A Brief History of American Indian Business

Abstract

There is a need to recognize the history and unique and valued contributions to American economic and business history of American Indian business. Indigenous people in the U.S. operate nearly 250,000 businesses, generating in excess of $40 billion dollars annually. Their contribution to local, regional, and national economies are considerable, however very little attention has been given to the history of American Indian business, leaving a considerable void in the business education and anthropology literature. This paper provides a cursory overview of the history of native business in the United States, including the challenges, context, and opportunities for further continued development.