Shoshone Trump is on a roll

In organizing its economic development program, the Northwestern Band has followed a model developed at Harvard that stresses the need to keep tribal politics out of the way of tribal business.

"The trick is staying completely separate from tribal government," said Parry. "The tribe supports what we're doing, but it's a hands-off support with no political interference. What that means is we can do contracts instantly and create jobs almost instantly; all it takes is the approval of a three-member board."

It may sound basic and simple, but as Parry, who has a master's degree in management from the University of Utah, points out, "it's unique among tribes."

The Northwestern Band's relative smallness — there are only 466 members — has also been helpful in keeping bureaucracy to a minimum.

"We're just really getting started," said Parry, "but we're starting to make money and create jobs, which are our two main objectives. I know it's a bigger deal than just us; we'd like to drag some other Indians with us. It's all about being better educated and better housed and living better lives."

To that end, Parry noted that six Northwestern Shoshone students are in college right now, majoring in business. "In two years," he said, "five of them should have their degrees."

And then maybe the Shoshone Donald Trump can finally slow down.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.