Government Support for Indianpreneurs

The EBCI government recognizes that small- business owners on the Qualla Boundary face very distinctive challenges, and its sovereign status allows it to aid in ways particular to Native Nations. These small- business entrepreneurs have access to a variety of valuable support mechanisms, ranging from intergenerational business advantages (as seen in family enterprises) to federal and Native Nation government interventions, which can enhance opportunities and mitigate challenges. It is in these relationships that we see how Native Nations deploy economic sovereignty in a small- business context. The EBCI government offers support specific to the needs of American Indian businesses located on trust land and for Eastern Band business owners. This includes financial support (e.g., loans – especially those that address the needs of trust land as collateral), the establishment of their own Tribal Employment Rights Commission (TERO) office, small business training (such as the Indianpreneurship course), and the managing of their Chamber of Commerce.

Learning to Solve a Business Problem: ‘Hands-on’ Can Get Results

Small business training can facilitate business growth. The authors show that a ‘hands-on’ approach can have a direct impact on a business owner's current situation. They consider this in relation to the problem of being unable to find the right staff, demonstrating that a programme such as the one they describe enables learning and addresses the lack of time and resources faced by many small business owner-managers. Such programmes also accommodate the style, pace and circumstances of the individual learner. This has a number of implications for the delivery of training to small business owner-managers.