This month has been the busiest yet! We were happy to launch the Inno-NATIONS Tribal Business Collision Community in early March. We are now accepting applications for our inaugural cohort for June. We're now preparing for our upcoming Tribal Economic Leadership program events including L2L (Leader-to-Leader) and the Tribal Financial Management Certification training to be held in May and June, respectively. Registration is open for both L2L and TFMC.
In March, Dr. Traci Morris was elected to the board of directors for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona. She was also a keynote speaker at the Women in STEM Conference sponsored by the ASU Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology. She also had the privilege of introducing Winona LaDuke, renowned Native American environmental activist, at the Women in STEM conference for their lunch session.
We do not expect to be slowing down anytime soon and encourage you to stop by our information booths at the upcoming Native American Finance Officers Association's annual conference in San Francisco, CA, the ASU Pow-Wow in Tempe, AZ, and the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in Albuquerque, NM.
Inno-NATIONS Completes Successful Launch
Our Inno-NATIONS launch events surpassed our expectations. Many turned out for our events and we were happy to see the enthusiastic response this new initiative is receiving both locally and across the state.
“Beyond Buckskin: Beyond Online” was the first in the Inno-NATIONS Learning Lab series, highlighting Jessica Metcalfe, who is Turtle Mountain Chippewa and the founder of the highly successful online retail store Beyond Buckskin. Metcalfe shared how she grew her business from a blog to a bricks and mortar operation near her Turtle Mountain community in North Dakota. She currently employs local tribal members and showcases the arts of over 40 Native American and First Nations artists.
This event was followed by the "Protection in All Directions: A Fashion & Resistance Awareness Event” featuring Jaclyn Roessel of Grownup Navajo, the Shining Soul performance duo, and a fashion show highlighting local Native American designer Jared Yazzie of OxDx Clothing.
We thank all who came out to support this new endeavor. Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming Inno-NATIONS cohort that will begin June 22-24 at our program space located at The Department, in downtown Phoenix. Click here for more information about applying to the program.
Tribal Economic Leadership Program Offers
New Leader-to-Leader Training
We’re excited about the upcoming Leader-to-Leader (L2L) program at Arizona State University. The Leader to Leader: Tribal Economic Governance course is part of our Tribal Economic Leadership Program and promises to provide an intriguing and informative in-person class to be held at the ASU Tempe campus on May 15-16, 2017.
This interactive two-day seminar is brought by the Native American Finance Officers Association and AIPI to provide applied, intensive, and innovative training for elected and appointed tribal officials taught by experts and other tribal leaders. The goal of the seminar is to arm Indian Country with knowledge of economic development and financial management that will better position leadership to make informed fiscal policy decisions.
The L2L Seminar will cover:
- Driving Economic Development: A Leader’s Guide to Federal Indian Law and Policy
- Informed Decision-Making Through Sound Economic Development and Planning
- Taxation and Business Structures for Tribal Governments
- Overseeing the Financial Management of the Tribal Government and its Enterprises
- Financing and the Ability to Borrow
- Priority and Community-Based Budgeting
Speakers Confirmed:
- Lt. Governor Jefferson Keel, Chickasaw Nation
- Derek Valdo, CEO of Amerind Risk and Acoma Pueblo Councilman
- Steve Stallings, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Councilman
- Geoffrey Blackwell, Chief Strategic Officer & General Counsel, Amerind Risk
- Robert Miller, Professor of Law, Indian Legal Program, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
- Corrine Wilson, CPA-Principal, REDW LLC
- David White, Asst. General Manager, Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, Gila River Indian Community
- Kathleen Nilles, Partner, Holland & Knight
- Kristy Jackson, Chairwoman, TFA Capital Partners
The seminar will use ASU’s Decision Theater technology, which assists government officials in making decisions in the face of uncertainty. The Decision Theater allows for various economic development scenarios to be simulated in real time by visually displaying the implications of decisions made today on economic variables of tomorrow – e.g., job creation, improving the standard of living for citizens, and drought/water policies.
The tuition is $2,500 and includes breakfast, lunch, WiFi, parking, and has a limited class size of 20 leaders. If you are ready to register, please visit: https://www.regonline.com/L2L_2017
Feel free to contact Sasha Pachito, TEL Program Manager at sasha.pachito@asu.edufor more information on the course offerings and registration.
Spring 2017 TFMC Registration Now Open
AIPI and NAFOA are pleased to announce the Spring 2017 TFMC. The Spring cohort will take place June 6-8, 2017, at Arizona State University's Memorial Union. For more information and to register, please visit our registration website.
Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Training Features:
Principles of federal Indian law and its effect on tribal financial management
Government accounting standards and principles
Compliance with the new OMB Uniform Guidance
Self-determination, self-governance, financial compliance, and record keeping
Effects of federal, state, and tribal taxation on tribal financial management, including development of a revenue allocation plan
Best practices for internal controls and procurement policies
Key tools for developing and managing budgets
Emerging financial issues in Indian Country
Continuing Professional Education:
You can earn up to 20 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits through NAFOA. For more information, contact Sasha Pachito, TEL Program Manager at sasha.pachito@asu.edu.
CALENDAR
April
Federal Bar Association's Indian Law Conference | April 6-7, 2017 | Sponsored by Federal Bar Association | Talking Stick Resort | Scottsdale, AZ
Thirteenth Annual Southeast Indian Studies Conference | April 6-7, 2017 | University of North Carolina-Pembroke
2017 National Forum on Dropout Prevention for Native and Tribal Communities | April 9-12, 2017 | Sponsored by National Dropout Prevention Center | We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center | Scottsdale, AZ
Lecture with Phyllis Young | April 10, 2017 | Sponsored by the Office of American Indian Initiatives | ASU Tempe Campus, Coor Hall, Room 5536 | Tempe, AZ
NIGA Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention | April 10-13, 2017 | Sponsored by the National Indian Gaming Association | San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA
45th Annual Symposium on the American Indian: Indian Givers-Indigenous Inspirations | April 10-15, 2017 | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK
Pipeline to Law Information Session | April 11, 2017 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. | Sponsored by the ASU Indian Legal Program | President Peterson Zah Active Learning Classroom (Room 352) | Beus Center for Law and Society at the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus | Phoenix, AZ
Construction in Indian Country National Conference | April 17-19, 2017 | Sponsored by ASU Construction in Indian Country Program | Wigwam Resource | Litchfield Park, AZ
31st Annual ASU Pow-Wow | April 21-23, 2017 | Sponsored by the ASU Pow-Wow Committee | ASU Band Practice Field, East 6th Street and South Rural Road | Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Indian Center Silver & Turquoise Ball | April 22, 2017 | Sponsored by the Phoenix Indian Center | Hyatt Regency Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ
2017 Annual Tribal Self-Governance Consultation Conference | April 23-27, 2017 | Spokane Convention Center | Spokane, WA
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues | April 23-27, 2017 | New York, NY
NAFOA 35th Annual Spring Conference | April 24-25, 2017 | Sponsored by the Native American Finance Officers Association | Hilton Union Square | San Francisco, CA
2017 AISES Leadership Summit | April 27-29, 2017 | Sponsored by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society | Wild Horse Pass Casino & Resort | Chandler, AZ
May
Tribal Interior Budget Council | May 2-4, 2017 | Sponsored by Tribal/Interior Budget Council | Washington Plaza, 10 Thomas Circle NW | Washington, DC
ASU American Indian Convocation | May 10, 2017 | 6pm | Sponsored by ASU | Grady Gammage Auditorium | Tempe, AZ
Tribal Law Enforcement Executive Symposium: Breaking Down Tribal Jurisdictional Walls | May 10-11, 2017 | Kah-Nee-Ta Resort | Warm Springs, OR
Leader-to-Leader (L2L) Tribal Economic Governance Seminar | May 15-16, 2017 | Sponsored by ASU AIPI and NAFOA | Decision Theatre Network | Tempe, AZ
June
Tribal Financial Management Certification Training | June 6-8, 2017 | Sponsored by ASU AIPI and NAFOA | ASU Tempe Memorial Union | Tempe, AZ
2017 National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference & Marketplace |June 12-15, 2017 | Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT