Program Summary
Enterprise Cascadia's Indian Country Initiative works to support the organization’s delivery of alternative financial products and services to Indian Country in Oregon and Washington.  The initiative was formed with the understanding that 1) Tribes and Tribal members are integral to the organization’s regional mission and 2) that our approach to meeting needs in Indian Country is most appropriately a targeted one.

• Our objective is to ensure effective delivery of existing products to Indian Country and develop unique products specific to Indian Country.
• Our key strategy is to build strong relationships with Tribes and their members, Native Organizations and Tribal leadership.
• Our mission is to have a substantive impact in Indian Country in the Pacific Northwest.
• Our vision is a regional economy which recognizes the critical role played by the first people of this land not just historically but into the future. This initiative hopes to have played some small part in realizing this vision.

See our Indian Country Initiative FAQ to learn more about the program and its products.

What's New in Indian Country

2010 Trading at the River Conference
On May 3-6, 2010 Chandra Hampson, and Mike Dickerson participated heavily in ONABEN's Trading At the River conference. The theme this year was  "Bridging Tribal Economies-Making Connections to Transform the World"  In conjunction with First Nations Oweesta Corporation, ONABEN and the membership of the NW Native Capital Peer Group, Enterprise Cascadia facilitated a symposium on creating and sustaining native controlled capital. In this important convening, champions from at least 15 Tribes in the Pacific Northwest came together to provide peer mentoring, funding strategies and national policy updates and prospective shared services.

Mike and Chandra also spoke individually at sessions during the conference. Mike presented "Measuring Results: Discussion of recent research and current efforts to set benchmarks and measurements for organizational and community progress". Chandra sat on a panel with Enterprise Cascadia Board Credit Committee member Ray Mooney and Northwest Native Development Fund's Molly Morris to answer questions regarding small-business financing.

The emergence of Native-owned enterprises as a driving force in the regional economy was the buzz of the conference. Accessing capital and keeping it circulating within the Native communities was the rallying cry. Economic transformation, consistent with Native People's values, was the proposed outcome. Enterprise Cascadia was thrilled to be part of this event which grows every year in importance and impact.

Innovations in Indianpreneurship
ONABEN, launched Innovations in Indianpreneurship® to help grow Native American-owned businesses enterprises in NW Indian Country. Innovations in Indianpreneurship® is a business plan competition that brings innovative business ideas, entrepreneurs, coaches, and investors together to grow capacity and capital in the Indian Country. Chandra Hampson and Eric Jordan, ONABEN Deputy Director, announced the finalists of Innovations in Indianpreneurship®. SBEC supported ONABEN's launch of this first ever Native entrepreneurial business plan competition in the Pacific Northwest.

Winners pictured with Chandra and Eric (left to right): Sue Shotridge, Shotridge Studios; Ted Regan, Ridgeline Group; Dana Bumgarner, Cayuse Country Flowers; William Murphy, Adulsa Glass Studio; Eric Jordan, ONABEN; Chandra Hampson, Enterprise Cascadia; Bobbie Tally, Mass Notification; Jeramey James, Native SIP; Susan Strain, Mt. Shasta Naturals; and Chris Alexander, Osten Interactive (Photo by DGTL/NVJO www.dnvjostudio.com).

Indian Country Initiative Makes an Impact
Since inception, ICI has assisted 623 low-income families, created or retained 64 jobs, supported one business that added a "secondary value" to a product, protected 16 acres of sustainable or certified land and 1,000 feet of riparian zone, leveraged $13.6 million in third party investments, diverted 9 million gallons of water from the waste stream and maintained $4.5 million of local land tenure.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently granted $100,000 to deepen ICI's work with the members of the NW Native Capital Peer Group and to initiate relationships with the Innovations in Indianpreneurship®. Financial support to launch the Indian Country Initiative was provided by the Ford Foundation and the F.B. Heron Foundation.

See our Indian Country Initiative FAQ to learn more about the program and its products. Visit Stories of Change by Program to see who the Indian Country Initiative is working with.