August already?!  Where has, the summer gone?  While it was quiet here at the campus, we’ve been working diligently on projects and research, as well as attending conferences.
 
Research and Policy Analyst, Brian Howard attended Coeur d'Alene Pow Wow in Idaho to survey attendees residing on Tribal lands about their Internet Connectivity, followed by meetings with the FirstNet Authority and the Tribal Interior Budget Council in Flagstaff, AZ.

Meanwhile, Tribal Economic Leadership Program Manager Sasha Pachito began work on our newest project working with the Gila River Indian Community on Economic Development. She also wrapped up debriefing on the AIPI/NAFOA Tribal Financial Managers Training for Practitioners. Soon we’ll open registration for December’s training.
 
Sharon Torres, our Program Coordinator, facilitated our first webinar and Inno-Nations instructor Kristin Slice from the Maricopa Small Business Development Center engaged participants in a discussion about Sales and Marketing. The monthly Inno-Nations check-ins provide our entrepreneurs continued assistance and additional resources on supplemental topics. More importantly, the check-ins provide a space for peer support and collaboration, as participants have demonstrated the value of having an accountability partner to keep them on track and to provide encouragement. 
 
Director Morris has also initiated new research for background work in Critical Indigenous Studies. Additionally, she was invited to participate in several ASU events in Sydney, Australia at the University of New South Wales as part of the new PLuS Alliance.

Dr. Morris Invited to University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia to Participate in PLuS Alliance Meetings and a Forum on Inequality

The PLuS Alliance is a program initiated by ASU’s President Crow.  The vision of the PLuS Alliance is to leverage the strengths of three globally-focused universities (ASU, UNSW and King’s College London) to develop innovative and impactful educational and research collaborations. An emerging area of interest for the PLuS Alliance is to establish an Indigenous Peoples Alliance to advise and support development in both research and educational initiatives.
 
Director Morris was invited to participate in a PLuS Alliance initiative towards building an Indigenous Peoples Alliance in Sydney, Australia at the University of New South Wales.  The initial goal is to create a work relationships and get to know Indigenous counterparts at the University of New South Wales. Eventually, it is hoped that a group might form that could advise and support development in both research and educational initiatives for the PLuS Alliance. 

During the week at UNSW, Director Morris met with Ruben Bolt, Associate Professor and Director of Nura Gili Indigenous Programs Unit. Additional meetings were held with Dr. Kyllie Crips, the Senior Lecturer and Center Fellow of the Indigenous Law Center, and with various faculty in the Center for Social Research, the Social Policy Research Center, and the School of Social Sciences. 

Additionally, Dr. Morris attended the Forum on Inequality. The purpose of the Forum was to highlight the key issues of inequality and foster interdisciplinary discussion in the context of the four PLuS Alliance themes of sustainability, global health, social justice, and technology and innovation.  The collaboration will generated new research ideas across the Alliance’s three universities exploring housing affordability, homelessness, technology for people with disabilities, health and mental health and immigration.
 
Ms Liesl Tesch AM will delivered the Grand Challenges Keynote Speech followed by a panel discussion exploring the ideas and issues around inequality in all its forms. Key researchers and practitioners included: Professor Carla Treloar, Professor Eileen Baldry, Professor Richard Holden, and Professor Reza Razavi.

AIPI Policy & Research Analyst Attends Coeur d'Alene Pow Wow and Meetings with FirstNet and the Tribal Interior Budget Council

Last month AIPI Research & Policy Analyst, Brian Howard, attended the 2017 Julyamsh Pow Wow in Coeur d'Alene, ID to conduct surveys of residents of Tribal reservation lands and Internet availability and accessibility. In addition to conducting research for AIPI's Tribal Technology Assessment, Brian talked with attendees about ASU programs and services available to Tribal students as well as the overall work and trainings offered by AIPI. Next, the AIPI team will be traveling to Santa Fe Indian Market in New Mexico to continue work for its Tribal Technology Assessment as well as reaching out to attendees regarding programs and services offered by AIPI and ASU.

Immediately following his trip to Coeur d'Alene, Brian attended a meeting of the FirstNet Tribal Working Group (TWG) on Monday, July 24, followed by meetings at the Tribal Interior Budget Council at the Twin Arrows Resort & Casino in Flagstaff, AZ. As Chair of the TWG, Brian led discussions regarding the forthcoming deployment of FirstNet and its implications for Tribal lands, which included issues regarding cell tower sitings, compliance with Tribal government ordinances for cultural and environmental protections, and possible subcontracting opportunities. Following the TWG meeting he also met with leaders of Tribal governments and organizations attending the Tribal Interior Budget Council meeting to further discuss FirstNet issues and also AIPI programs and services offered to Tribes.