From Deseret News archives:
Shoshone Trump is on a roll
He wears a crew cut, for one thing. For another, he's Native American, and if there's anything Native Americans are not traditionally accused of impersonating, it's business moguls like Donald Trump.
But forget all that, because what Parry is a part of is so full of potential, so cutting-edge, than even though he's 66 he's not even thinking about slowing down, let alone retiring.
As CEO of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation's new tribal economic development corporation, Parry has taken "chief" to the executive level. To hear him tell it, the future for the tribe hasn't looked this bright since the prairie was thick with buffalo and the streams were filled with trout.
"I work a lot more than an eight-hour day and I should be retired," said Parry last week at tribal headquarters on Main Street in Brigham City. "But we're doing so many exciting things, I can't walk away."
Super 8(a) status enhances the ability of companies to compete for federal government contracts and is reserved for businesses owned by members of historically disadvantaged groups.
Since the entire Shoshone Nation, not just the Northwestern Band, is in many ways still recovering from a variety of long-ago land grabs and other injustices the nadir coming at the Bear River Massacre of 1863 when some 300 Shoshone were killed in a northern Utah meadow by federal troops there isn't much question about them qualifying as historically disadvantaged.
In the past 2 1/2 years, under the direction of Parry and other tribal leaders, the Northwestern Band has initiated contracts, or is on the verge of initiating contracts, in areas ranging from technology to translation services to construction projects to various commercial and manufacturing ventures. In the near future, they're hoping to help build a power plant and a travel plaza near the Idaho border. They also have plans to open a bank.
"We've been at this for 150 years," said Parry, referring to the tribe's efforts to assimilate into the American mainstream, "but I think we've made more progress in the last two than the first 148."
The natural question, of course, is why has it taken so long.
The answer, Parry explained, is "because we're doing what no one else is doing."
Comments
- Louisville cruises by Stetson 80-48 7:29 p.m.
- Pena nets career-high for Villanova 7:13 p.m.
- 'Lost' secrets should stay hidden 7:08 p.m.
- Browns place Lewis on IR 7:07 p.m.
- Transactions 6:45 p.m.
- W.V. man charged with sexual abuse 6:36 p.m.
- Artest says he drank during games 6:34 p.m.
- KRCL celebrates 30th birthday 6:14 p.m.
- Sporty gift ideas 6:07 p.m.
- Reactions to Tiger Woods saga 5:53 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Mitchell compared to Ervil LeBaron
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Simple candies for the holidays
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
913 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
391 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
358 - Utes won't respond to Hall
277 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
242 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
224 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
173 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
As the TV cameras Tuesday night scanned the West Point audience during...
LDS Church publisher Deseret Book has some specials for the holidays.
RE: Re: NevadaCoug | 11:15 a.m. Dec. 2, 2009 I never said Hall should...
Angel Rinshi: "Thank You New York for not legalizing sin!!" It has nothing...
a number of "honor killings" in the United States by families who object to...
Remember how LeBron James stiffed an 18 year old waitress with a $10 tip...
I am sorry Josh for not being in a place where I could have reached you in...
Go ahead and satisfy your needs all you want. Just don't get married and...
Polling had shown that New York citizens support Same Gender Marriage. Those...
Umm there was def another bomb threat within the past 8 years, I don't know...
I've heard of bad losers but not bad winners. Talk about class! I only hope...
It's too bad. A man with a personal vendetta and a few people with mean...



You can be the first to comment on this story.