Page 38 - 2024 January report

GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (DRAFT) (7) 11. IndigenousPeoplesPrograming
a. Convening report
A report by Sherry on the 2023 Indigenous Peoples Programs Convening had been circulated. The Convening was held October 18th in Spokane, Washington, with the goal of learning from graduates of the Gonzaga University MBA-AIE program. There have been 13 cohorts since the program began in 2001, and the 14th cohort is due to graduate in 2024. It is likely the program will have produced at least 100 Native MBA graduates by the 25th anniversary of the first cohort in 2026.
1) Seven graduates, all from different cohorts, participated in the Convening along with representatives from Gonzaga and JSF. The participants discussed four questions: Given your experience working with and for Native peoples in your various capacities, what are the two most important observations/lessons/trends you have experienced/learned about Native business and economies? What would you forecast about the future?
2) From your vantage point, what are the most crucial education needs to support Native business and economic development now and in the future?
3) Please share your ideas about how to link Native MBAs with Native undergraduate business students in terms of mentoring, role models, teaching, and internships.
4) Given your experience at Gonzaga in the MBA-AIE program and your experience since graduation, please share what you most appreciated in the program or saw as a strength and two recommendations for the future of the program.
The last question generated several recommendations, including strengthening the alumni/student network, utilizing more Indigenous case studies, providing curriculum updates, strengthening and increasing the focus on analytics/statistics, incorporating opportunities to network and possibly take classes with MBA students who are not in the MBA-AIE program, offering more international travel opportunities, and making better use of the Advisory Council.
Overall, the Convening confirmed that the graduates are having a positive influence in their communities and contributing to stronger tribal economies. Future directions could include taking an in-depth look at MBA-AIE alumni from the 2 schools with the most graduates, Fort Peck Community College and Salish Kootenai College; celebrating the upcoming 25th anniversary in 2026; and determining what can be done to assist with providing Native-specific business case studies.
After the Convening, JSF hosted a well-attended reception for MBA-AIE alumni who were in town for the AISES conference or who live nearby. The following day, JSF representatives attended a meeting at Gonzaga to discuss the future of the program.
The Convening report was well received by the Committee, and it sparked a discussion about the concept of entrepreneurship as it relates to Native communities. For some, the term entrepreneurship is associated with solo participation while the notion of social entrepreneurship is more readily embraced. Many graduates are now working in tribal leadership and enterprises, and in those roles, they are having a real impact on economic development.
There was also discussion about whether there are things JSF can do to strengthen the MBA-AIE program. The position formerly held by Stacey Chatman has remained unfilled due to restructuring at the university. The Gonzaga representatives appeared to recognize the importance of having someone in that position and were open to the idea of creating an endowment for it. There was also openness to working more closely with the Office of Tribal Relations on campus. Wendy Thompson, who oversees the office, attended both the Convening and the Gonzaga meeting. Lastly, Gonzaga has shown an interest in improving its strained relationships with local tribes, which is a positive development.
Page 36 January Report