RES 2009 awards outstanding Indian country business leaders, advocates

Richard Bowers Jr., president of Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. received the American Indian Tribal Leadership Award at RES 2009. The award was presented by Margo Gray-Proctor, the new chairwoman of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development.

By Gale Courey Toensing

Story Published: Mar 16, 2009

LAS VEGAS – Business leaders, volunteers and advocates for Indian country were recognized for outstanding support and achievements during the 23rd Reservation Economic Summit & American Indian Business Trade Show, or RES 2009, March 9 – 12 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, which hosts the annual summit, is the oldest and largest nonprofit American Indian economic and business development organization in the country.

This year’s RES attracted more than 2,500 American Indian entrepreneurs, tribal economic and business development decision-makers, tribal leaders, government and corporate executives, and buyers and sellers seeking Indian suppliers and contractors.

RES offers opportunities to network, do business and celebrate the successes of the Native business community and recognize individuals and companies for special achievements.

Ron Solimon, the outgoing chairman of NCAIED’s board of directors, presented the Corporate Advocate of the Year Award to Raytheon , one of the major sponsors of RES 2009.

“I’d like to recognize a special partner that’s very special to me personally in helping my tribe – the Laguno Pueblo in New Mexico – get its start in defense contracting. I’d like to thank Raytheon, our corporate sponsor. Raytheon is one of the finest examples of a corporation devoted to business diversification. The National Center has enjoyed their support and resources for many years now, so it really pleases me to recognize them today for supporting us and other organizations across the country,” Solimon said. He presented the award to Chuck Ross, vice president of Kinetic Energy Interceptors, a company at Raytheon’s missile systems.

Ross, a member of the Choctaw Nation, the executive sponsor of Raytheon’s American Indian Network and executive leader for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

Thanking the center for the award, Ross noted that this year’s theme of Going Global, Thinking Green, and Generating Growth: is “certainly reflective of the emerging world today. Native Americans have always been respectful of the environment.”

Ross encouraged attendees to talk to each other and network “because you never know where you’ll find that business opportunity.”

Margo Gray-Proctor, the new chairwoman of NCAIED’s board of directors, presented the American Indian Tribal Leadership Award to Richard Bowers Jr., the Seminole Tribe of Florida , the summit’s other main sponsor.

The Seminole Tribe is one of the most successful in the country. Two years ago the tribe purchased Hard Rock International, for almost $1 billion. They have entered into numerous partnerships with other American Indian tribes.

The Seminoles were reduced to 200 members in the 1800s, Bower told the audience.

“That’s when they made the Trail of Tears and made the tribes walk from the East Coast to present-day Oklahoma and we resisted that, and from being 200 strong, today we are now 3,400 people.”

He encouraged attendees to do business together.

“You and I are on the same bus. You and I are in a Native American consortium. We just need to work with each other and we need to buy from each other and keep that dollar within Indian country, going around and around and around and then finally let it out. So, this is our vision to make sure that Native Americans sustain themselves because I think we’re just as good businessmen as anybody else in the world.”

Actor/musician Litefoot presented Indian Country Today with the Tribal Enterprise of the Year Award.

“This award is presented to a profitable business owned and operated by a tribe which demonstrates positive community impact, both economic and social, Indian Country Today. Indian Country Today has been a friend to Native America and has covered the highs, the lows and the successes of Native businesses. The publication is environmentally friendly being printed on recycled paper. They have shown significant growth during a downturn in the economy,” Litefoot said.

Editor Randi Rourke accepted the award.

“Nia:wen kowa – a big thank you – on behalf of our publisher, Oneida Nation Rep. Ray Halbritter, Four Directions Media, and our hard-working staff back home in New York. I’m humbled by this honor and recognition. We at ICT are proud, always, to carry the message of Indian self-determination,” Rourke said.

National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. presented the Tribal Gaming Visionary Business Empowerment Award to Keith Anderson, secretary treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community .

Over the past 12 years, the community has donated $145.5 million to Native and non-Native organizations, schools and cultural programs.

“Their vision has transformed Indian gaming profits into meaningful benefit for Indian country,” Stevens said.

Philanthropy, Anderson said, “is a philosophy of Chairman Stanley Crooks. He believes and we believe that success is there for the Native community to be shared. It’s a Lakota tradition to share our wealth.”

Robert Harrison, Standing Rock Sioux, the owner of the Red Cloud Food Service, received the American Indian Business of the Year Award. The company is a custom food manufacturer and marketer of restaurant quality ready to heat/eat food products. Red Cloud supplies meals for the military in Iraq.

“I’m very excited about getting this award. It was a team effort. My whole background belief has always been in a team effort. Without the guys and all their support and the National Center and its guidance we wouldn’t ever receive this award. I want to thank the military. We work with the Wounded Warrior Program. I just want to thank all the Native people for voting for the company,” Harrison said.

Elsie Meeks, the president and CEO of First Nations Oweesta, received the Public Advocate of the Year Award for her support of American Indian business and economic development.

“Elsie Meeks is a nationally recognized leader and advocate for developing Native assets and building Native communities. She has brought the Native voice to the world,” Litefoot said.

“This is really about all of you bringing opportunities to Indian country. When we talk about developing assets it’s about bringing this message that we should, as Indian people, be thinking about how we create wealth within our communities even in the face of the worst poverty you can imagine,” Meeks said.

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole received the Congressional Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of Indian country. Cole is the only American Indian in Congress. He could not attend RES 2009 but sent a videotaped message thanking RES and promising to continue to advocate for Indians.

The Youth Entrepreneur Advocate of the Year Award was given to Peggy White Wellknown Buffalo, who founded the Center Pole for children on the Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana in 1999.

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Fred Lona, senior director, supplier diversity of the Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Each recipient was given the gift of a “wedding vase” from Ute Mountain Pottery.

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