Dear John,

Yesterday, at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the Department of the Interior announced a series of actions to support Tribally led conservation, education and economic development — including signing an MOU with the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) to support Tribally-led community based economic development entrepreneurship.

“At the Department of the Interior we have a solemn duty to honor and strengthen the federal government’s nation-to-nation relationships with Tribes,” said Secretary Haaland. “Today’s announcements reaffirms that commitment and will bring increased and much needed resources to Indigenous communities.”

ASBN will collaborate with the Department as well as Tribal Nations to advance mutual priorities and maximize the benefits of shared learning and resources. Together, we will identify policies to equitably coordinate funding to support the economic development initiatives of Tribal Nations across the country.

“ASBN is proud to enter into a public-private partnership with the Department to leverage our business and investor community to support tribally-led, community-based economic development,” said David Levine, president and co-founder at ASBN. “Through a community-driven approach that emphasizes participatory development principles and practices, ASBN will aid Tribes and Tribal organizations in economic development, entrepreneurship, and conservation.”

The White House Tribal Nations Summit provides an opportunity for Administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes to discuss ways the federal government can invest in and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships as well as ensure that progress in Indian Country endures for years to come. 

ASBN is in full support of the Administration’s push to create public-private partnerships, and will continue to work together to foster sustainable, just and culturally-appropriate economic development programs that benefit people and planet.