here are just a few.
Air Creebec
Waskaganish, Quebec
FIELD: Air transport
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cree
aircreebec.ca
Director General Films
Edmonton, Alberta
FIELD: Filmmaking
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Niaka’pamux
directorgeneral.ca
First Nations Engineering Services
Oshweken, Ontario
FIELD: Consulting engineering
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Six Nations
of the Grand River
fnesl.ca
Native Design Services
Membertou, Nova Scotia
FIELD: Web design and hosting
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mi’kmaq
native.ca
Sequoia Soaps
Kahnawake, Quebec
FIELD: Natural bath and
body products
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cree
sequoiasoaps.com
