Planning for Sustainable Reservation Economic Development: A Case Study of the Swinomish Marina and Mixed-Use Commercial Development

INTRODUCTION The attainment of tribal economic self-sufficiency depends in part upon a tribe’s ability to develop reservation lands and natural resources in a manner that meets long-term tribal objectives and maximizes tribal benefit. For successful tribal development, the tribe should carefully assess the strengths of its organizational capacities, as well as its inherent weaknesses. Successful tribal development requires a tribe to decide how much risk it is willing to assume in undertaking economic development. This decision takes into consideration the assets it has available to invest in its own development, the equity position it desires to retain in the development, and its expectations for a fair return on its investment. The Swinomish Indian tribal community of Washington state employed a strategic approach to assess its inherent strengths and weaknesses as a starting point for determining the most advantageous approach for undertaking a large-scale pleasure boat marina and mixed-use commercial real estate development on its reservation. This article examines the approach followed by the tribe as it sought to advance its economic development by leveraging its assets along with private investments. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRIBAL POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS Tribal economic development is a principal strategy that many tribes use to improve their financial independence, reduce their dependency on external forms of assistance, and alleviate chronically depressed economic and social conditions that persist in many Indian reservations