Finding innovation in traditional values

Summary

The speaker shares a powerful narrative on the challenges faced by Native American communities, particularly in economic development, and the importance of embracing indigenous cultures as a solution rather than a problem. She recounts the history of forced assimilation through boarding schools and the negative impact of top-down, one-size-fits-all federal funding approaches. The speaker highlights her own journey in developing a culturally appropriate economic model, which led to successful projects such as the Cheyenne River Buffalo project, demonstrating a multifaceted approach to community development that addresses economic, cultural, and environmental needs. She emphasizes the interconnectedness within communities and the emergent nature of prosperity, advocating for a collaborative and respectful integration of indigenous worldviews to create a healthy and prosperous society.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Indian boarding school era (1879-1970s) aimed to 'kill the Indian to save the man' by forcibly removing children from their families and suppressing their culture, language, and names.
• 💼 Economic development in Native American communities began in 1978 with a focus on competition over cooperation, which was contrary to their traditional values.
• 🦘 A humorous idea of starting an 'Indian whack a mole' business led to a serious discussion and the creation of a profitable hunting permit system for controlling prairie dog populations.
• 🏨 A miscommunication with the Bureau of Indian Affairs resulted in funding for a 120-unit motel instead of the requested 10 cabins, highlighting the disconnect between federal funding and community needs.
• 🚫 The failure of the federally-funded motel project underscored the issue with top-down, one-size-fits-all solutions that ignore local knowledge and community-driven solutions.
• 🌱 The speaker's approach to economic development involves listening to the community, following their problem-solving methods, and tapping into their inherent brilliance.
• 🐃 A successful project reintroducing buffalo to the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation not only increased household income but also had conservation, cultural, and youth development benefits.
• 🌳 The buffalo project demonstrated how interconnectedness within a community can lead to prosperity, as the buffalo's reintroduction improved the ecosystem and supported various community sectors.
• 🌐 The concept of prosperity as an emergent property suggests that a society's wealth arises from the health of its relationships, society, and ecosystem, not just from profitable businesses.
• 🌱 International work with indigenous communities has shown that small grants can have a significant impact, with communities raising much more funding than they received in grants.
• 🌟 The Cheyenne River Buffalo project was recognized with the Newsweek hero of the Year award, highlighting the transformative potential of community-led initiatives.
• 🤝 The speaker challenges the audience to consider the value of different worldviews and the innovation that can come from combining diverse perspectives to create a healthy and prosperous society.

Q & A

What was the duration of the infamous Indian boarding school era?

The Indian boarding school era ran from 1879 into the 1970s, lasting approximately 100 years.

Who was the army officer responsible for building one of the first Indian boarding schools?

One of the first Indian boarding schools was built by army officer Richard Pratt in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

What was the purpose of the Indian boarding schools according to Richard Pratt?

Richard Pratt stated that the purpose of the schools was to 'kill the Indian in him, and save the man', meaning to suppress Native American culture and assimilate the children into white society.

What was the speaker's role in economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation?

The speaker was the first Native American and the first woman to do economic development work on the Pine Ridge Reservation, focusing on culturally appropriate methods.

How did the speaker's tribe initially generate profit on the Pine Ridge Reservation?

The tribe generated profit by issuing hunting permits for prairie dogs on the reservation, which brought in $45,000 in the first year.

What was the outcome of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' prairie dog eradication program?

The eradication program, which used DDT, eliminated nearly all of the prairie dogs and much of the local wildlife, disrupting the tribe's primary method of controlling prairie dog populations.

Why did the tribe decide to build a motel on the reservation?

The tribe received federal funding intended for a 120-unit motel and, despite the lack of a clear market, decided to build it in a remote village on the reservation.

What was the speaker's realization about the problem with top-down, one-size-fits-all federal funding?

The speaker realized that top-down federal funding denied local ownership and the innate brilliance in communities, leading to projects that failed to meet the actual needs and potential of the communities.

How did the speaker approach economic development in indigenous communities?

The speaker advocated for listening to the communities, following their problem-solving methods, and tapping into their innate brilliance to develop projects that were culturally appropriate and effective.

What was the impact of reintroducing buffalo to the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation?

The reintroduction of buffalo led to increased household income, conservation efforts, cultural revitalization, and even benefits for local wildlife such as the black-footed ferret and the meadowlark.

What was the speaker's challenge to the TED MED community?

The speaker challenged the TED MED community to remember the connectivity and interdependence of relationships, and to combine different worldviews to create a healthy and prosperous society.