The current national unemployment rate, hovering below 4 percent as of June, gets a lot of attention in the press — and from politicians touting a “great” economy. But the picture is not rosy for all Americans. According to the December 2018 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, approximately 12 percent of Native Americans are unemployed. That’s more than triple the current national average, but those living on reservations are looking at an unemployment rate of about 50 percent — in some tribal communities the rate soars as high as 80 percent. And many of those reservation residents who do work must commute long distances, and even so the income gap is substantial: the median household income for Native Americans of $39,719 is one-third less than that of white Americans.

So it’s especially important to take time to focus on job creation in Native communities. And there the news is better. According to the SBA’s Survey of American Indian– and Alaska Native–Owned Businesses, there are more Indigenous business owners under age 35 than the national average. And the growth in the number of Native-owned businesses — 15 percent from 2007 to 2012 (the latest census data available) — outpaces the 2 percent national average growth in the number of businesses. That trend makes it exciting to speculate about possible implications for career opportunities appearing in places that were once on the sidelines.

When Native enterprises create good jobs in Indian Country, look for the benefits to be far reaching. More dollars in circulation on reservations translates to improved education, health, and housing options, which in turn attract more skilled people to stay in or come home to the community. This well-trained workforce may be expected to staff — and start — more new businesses. Many communities place a premium on cultural preservation, and when prosperity makes funds available for endeavors like language instruction, teaching tribal knowledge, and researching history and heritage, more jobs will be created for specialists like teachers, librarians, and archivists while strengthening community ties for

all members.

Job growth in Indian Country and beyond is also important to AISES as an organization. Fostering the growth of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) opportunities within our communities is central to the AISES mission. And as the organization grows and extends its reach, the number of AISES graduates will continue to multiply — and delivering on the AISES mission will be increasingly important.

In our annual roster of 25 Native STEM Enterprises, you’ll see a variety of fields represented and contrary to what is often supposed, when it comes to STEM opportunities in Indian Country, gambling, while important, is far from the only game in town. In addition, we are taking a closer look at some representative organizations among the 25 and people behind them who are helping to build the future for Indigenous STEM professionals.

The 25 to Watch

This roster of 25 Native STEM Enterprises is not intended to be a definitive list. Instead, it is meant to be representative of the variety of organizations large and small that are making Indian Country an increasingly interesting place to be for STEM professionals. Enterprises on the list were chosen based on broad criteria, such as workforce and business development, philanthropy, support of education, STEM knowledge, and overall corporate values.

Akana

Portland, Ore.

Field: Architecture and engineering

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation)

akana.us

Beaver Creek Archaeology

Bismarck, N.D.

Field: Environmental Services

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Comanche

bcarch.org

Caribou Thunder LLC (DBA: CTL Resources)

Hayward, Wisc.

Field: Engineering

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: White Earth Nation

ctlresources.com

Cherokee Data

Solutions LLC

Claremore, Okla.

Field: Sales and support for technology and business products

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cherokee Nation

okcds.com

ConsumerAffairs

Tulsa, Okla.

Field: Software

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Kaw

consumeraffairs.com

Data Holdings

Milwaukee

Field: Data storage

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Forest County Potawatomi

dataholdings.com

Eastern Band of Cherokee

Cherokee, N.C.

Field: Educational support for STEM students

ebci.com

FirstNation Health

Tulsa, Okla.

Field: Health care

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Multiple

firstnationhealthcare.com

Forest County Potawatomi

Crandon, Wis.

Field: Educational support for STEM students

fcpotawatomi.com

Greenfire

Milwaukee

Field: Construction management

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Forest County Potawatomi

greenfire.com

Lumbee Tribe of NC

Pembroke, N.C.

Field: Educational support for STEM students

lumbeetribe.com

Mandaree Enterprises

New Town, N.D.

Field: Government contractor, defense, real estate, business services

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: MHA Nation

mellc.co

Menominee Tribal Enterprises

Keshena, Wis. (Menominee Reservation)

Field: Sustainable forestry, lumber supplier

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Menominee Nation

mtewood.com

Metcon Construction

Pembroke, N.C.

Field: General contracting and construction management

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Lumbee

metconus.com

Mohegan Renewable Energy

Uncasville, Conn.

Field: Renewable energy

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: The Mohegan Tribe

mohegan.nsn.us

Native BioData Consortium

Eagle Butte, S.D.

Field: Biomedical research

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Multiple tribes, primarily Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

nativebio.org

Navajo Nation Office of Diné School Improvement

Window Rock, Ariz.

Field: Educational support for STEM students

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation

odsmt.org

Nueta Hidatsa

Sahnish College

New Town, N.D.

Field: Educational support for STEM students

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation

nhsc.edu

Oneida ESC Group

Milwaukee

Field: Construction, engineering, environmental science, transportation

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

oescgroup.com

Ongweoweh Corp

Ithaca, N.Y.

Field: Wood products

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cayuga Indian Nation of New York

ongweoweh.com

Pawnee Seed

Preservation Project

Pawnee, Okla.

Field: Agriculture

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Pawnee Nation

facebook.com/pawneeseedpreservation

Riley Engineering

Tucson, Ariz.

Field: Engineering and design

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Navajo Nation

riley-eng.com

Tribal Diagnostics

Oklahoma City

Field: Medical testing services

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Chickasaw

tribaldiagnostics.com

Tribal Nations

Research Group

Belcourt, N.D.

Field: Data research

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians

tnrg.org

Youngs Forestry

Nipissing First Nation, Ontario, Canada

Field: Forestry, high-performance painting

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Nbisiing Anishinaabeg

youngforestryservices.com

Five Indigenous Canadian Enterprises

First Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs are creating jobs and building communities across Canada. Here are just a few.

Air Creebec

Waskaganish, Quebec

FIELD: Air transport

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cree

aircreebec.ca

Director General Films

Edmonton, Alberta

FIELD: Filmmaking

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Niaka’pamux

directorgeneral.ca

First Nations Engineering Services

Oshweken, Ontario

FIELD: Consulting engineering

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Six Nations

of the Grand River

fnesl.ca

Native Design Services

Membertou, Nova Scotia

FIELD: Web design and hosting

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mi’kmaq

native.ca

Sequoia Soaps

Kahnawake, Quebec

FIELD: Natural bath and

body products

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Cree

sequoiasoaps.com