Expansion of Alaska Native no-bid deals sparks debate

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON--While Alaska Native corporations from southern and far northern Alaska have dominated the move into federal contracting during the past decade, several Native firms from Interior Alaska have a growing share of the work just as some members of Congress are questioning the rules under which they participate as minority-owned businesses.

Doyon Ltd., the regional corporation for the Interior, has some work at Fort Wainwright under the minority business contracting rules, but is ramping up its Outside efforts.

Meanwhile, a few village corporations from the middle Yukon region are already doing millions of dollars a year in such business with the federal government across the nation.

The federal contracting rules that have fueled this boom, by offering unique opportunities to Native American firms, are under attack in Congress, though.


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http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~3337552,00.html

[ismnotwasm]

1. Off the top of my head

Those cooperations started out to be a typical bunch of let's-rip-off the-Indians bullshit, If I remember correctly. If the Alaska's bands managed to using the corporate concept to obtain jobs and government contracts, Good for them.
It's been several years since I've read anything on the corporate structure of Indian bands in Alaska.

I just found out there is a large Native American Hospital/health care facility in Anchorage I believe. It provides all kinds of services for Native Indians. I wonder if profits from the influx of jobs built it? I was just talking to a friend who said the Alaska pipeline provided a lot of jobs for Indians.
Interesting article, it sparked some memories, I'm going to research the subject it a bit more. I read a book on the Indian corporate structure several years ago, and it was so depressing I could barely get through it. Sounds likes things may have picked up a bit. Hope so.