Aggregation of Resources across Indian Country: Reestablishing Trade Networks using Tribally Caught Pacific Salmon

Examining committee: Robert Parker, chair; Michael BurtonThe Tribes of the Pacific Northwest are in a unique position to leverage their resources through aggregation of resources across Indian Country. Due to Treaties, signed with U.S. government in the mid to late 1800s, the Tribes in the Pacific Northwest have the right to fish and harvest up to 50% of all the wild seafood species in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Currently, few Tribes are taking advantage or capable of realizing this right. In addition, almost every Tribe in the region views Salmon as an important cultural and environmental link to the region. Salmon is intricately involved in numerous ceremonies, programs, and Tribal businesses. Unfortunately, many Tribes do not use or buy Salmon caught by their own Tribe or other Tribes in the region. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) is non-profit inter-Tribal organization that has proposed a Buy Indian Program, by which Tribes can sell and/or trade resources across Indian Country. The Buy Indian Program would keep resources and economies within Indian Country, while providing increased economies of scale and values-added within and across Indian Country. The purpose of the project is to determine the feasibility of implementing such a program across Indian Country in the Pacific Northwest. The study involves the use of interviews and surveys of Tribal Leaders, Business Managers, Department and Program Personnel, and Tribal Seafood Processors to determine, the consumer needs, processing capability, availability of resources and products, and possible distribution networks across the region