1. Economic Development Models in Indian Country Social Investment Enterprises Community-based enterprises - Buffalo As Relatives - Honor the Earth

2. What is an economic development model? The way that the Tribe, or tribal members within the community earn income or develop physical community projects Includes individually owned business, tribally owned business and enterprises Creation of an economic base to sustain community needs beyond the federal government

3. The Western Economic Development Model Individual entrepreneur, company or tribal business targets an area with goal of earning maximum profits Creates a plan for the new enterprise, locates capital for the start-up or new venture Business earns gross income, makes payments to lender, and hopes to generate enough income to stay in business until profits can sustain the business

4. Problems with the Western Model in Indian Country Decisions to start or expand business are made according to profit motive, not necessarily on what the community needs Reservation communities lack adequate capital or collateral for capital loans External capital lenders reap the profits and leave when they choose to Tribal members often lack sufficient income to support tribal enterprises

5. Sustainable Models of Economic Development for Tribal Nations Social Investment enterprises Community-based enterprises - Buffalo As Relatives - Honor the Earth

6. Social Enterprises Business decisions are based upon increasing community benefit, not merely on profit maximization Can require more labor through “sweat equity”, decreasing the need for large capital investment Profits stay in the community and are shared by many

7. BUFFALO AS RELATIVES Economic Development using a Relationship- Based and Sustainable Model

8. RELATIONSHIP/KINSHIP Relating to Buffalo Nation as relatives Relationship between the Buffalo Nation and the environment; buffalo wrap their tongue around the grass/plants and break it off thereby preserving the roots and enabling the plants to grow again (cattle tear the roots out) Family and extended family model that ensures social order among Buffalo

9. Buffalo Economy Buffalo were source of nourishment, both nutritionally and spiritually, for many indigenous nations. Buffalo were nearly wiped out Many Indigenous communities are returning to restoring buffalo herds as a source of food, spiritual sustenance and economic development. Buffalo roam and don’t overgraze one area Preserves the natural habitat, more economical

10. Village Earth and the Lakota Buffalo Caretakers Cooperative Partnership to develop a market and supply chain involving buffalo producers on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Respecting buffalo social structure as “family” and “extended family”; e.g. not taking the calves from their mothers at an early age to fatten them up using grain. Not using feedlot but raising full time in a pasture, which creates sustainable process

11. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.lakotabuffalocaretakers.org http://www.villageearth.org/pages/Projects/PineR idge/index.phphttp://www.villageearth.org/pages/Projects/PineR idge/index.php/

12. Honor The Earth Sustainable Tribal Economies Resorting Energy & Food Sovereignty In Native America

13. Honor The Earth Organization History Honor the Earth is a Native-led organization established by Winona La Duke & Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers in 1993 to address two primary needs: Break the geographical & political isolation of Native Communities Break the geographical & political isolation of Native Communities Increase financial resources for organizing & change Increase financial resources for organizing & change

14. Honor The Earth Mission & Vision We believe in a sustainable world that is predicated on transforming economic, social, and political relationships that have been based on systems of conquests towards systems based on just relationships with each other and the natural world. We are committed to restoring a paradigm that recognizes our collective humanity and joint dependence on the Earth

15. Honor The Earth Honor the Earth - Building Resilience Work The initiative focuses on two areas of work to support Native communities' capacity for relocalizing Native energy & food economies through: Food Sovereignty Projects Energy Sovereignty Projects Which can result in Sustainable Tribal Economies

16. Honor The Earth The Basics of a Sustainable Community An economy is the creation and distribution of wealth a community. Wealth can be in the form of wampum, buffalo, corn, sheep, energy, or other items such as cash Cash is not essential in an economy, yet Native communities have become increasingly cash dependent

17. Honor The Earth Breaking the Cycle of Dependency The structure of dependant economics puts Native communities at risk of constant destabilization and often. at the mercy of outside forces. To become self sustaining and create a new economy in Native communities – we have to break the cycle of dependency.

18. Honor The Earth Breaking the Cycle of Dependency In a world where tribes have been pushed to create cash driven economies, there is another more resilient way to live and it begins with valuing who we are and reclaiming our own definition of wealth. Restoring a local economy rooted in Native knowledge is essential to revitalizing the health and sustainability of Native communities.

19. Honor The Earth Creating New Tribal Economies Native communities can stabilize their tribal economies through localization. By developing their own energy and food sources, tribes can create vibrant and resilient tribal economies that will ensure the survival in the face of economic and environmental challenges in the future.

20. Honor The Earth Solutions for Building Sustainable Tribal Economies: Solar Energy Solar Energy Wind Energy Wind Energy Micro Hydropower Micro Hydropower Sustainable BioMass & BioFuels Sustainable BioMass & BioFuels Restoring Traditional Foods Restoring Traditional Foods For More Information: www.honortheearth.org www.honortheearth.org Sustainable Tribal Economies – A Guide to Restoring Energy and Food Sovereignty in Native America - Honor the Earth Publication

21. Honor The Earth “We are the Keepers of this earth. Those are divinely mandated instructions to us. We are at an incredible challenge at this part of our journey. What a blessing and what a responsibility.” Dr. Henrietta Mann Nov. 2009