It was an honor to learn from the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe and Tribal Minds. We especially appreciated the opportunity to spend a week together, as we quickly learned we shared a common thread weaving us together: compassion. From the Sweat Lodge to Sawabe Muhano to visiting the Reservation, experiences like these deepened our understanding of our project goals as we grew in our appreciation for Native culture. We would like to express our gratitude to Chairwoman Lone Eagle, Brian and Teresa Melendez of Tribal Minds, Inc., and all members of the SLPT community for their warm welcome, kindness, and willingness to collaborate with us. Our experience in Nevada was transformative and unforgettable. We stand beside you as allies and hope that these recommendations reflect the collective goal of ensuring a prosperous future for the Tribe. Pesa u.
The primary goal and intended outcome of this project is to build a set of considerations and a path forward for the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe to generate economic opportunity and reduce reliance on federal funding so that the Tribe can provide critical services to its members. We understand that SLPT requires a solution involving minimal time and resources given current organizational constraints.
Our initial analysis focused on opportunities in the renewable energy sector given the industry’s growth in Nevada and the remote nature of SLPT’s Reservation. After meeting with the Tribal Council and community, it became clear that the land should be preserved for future generations and there is not an appetite at this time for economic activity.
As we pivoted to explore additional opportunities together, we drew on insights from other tribes who have successfully launched non-gaming economic initiatives as well as insights regarding SLPT’s current capabilities. Our final recommendations include:
launching a Business Advisory Council which would provide the oversight and skills necessary to advance economic initiatives;
expanding investment in commercial real estate to generate passively managed income; and
hiring a grant writer who can serve as a bridge on the path to economic sovereignty by pursuing additional grant opportunities.
If implemented as proposed, we expect that SLPT will be able to generate a profit of $75k to $125k on an annual basis, leading to opportunities to invest in funding for Tribal operations and opportunities to give back to the Tribe. One way SLPT could then reinvest these economic gains in support of its Tribal members is through a mobile clinic—something that multiple SLPT members discussed were a priority for them.