Nez said the chamber is developing a database of member businesses for networking. The chamber will be holding its first event — a session on how to start a business — in May. Most events will be in Salt Lake, but the board has also discussed the possibility of holding events across the state.

Board member Robert Rendon, who is also active with the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, says the chamber will have to reach out across distance and cultures to bring together Utah's five tribes — Ute, Piute, Goshute, Navajo and Shoshone.

"We have to bring those cultures under one goal: that is business," he said. "It is somewhat of a challenge. But there is a representation on the board that will make that a little easier."

Rendon said one of the chamber's key benefits will be to dispel stereotypes. They also want to raise awareness of the diversity of businesses owned by American Indians.

"It's biggest value is to let the rest of the business community know there are Native-American professionals," he said. "That is what our Hispanic chamber has done for years. We have some great restaurants, but they thought all Hispanic business people ran restaurants. They are finding out we we have law firms, architects, software development."

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