Articles By Darryl Noble
A nice trend is the tribe-to-tribe help. Not all tribes are geographically situated to take advantage of certain economic development endeavors. So, it is nice to see that tribes that have certain advantages provide help for other tribes. A fairly recent example of this assistance is the help the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma received from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The Shakopee's provide over a million dollars so the Kiowa's could purchase Indian City in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Indian City is a long time tourist attraction that also has grounds the Kiowa's use for ceremonials. It came up for sale and the Shakopee's provided a grant so the Kiowa's could purchase the land and attractions.
While all tribes endeavor to help their own tribal members, some provide certain help to all Native Americans. Both the Cherokee's and Citizen Potawatomi in Oklahoma have assistance available for Native American entrepreneurs. The Cherokee's open their small business development center to all Native entrepreneurs. The Citizen Potawatomi have a business capital lending program that is open all Native entrepreneurs. Of course, to make use of these programs a Native business owner should be in relative geographical proximity.
Not all giving is limited to Native Americans. Tribes also give a lot to local communities. Cherokee Nation Enterprises gave Nintendo Wii systems to a local senior care center to keep help keep seniors physically active. In the 2009 Christmas season the Choctaw's gave food, clothes, and Christmas presents to various charities. That same Christmas season the Citizen Potawatomi employees gave $50,000 to the United Way. These are just a small examples of tribal giving that extends year around.