Unprecedented TribalEcon Summit features trade history, vendors in North Dakota capital

Mandan and Hidatsa Trade Legacy

“When you think about North Dakota, we were like one of the first places that had trade that was throughout the world,” said MHA citizen Alisha Deegan, former superintendent of the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.

With 20 years of experience at the National Park Service, she posed the example of the Mandan and Hidatsa, who lived along the Knife River. Among prominent traders, they specialized in supplying a type of stone uniquely found at their quarry. “Knife River Flint: You can only find that in Dunn County,” she said.

Indigenous Peoples have long networked with both Native and non-Native nations, she said. As in modern commerce, this means risk-taking, having fall-back plans in place and incorporating individual tribal cultural values into every aspect of their work, she added. Migration and harvest celebration were part of the business for the Peoples of the Three Affiliated Tribes.

Deegan’s were among remarks at the opening of the conference Thursday. The agenda included national, regional and local dignitaries, such as representatives of the Bismarck City Commission and the Bismarck Chamber of Commerce.

Origins of Tribal Econ Summit

The Indigenous-led Native American Development Center created the TribalEcon Summit to link leaders, professionals and community members. Organizers expected attendance from hundreds of tribal leaders, Indigenous business owners, authorities and investors, plus nonprofit and advocacy groups.

Center Executive Director Lorraine Davis and her husband Scott welcomed attendees to the first day of the conference. The focus: exchanging ideas and sharing practical strategies for economic sustainability in American Indian communities.

Davis, a citizen of the MHA Nation, grew up on the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate’s Lake Traverse Reservation. She said her humble beginnings led her to a marriage mutually supportive of sobriety. Scott said they have both been sober for 18 years.

Since moving to Bismarck 23 years ago, Davis has dedicated her career to creating positive change for North Dakota’s Indigenous communities.

“Many of us come in a pitiful way,” she said. “Many of us come just to start a better life, but we don’t know what that means and how we get there. And I said, ‘We need to create that’.”

Davis explained that the center is an offshoot of Native Inc. Its core goal is to offer affordable lending services and financial education to American Indians across North Dakota, both on and off tribal lands.

“We need to create a place that will help guide a path, not create their path, but just to guide and support a path that has healthy people, healthy relationships, services and financial support to help them to get to where they envision themselves,” Davis said.

The Vision for the Future of Indigenous Representation

Gary ‘Litefoot’ Davis, CEO of Litefoot Enterprises,, delivered the morning keynote address, “Discovering the Tradition of Entrepreneurship.”

The renowned actor, rap artist, filmmaker and citizen of the Cherokee Nation shared 30 years of insights on harnessing entrepreneurial spirit to create opportunities for community empowerment and meaningful change.

Davis explained that he founded his music label, Red Vinyl Records, after turning down a record deal early in his hip-hop career. He rejected the offer from a major label because they asked him to focus less on American Indian issues. Choosing to stay true to himself, he declined the deal and returned home to Oklahoma with his dancers.

“We were getting ready to do music videos,” he said. “The contract was on the table. Then he said that to me. I pushed the contract back over and said, ‘I appreciate everything y’all done for us, for me. But too many of our people are in the situation we’re in today because too many people signed those kinds of agreements.”

Another reason Davis declined the major label was because they didn’t want him performing on reservations or in smaller, diverse communities. He didn’t agree with that approach. So, when he founded Red Vinyl Records, he made it a point to tour Indigenous communities, bringing the same energy to these shows as he would in a big city.

Davis’ goal is to reclaim the narrative around Indigenous people, noting the lack of diversity in the media. He said movies portraying stereotypical “cowboys and Indians” roles still prevail and that needs to change.

“My whole journey has been about reclaiming the narrative,” he said. “When I started my music, I wanted to talk about things that I felt weren’t [discussed] anywhere. I couldn’t go into a bookstore and see our people on the cover of a book in a magazine.” Davis said a key to expanding a commercial outlet and continuing to serve Indigenous communities is creating a sustainable business structure. A solid plan ensures long-term impact, he said.

“How are you going to keep evolving your infrastructure, your bandwidth and your capacity?” he asked the audience. He said branding and protecting intellectual property are essential components of a successful business. Additionally, he cautioned the audience to be mindful of individuals who may “take your kindness for weakness.”

Building Tribal Economies

The TribalEcon Summit continues today with a schedule focused on providing attendees with practical tools and insights to strengthen tribal economies. Sessions address topics such as Indigenous food sovereignty, small business development and fostering creative entrepreneurship.

Hall B is the site of a trade show running from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring dozens of vendors offering jewelry, traditional clothing like ribbon skirts, and other accessories. Local organizations are also in attendance, sharing information about the services and programs their nonprofits provide.