"On the surface, the recent attacks on Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) for receiving large no-bid federal contracts appear to be only directed at Native Alaska 8(a) contracting. However, tribal federal contracting in the lower 48 could be harmed if Congress decides to change the tribal 8(a) program that was created, in the first place, to remove institutional barriers to tribal economic development.

This issue deserves a closer look: this is not just about Indians.

The National Indian Business Association has learned from other minority groups that there are many factions we do not know about, including hidden agendas and the real who and what is behind the call for this investigation. If so, ANCs and tribal governments and potentially the whole 8(a) program could become a causality of a political battle."

Get the Story:
Pete Homer: Congressional probe of Alaska Native Corporations an attack on Indian country's economic future (Indian Country Today 3/19)

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