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Join The Urban Rez for an exciting journey that dives into the intersections of culture, sports, and lifestyle with a fresh, global, inclusive perspective. Each 30-minute episode brings a unique blend of conversations, stories, and interviews that explore the passions and experiences that define our lives.
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Wesley Knight 0:04
The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The
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Urban Res is underwritten by Southwest Gas. Since 1931, Southwest Gas has been committed to serving the communities we live in. Employees actively volunteer for and support organizations and initiatives that make our communities better places to live. For more information, swgas.com. the Urban Development Show. Welcome to the Urban Dave Show. Welcome to
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the Urban Dave Show.
Marcus White 1:15
All right, Chris. So, do you believe reforms are needed to protect the integrity of the program while ensuring legitimate tribal enterprises continue to have access to federal contracting opportunities,
Chris James 1:26
Marcus, I do. I think it's always a continued reform, and I do think that there. When when you mentioned, you know, how tribes actually apply for the program, they they look at disadvantage and if a tribe's disadvantaged or not, and we have had tribes, as you mentioned, to to not get into the program because they were deemed dis not disadvantaged, and and and the three of us know that every tribe has been disadvantaged, so it doesn't matter. You know, this is an economic development program, and I feel like I think that's one thing that that does need some reform and fixing to make sure that every tribe, regardless of of the status, has the ability to take advantage of the program, regardless of the size, regardless of if they they have gaming or not,
Marcus White 2:21
right? And I actually think that was one of the biggest mishaps is the word I'll use since we're on public radio mishaps that that has happened to write a narrative. I'm like, what is a narrative going to do to justify why why you're you're are a minority business and and like you were saying haven't had haven't have been disadvantaged. I mean, you've been disadvantaged since birth, so yeah, 1000
Chris James 2:55
years,
Marcus White 2:56
right? You know,
Chris James 2:57
plus you know one one thing I do think though, a lot of times it's how they look at it. So if a tribe has 100, which we have, we have lots of tribes with less than 100, with less than 100 members. However, those members have descendants, and those you know. So so it's not just the tribal members. Sometimes these these programs support communities. They support descendants. They support, you know, all even even even non-natives that that may live adjacent to the tribe. So I think those things need to take be more taken into consideration, not just the if if the tribe is deemed advantaged or disadvantaged.
Marcus White 3:41
Understood.
Dr. B 3:42
I absolutely agree with you, Chris. And now that we're talking about different industry challenges, and but not only challenges, solution based and perception, technology and AI are definitely changing the industry that we live in now, in every industry, how can native-owned businesses leverage these innovations while preserving the cultural and traditions that make them unique? Also, the environmental aspect too.
Chris James 4:14
Yeah. So yeah, let's start with the environmental impact because I I know oftentimes data centers are often placed in areas that that don't have access to enough water or enough power, and those centers don't necessarily create opportunities. So, I think that is sometimes needs to be addressed. That's a hot topic around the country right now. However, in Indian country, oftentimes we have the resources, we have the land, and even if you're going to, if you're only maybe you know 10 to 20 jobs is a big deal for our communities. So, so I do think as tribes think about their economic development planning, you know, and and they. May have an opportunity in for a data data center. There are some possible opportunities. Again, it's up to the tribe and as a sovereign nation to make their own decisions on that. So I do think, as long as they're taking in consideration the environmental impact of building these big centers, they have to think of what the economic impact is for the tribe, so that's one thing. As of a technology, all of our businesses need to be using, or you know, AI is not going to go away. It's a tool that that that that could be used. That's for a business if it's a tribe to help with their overall. You know, it can help with overall language development. It can help with with so many things, but again, it has to be a tool, and people know need to learn how to use that tool. So, you know, there's risk to anything new. There's risk to anything that that that doesn't have, you know we don't we don't have a playbook on how to use AI any you know yet. So I think if we're not careful, people that are AI resistant could get left behind. And and I hope our tribes are looking more forward of thinking how can this tool help us in our community rather than being a hindrance.
Marcus White 6:24
Yeah, and and I had someone once tell me, you know, you have to look at using AI like
Wesley Knight 6:30
a
Marcus White 6:30
like an intern. Again, you know, when you have interns come in to to work, interns are going to are going to make mistakes, and so you'll have to train them on in how you want them to do the job, and even still, you always have to go back and check the work that they've done. So that has stuck with me ever since I have heard that heard that language.
Chris James 6:53
Yep, absolutely.
Marcus White 6:54
So, so you recently stepped into the political arena by running for Congress, while the outcome wasn't what you hoped. What lessons did you take away from the experience, and how has it influenced your perspective on public service and Native economic policy?
Chris James 7:11
That's a great question. I, you know, I feel like I am a stronger leader coming out of a year's run of Congress. I am a little jaded at times when I think about you know the would I you know it's hard to lose and and you know it is a little bit of a unexpected that I lost and it is a lot of reflection about how to how to handle a loss. Just you know, it's you know, it's it's a race that I got silver. I got the silver medal. You know, a gold medal would have put me in Congress, and that's okay. You know, and I think all of us, all of us in our lives, all of all the businesses we work with, all the people, we we all have some sort of loss at one time in our in our lives, if it's if it's not getting the contract, if it's not getting the job, for me, it's not it's not moving on to the next phase of Congress. So so that's one of the things is you know I'm okay you know and and I I think that's that's part of it. What I learned also though is that oftentimes folks really care more about local politics than they do on a national level. So you know, and that's that's to me something that I think focus people should focus on on what's going on in your communities, and and that's that's very important. But also overall policy, you really also need to be paying attention of what's happening in Washington, and I would advise anybody on that. Lastly, people need to get out and vote. Only only 20% I ran as a as a Democrat. Only 20% of the registered Democrats voted in the primary.
Marcus White 8:59
Oh wow,
Chris James 8:59
20% and that that really means that only less than 30,000 people made the decision for over 100,000 people as to who their congressional person is, and that's scary to me. And as you look through the country of what's going on, of seeing the extremists from either side win these elections, so you have the most, you know, the the extreme on the left, the extreme on the right. It you know that means you only have two people to choose from, and one of them is going to be an extremist. So I think as as you know, our voters really need to make sure that they really participate and get to know the candidates, because it you know it it it is disheartening that so few people voted.
Dr. B 9:50
That is disheartening. I, as an individual, was definitely a huge supporter of you as a candidate. And you know, I I was following your your Tennessee race closely, and and again, just was a supporter. But lessons learned, and I think you have some good experience to tell other folks who are interested. And I might say this, you know, just because you didn't get the goal this time doesn't mean the race is over. There's still plenty, plenty more opportunities to continue to quote unquote train and get back into the next race, right?
Chris James 10:31
Absolutely. Well, you know, and I also realized how much I love working in Indian country, and and that was something I always have, you know. My whole career, you know, I don't know what now. I say over 20, almost 30-year career of working in Indian country has been so special to me, and and the work that I've done is so important. I I think I know I would have been able to take that knowledge to Congress if I had won, but maybe right now, you know, I continue to focus on the work that we do now at the National Center and really enhancing that work, and that's really where I feel my place is today. And and not to say I'm never going to look at other opportunities in political realm, but today I'm so proud of the work we do at the National Center, and so proud of the work I I do in Indian Country.
Dr. B 11:29
And Chris, I also can agree with you. I just wanted to make a statement. My organization, United Native, honored you last year at our United Native Sports Gala, and we honored you with the award of Community Leader of the Year. And we took who we honored very seriously in our decision-making process, and reflecting on everything you have done so far, and looking into the future, we do see you as a community leader within our organization and beyond. And so, with that sentiment, what does the future look ahead? What type of policies would you implement, or other types of initiatives would you feel would have the greatest positive impact on Native entrepreneurs and tribal economies?
Chris James 12:31
Oh, that's that's a great question. Boy, I wish I had that that crystal ball to look into. But a couple of things that I see on the horizon, you know, I continue to remind our tribes and our, including myself as a community leader, all of our organizations need to diversify. Historically, the National Center has been heavily focused on support from the federal government. With this administration, you know, we have not had as many opportunities, but it doesn't mean opportunities aren't coming down the pipeline. So, making sure that that you're a diversified population, I mean, diversified portfolio for your organization or tribe is super important. Secondly, I feel like coming down the pipeline, we have so many ways of innovation. We've already talked about the the AI. We're you know there's there's opportunity. I think a lot of our communities have opportunity in agriculture. At three affiliated tribes in in North Dakota, they they have developed this beautiful greenhouse, which I think, if Chairman Fox, if I remember what Chairman Fox says, it could produce enough enough food to feed all of North Dakota and more. And it is, you know, so there's opportunities for for tribes to develop their own, you know, continue to build their own enterprises and to to look for innovative ways to do things, and that could be goes from agriculture all the way to to cannabis and hemp, all the way to government contracting. So you know, I think that trend is going to continue, and and as tribes look at building their overall economic strategies, where gaming used to be 99% of the the revenue, maybe gaming continues to be a less percent, and other other businesses become more of a percent. So, so I think that's that's one way to look at it.
Dr. B 14:40
Thank you, Chris.
Marcus White 14:41
Thanks, Chris. Appreciate that. So, as as we when we're looking ahead, so as we look ahead about five to 10 years in the future, what is your vision for Native economic development, and then what role do you hope NCADE will continue to play in shaping that future?
Chris James 15:00
So, for the Nashville Center, we'll continue to do what we've we we feel we do really well, and that's to provide that technical assistance. We have launched an agriculture program, so we're working diligently on tribes. We've launched a program to support procurement opportunities and helping tribes develop procurement plans as they as as they look at doing various types of procurement for their tribe. We've we've started working on the native CDFI, as I mentioned, on bringing more access to capital, and I do think we want to do some additional training on artificial intelligence and and moving in that direction. So so for the National Center, we'll continue to build upon on those trends and and where we're seeing on how we can provide that technical assistance to tribes and businesses. And as overall Indian country, I feel like we'll continue the forward movement. I mean, we we have we are a powerful. Our nations are powerful, and and the amount of of impact they have will continue to be recognized. And I think it just in my career, over the 20-plus year, almost 30-year career, I have seen how powerful our nations are becoming, and I feel that will continue the trend, and and they'll continue to be not only more stewards of their land, but they'll be continuing building opportunities for their citizens as well as the surrounding communities that surround their communities. So that's that's where I sort of see over the next 510 years.
Dr. B 16:51
I love this, Chris, and I our nations are powerful, and I'm super proud of the the strides that we're taking as nations, we've really come a long way. We definitely have a lot more to do and ways to go, but still, just seeing our our our path forward has been truly great in my lifetime. And with that being said, before we let you go, what's one message you like to leave with native entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, and young people who are listening and thinking about starting a business or making a difference in their community?
Chris James 17:31
So I'm going to have one statement that I really like, and it's do more than just exist. And I I think you know. Don't just exist in the moment. Don't get comfortable. You do more than that. You know, go beyond what's expected of you, because it's very easy for us to fall into that. Just we're just existing. We're just doing sort of the you know. We're just doing what we need to to do to get by. We need to find the strengths of our elders and just get to the next level and do more than just exist. That's my thought,
Marcus White 18:10
and that is that's that's awesome. I mean, I I I can see that on T-shirts. You can go ahead and print that up and and and start selling it for real. You need to give
Dr. B 18:24
up those free TJs. I'm
Chris James 18:27
going to do that. That was yeah. I actually I I bought like a pair of cufflinks at TJ Maxx and I couldn't read what they said and that's what they said on it. They were they were really cool and that's been one of my themes of like wow you know, I want to do more than this exists. It's it's not even a brand. It was just something written on a backpack, on a cufflink, on a $10 set of cufflink.
Marcus White 18:50
Oh man, we we we can use that advice every single day. Waking up and and seeing that to give inspiration. So, Chris, thanks again for for your time. We greatly appreciate your energy and your leadership for me, not not only in in in Indian country, but pretty much throughout the United States. I mean, you've given your you dedicated your life to helping other people, whether it's in D.C. in North Carolina, in Arizona, I mean Canada, you still keep giving, and so we definitely salute you for for that.
Chris James 19:30
Well, thank you, Marcus and Dr. Crystal Lee, my best friend. Thank you so much.
Marcus White 19:36
We appreciate you.
Dr. B 19:37
Thank you, Chris. An honor, and we'll see you next time, Chris.
Chris James 19:41
Can't wait. Talk to you guys soon.
Dr. B 19:43
Thank you, everyone, for tuning in this morning. As you all know, I'm a sports junkie, so I'm excited for football season to start coming back into play and continue your NFL day if that's what you're into. Thank you all.
Marcus White 19:58
Oh, Dr. B, quick question. For you, so in in this preseason, what what teams will you be watching?
Dr. B 20:06
Of course, a diehard Arizona Cardinals fan, go Larry Fitzgerald, who's just going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Marcus White 20:16
Nice, so
Dr. B 20:16
I'm pretty excited about that.
Marcus White 20:18
Congrats, Larry!
Dr. B 20:18
I'm really excited. Oh yes, congrats, Larry! But I'm also really excited to see the Raiders play with the new number one draft quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, and I'm excited to see this young, talented athlete play and show his talent. So I'm kind of excited about the Raiders too, especially that we got the number one draft pick here in Vegas.
Marcus White 20:44
Yeah, and and man, the off season, the the Raiders have really, I think, put together some great great players, and so no, I'm like you, I'm I'm looking forward to seeing seeing what they do. Yeah, I'm excited for that. I think the team that I'm I'm going to be looking at, and everyone's always talking about, is the Cleveland Browns, to to see if if Shadur is going to get the the the starting spot or or not, and I I think that's going to be great. And then I'm also going to be checking out the the Ravens as well. So
Dr. B 21:23
okay, well that's good. I'm I'm excited to see what the Browns select as their captain quarterback for the squad, and also the New York Giants Cam Scadabu, who's an ASU alum. I'm also as well. Who was killing last season. Got injured late in the season, so I am excited to now witness his comeback. His second year in the league, he brought a lot of great energy to the Giants, which we haven't seen in a long time. So keeping an eye on that kid as well. So go Scataboo, go ASU alum, all Out there,
Marcus White 22:01
absolutely. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. We'll talk to you next month.
Dr. B 22:05
Thank you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai