Inaugural Tribal Econ Summit to tackle financial growth, collaboration for Indigenous communities in Northern Plains

A citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Lookinghorse is the originator of the fashion brand K. Lookinghorse. At the summit, she aims to shed light on the value of Indigenous-led businesses in the global marketplace, she told Buffalo’s Fire. “It’s important for me to be there and share my unique journey in creating a brand that is expanding into an ecosystem within the fashion industry,” she said.

The Indigenous-led Native American Development Center in Bismarck hatched the Tribal Econ Summit to connect leaders, professionals and community members across the Northern Plains. The event is for exchanging ideas on economic sustainability, focusing on practical strategies for American Indian communities.

Through a dynamic, solutions-oriented approach to discussing financial development, the summit tackles the “why” and the “how” of achieving lasting progress in Indian Country. Among the agenda items are leveraging federal funding, growing and diversifying Indigenous-owned businesses, integrating traditional knowledge with modern economic practices, and fostering collaboration between neighboring tribes.

“It’s time for other designers like myself to write our own stories on what fashion looks like and why it’s so distinctively different.”

-Kayla Lookinghorse, fashion designer

The summit’s emphasis on actionable insights and real-world outcomes aims to empower tribal leaders and entrepreneurs to take decisive steps toward transforming their economic landscapes.

Lookinghorse sets an example of cultural preservation through the fashion business. Her presentation is set for the luncheon on Jan. 24, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., when she expects to showcase her couture collection. Her chic styles include custom silk dresses that tell unique stories, blending traditional cultural elements with contemporary fashion.

Lookinghorse integrates her Lakota and Dakota heritage into her designs. She said she looks forward to exhibiting in her cultural homelands. “It’s really exciting for me because I get to showcase a lot of the work I’ve been doing,” she said in an interview.

Growing up in the Dakotas, Lookinghorse was inspired by her matriarchal family, where women practiced beadwork, quillwork and sewing. This upbringing fostered her passion for creation, which she continues exploring through her fashion brand based in Southampton, New York. She views the Tribal Econ Summit as an opportunity to uplift other entrepreneurs, particularly in the fashion industry, and discuss how businesses can grow while maintaining strong cultural ties.

“It’s time for other designers like myself to write our own stories on what fashion looks like and why it’s so distinctively different,” she said.

The summit will feature other influential speakers, including Gary ‘Litefoot’ Davis, an award-winning filmmaker and Cherokee Nation citizen, and Chance Rush, a motivational speaker, actor, life coach and Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation citizen.

The Native American Development Center, a Native Community Development Financial Institution, has been serving Indigenous communities in North Dakota since 2012. The nonprofit is governed by a nine-member board of directors, all of whom are American Indian and represent the tribes being served.

“Our goal is to revitalize and develop our tribal constituents’ inherent entrepreneurial talent and desire to build credit wealth to obtain lifelong economical dreams,” according to the NADC website.

The NADC invites all those interested to attend, particularly tribal leaders and council members dedicated to their communities’ economic development, Indigenous business owners and entrepreneurs seeking guidance on starting or expanding their ventures. Priority participants include officials, nonprofits and advocacy organizations offering resources like startup funding, growth incentives and coaching. Organizers encourage economic development professionals and investors to join, as well.

While early-bird registration closed on Dec. 27, full admission and other pricing for students, elders and tradeshow is still available.