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Bachelor of Arts in Tribal Governance and Business Management

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This program of study will provide students with the knowledge necessary to be productive and successful administrators in Tribal community and business organizations.

The program is designed to develop the skills that support Tribal governance and business management. The program of study offers students with the fundamental knowledge and experience necessary to succeed in the areas of leadership, sovereignty, economic development, entrepreneurship, and management.

About Tribal Governance and Business Management

Tribal Governance and Business Management Recruitment

AMERICAN INDIAN BUSINESS LEADERS AT NWIC

Join our award winning chapter!
AIBL is an American Indian non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering business students across the United States. The programs are designed to stimulate, enhance, and expand educational experiences beyond traditional academic methods. All students are encourages to participate in AIBL. 

The Northwest Indian College AIBL chapter has been participating in business plan competitions and attending the annual AIBL Leadership Conference for a few years now. The chapter has brought 3 original business plans to competition. All of their hard work was rewarded with 1 first place award and 2 third place awards.

For more information please contact the AIBL club advisor:  TGBMAdvising@nwic.edu

TGBM Logo

Department Chair & Faculty

Brandon Morris

Tribal Governance and Business Management (TGBM), Department Chair

Location: Bldg 21 – Coast Salish Institute
Work Phone: (360) 392-4278

Adib Jamshedi

Faculty – Tribal Governance Business Management

Work Phone: (360) 594-4083

TGBM Advising

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PROGRAM OUTCOMES

SOVEREIGNTY

It is recognized that Native American (Indian) Tribes are inherently sovereign nations, who possess both the inherent and acquired rights to govern themselves, their traditional homelands, and their natural resources. Contemporarily, Tribes find themselves in the position to provide a broader range of culturally specific, social and economic programs, to their respective citizens.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • Articulate and apply knowledge of inherent and acquired rights.
  • Analyze the sovereign rights of Tribal nation status with regard to the purpose of governing authority.

LEADERSHIP

The Tribal Governance and Business Management program aspires to train future Tribal leaders and managers of Native American (Indian) communities through the pursuit of coursework specific to the exploration of the traditional, historic, and contemporary
importance of sovereignty, ethics, administration, management, economic development, and leadership. The cultural elements of service learning components will be interwoven throughout TGBM coursework.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • Practice culturally competent leadership in decision-making, organizational development and human resource management.
  • Act as community change agents towards improving the quality of life in Tribal communities.
  • Contribute to the restoration of Tribal knowledge.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Although management and administration are implicitly Western terms, they are ideologies by which Tribal people have governed themselves throughout their respective and/or collective, inherent Tribal histories. Therefore it stands to be within reason that contemporary Tribal communities regularly engage in the effective implementation of organizational and administrative structures, business management and financial decision-making.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • Develop and implement organizational structures to meet the needs for Tribal, community, and personal development.
    • Utilize broad knowledge of management and administration to support Tribal organizational goals, including the evaluation and use of financial statements, decision-making, and leadership models.
  • Demonstrate effective use of business and project management technology.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The entrepreneur has always served as the catalyst for economic development and subsequently the economic stimulation of a given community. Nowhere is the aforementioned statement more accurate than within a given Tribal community. Entrepreneurship is a pathway to not only self sufficiency but perhaps more importantly to economic stimulation.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • Integrate physical, social, and human capital regarding healthy Tribal economies.
  • Utilize, implement, and organize resources to meet community needs in creative ways.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Throughout the history of colonization, the seemingly inevitable consumption and foreseeable fate of vast and valuable inherent Tribal resources has lain within the hands of the colonizers and the federal government. Contemporarily however, Tribal nations and their respective Tribal governments have taken back the power over their own economic development and their inherent cultural resources and have above all involved themselves with the institution and sustainability of those resources.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will:

  • Utilize and implement effective processes for strategic community and business planning.
  • Employ sustainable, culturally sound practices in Tribal organizational and business development.

Financial Aid

Northwest Indian College administers a broad range of financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs for students who can demonstrate financial need.

Student Life

NWIC students are encouraged to engage and integrate into the life of the institution. Students are offered opportunities to participate in enrichment activities through Student Affairs, student government, and residence life.

NWIC Extended Campus Locations

Northwest Indian College‘s main campus is located at the Lummi Nation. The College also has six full service extended campus sites located at Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Swinomish, and Tulalip. Please use the location links to view details for each extended campus site.

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