Tribal communities comprise 4.3% of the Arizona population, but less than 1% of businesses in the state are Native American owned. Through the Native FORGE program, Brian Ellerman’s goal is to change that. 

They only received funding for the first time in September 2022, but through the success of the Native FORGE conference, the positive responses they have received from indigenous communities so far, and their commitment to professional development, Brian and his team have already begun to demonstrate the sustainability and scalability of the program.

Listen to this episode to hear how Native FORGE is empowering indigenous entrepreneurs and uplifting local tribal economies in a way that differs from any programs that have come before it.  

In This Episode:

[00:38] Introducing the Native FORGE program and its founder, Brian Ellerman.

[02:02] Brian’s educational background and how he ended up in his current position at Arizona University. 

[04:15] The founding story of the Native FORGE program. 

[05:24] Brian explains how the Native FORGE program encourages tribal entrepreneurship and helps build tribal economies.

[08:06] How the Native FORGE program differs from other tribal-focused programs that have failed in the past. 

[09:19] The two key constraints to the scalability of the Native FORGE program. 

[09:44] Responses that the Native FORGE program has received from tribal communities so far. 

[11:38] An overview of the Tribal Data Training, Development, and Assessment Program.  

[13:01] The professional development opportunities that are offered by the Native FORGE program.

[20:02] How Native FORGE plans to form relationships with the majority of the tribal communities in Arizona.

[22:45] Positive outcomes of the recent Native FORGE conference.

[24:53] Plans Brian has to expand the Native FORGE program in the future. 

[26:46] Why Brian sees collaboration amongst universities as key to the success and scalability of the Native FORGE program.  

Resources:

Native FORGE

Arizona FORGE

Brian Ellerman on LinkedIn