Native Business Center

?A Pecya (Hello Everyone) and welcome! Sister Sky Inc. is thrilled to announce the launch of the Native Business Center website, Indian Country’s premier hub for all native business news!  The Native Business Center is passionate about linking native-owned small business with training, technical assistance, up-to-date small business information and resources specifically for Native American business owners.

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Upcoming Trainings

Up-to-date information regarding current business trainings for you to grow and thrive. Our team will help you register for free virtual small business trainings such as Sister Sky Inc.’c Native SBA Empowerment Workshops.

Oct 5

#nativeSBA Empowerment Workshops – October 2022 – 2 days

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

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Oct 6

#nativeSBA Empowerment Workshops – October 2022 – 2 days

Thursday, October 6, 2022

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Funding & Grant Resources

We provide direct links to grants and funding resources for your small business. Information about small business financial guidance and support is just a click away!

Grants

Here you can find grants that are accepting applications right now for businesses in Washington state. Take a look and see if your business is eligible for any of these grants.

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Loans

If you’re looking for loans to fund your business, this page has a list of low interest and high interest loans that you can apply for. Some loans only apply to certain businesses or counties.

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Native Business Spotlight

This fun section is dedicated to shining a light on Native entrepreneurs doing amazing things.

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Qene’s Catering

Qene’s Catering is an Indigenous-based food service business that’s available for catering and Indigenous food consulting, serving on Seliš/Qlispe lands. Some of their favorite ingredients to work with include huckleberries, bison, morel mushrooms, manoomin (wild rice) and local organic produce. They also label their food in Salish, which sparks interest and conversation. Check out some […]

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Bison Coffeehouse

Bison Coffeehouse is Portland’s only Native-owned coffee shop and is the culmination of a journey Loretta Guzman embarked on almost a decade ago. After a fight with cancer that almost proved fatal, Loretta (who is in full remission now) conceived of a community space that represented her ancestry and showcased Native-sourced products. After spending two […]

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Camp Crier

In many Native American traditions, those who reported news were called Camp Criers. Camp Criers would walk, run or ride from person to person or home to home until everyone was informed.

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Local Native artists win Spokane Arts awards

By Matthew Kincanon SPOKANE, Wash. — Filmmaker Misty Shipman (Shoalwater Bay Tribe) and artist James Pakootas (Colville Confederated Tribes) received the Spokane Arts awards on Saturday night. Sponsored by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Spokane Arts Awards recognizes the accomplishments of creatives, arts and cultural organizations, and local individuals committed to enriching the […]

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Remembering Amy Fredeen: A Life of Love, Humor and Advancement for Native people

By Matthew Kincanon On Thursday, July 28, 2022, Iñupiaq member Amy Fredeen’s life was cut short in a car collision, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, advocacy, love and compassion in the wake of her passing as friends and family honor her memory. “Amy is like no woman I’ve ever known,” her husband Craig said. […]

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Mary Peltola becomes first Alaska Native elected to Congress

Anchorage Daily News reported on Wednesday that Democrat Mary Peltola won Alaska’s special U.S. House race and is set to become the first Alaska Native in Congress, after votes were tabulated Wednesday in the state’s first ranked choice election. Peltola topped Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin after ballots were tallied and votes for third-place GOP candidate Nick […]

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Working Washington Grants: Round 5 accepting applications starting today

The day has finally come. Applications can now be submitted for Working Washington Grants: Round 5. The portal will be open between now and September 9. You can learn more about the grant program here https://nativebusinesscenter.com/resources/ To help you get your application prepared, here are some resources you can use to learn more about the […]

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Native American-owned company Totem seeks to revolutionize banking in Indian Country

Tribal Business News reported earlier this month that an Indigenous-owned company “aims to harness the power of technology to change how Native Americans bank, and in some cases, provide them banking and financial services for the first time.” Totem Technologies Inc. is currently closing on an initial pre-seed round of funding to build out its […]

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Native Americans across Midwest embrace traditional foods rejected by centuries of colonization

“Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect people to their culture” In late July in Kansas City on a foraging trip Jojo Blackwood made a discovery of a rare mushroom that changed the way she views her […]

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U.S. Senate Announces Creation of Community Development Finance Caucus

On Monday, August 1, Native CDFI Network News reported U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) announced the creation of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus (CDFC), a bipartisan caucus dedicated to supporting the missions of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to scale their activities and fuel more […]

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Applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online

Learn how to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online

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Working Washington Grants: Round 5 webinars happening in August

Throughout the month of August there will be several webinars focusing on Working Washington Grants: Round 5. These webinars are meant to help small business and non-profit owners better understand the program and what they need for their applications should they be eligible for it. Here are the webinars you can attend: OneEastside webinar walk […]

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Native Business Center Launches Washington State Business Directory

SPOKANE, Wash. — On Thursday, June 30, Native Business Center, which is powered by Sister Sky Inc., officially launched the Washington State Native Business Directory to support and bring awareness to small businesses owned by Native Americans in Washington State. This project was funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The directory is an […]

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Tribal elders recall painful boarding school memories

We want to take a moment to pause here and let you know this post will be about the hardships Native peoples have faced in the boarding schools. If this type of information and news is upsetting to you, we encourage you to click out now and come back when you are ready. This story […]

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IOC Restores Olympic Gold Medals Solely to Jim Thorpe

On Friday, Native News Online reported that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will display legendary athlete Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox, Potawatomi) as the sole gold medalist in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. This announcement comes 110 years to the day when Thorpe was awarded two Olympic gold medals by […]

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New round of funding allocated to Working Washington Grants for small businesses

For small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington State Legislature has allocated $70 million for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5. In this round of Working Washington grants, available funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors: 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including […]

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Native American News Roundup, July 3-9, 2022

For the week of July 3rd to the 9th of 2022 there were a few exciting developments in Indian Country. The first was about Cherokee Nation citizen Dwight Birdwall, 74, who was awarded the highest military honor by President Joe Biden. Birdwall’s heroism in the January 1968 series of shock and awe attacks by North […]

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President Biden Nominates Patrice Kunesh for Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans

Last month, Native News Online reported that President Joe Biden announced 13 new intended nominations for his administration, including Patrice Kunesh for Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), a program office within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Kunesh, a Standing Rock Lakota descendant, is an attorney and policy advocate […]

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University of Alaska Southeast to Offer Free Alaska Native Language Courses

Last month, Native News Online reported that University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) will offer students free non-credit classes in Alaska Native languages this fall. “The University of Alaska Southeast is committed to recognizing and acknowledging historical wrongs endured by Alaska Native Communities,” Carin Silkaitis, Dean of UAS’s School of Arts and Sciences, said in a […]

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Supreme Court rules Oklahoma State has concurrent jurisdiction in Indian Territory

On Wednesday, Native News Online reported that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Oklahoma has jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indians who commit crimes against Indians in Indian Country. It is the first time in U.S. history that a state has concurrent jurisdiction with the federal government. In Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, the state asked the Supreme […]

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Chief Lynn Malerba is the first Native person to be selected as Treasurer of the United States

Chief Lynn Malerba, Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts), from the Mohegan Tribe has been confirmed as the first Indigenous person to be appointed as the next U.S. Treasurer. Malerba was quoted in an article by Indian Country Today saying: “I am honored and humbled by Secretary (Janet) Yellen and the Biden Administration’s commitment to ensuring that […]

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Native CDFI convenes Wabanaki Nations behind ‘transformative’ economic development consortium

In a recent article from Tribal Business News, Four Directions Development Corporation is leading a new effort that aims to facilitate collaboration among the Wabanaki Nations in Maine “to better engage their collective economic engine.” Even though the Passamaquody, Prenobscot, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq tribes have worked together before regarding sovereignty and water protection, a holistic […]

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BIGGEST Legal Mistakes Business Owners Make

When starting or running a business, there are a bunch of hoops to jump through and things to keep track of throughout the process. That is why you want to make sure you’re not making any legal mistakes while getting your business set up. To check if you’re doing everything right, here are some of […]

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T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders program still accepting applicants for Spokane location!

Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to take your business to the next level? Well, there is still time to apply for T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined if you want to help your company grow. T.H.R.I.V.E. (Train. Hope. Rise. Innovate. Venture. Elevate) is a free six-month intensive training program for small business entrepreneurs […]

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State Launches Small Business Flex Fund on June 30th

We are proud to be the technical assistance provider to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities for this new fund launched by Washington State Department of Commerce! The Small Business Flex Fund is a simple, low-interest & flexible loan for Washington’s smallest businesses and non-profits. It was created to meet the unique challenges of […]

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Start Up Stories : Monica Simeon—Sister Sky

Our co-founder Monica Simeon was featured in Spokane Talks “Start Up Stories.” In this show, they discuss Sister Sky Inc.’s startup story, as well as explore early transitions in business startup, managing early growth, and using trade shows to advantage.

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State to launch new round of Working Washington small business grants on March 29

Newest grant round focuses on brick-and-mortar businesses most directly impacted by COVID-19 public health measures The Washington State Department of Commerce opened applications for Working Washington Grants: Round 4 on March 29. Business owners can find information about the program and a link to the application portal at commercegrants.com. This is the fourth round of the […]

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FIVE Helpful Tips when applying to Round 3 of the Working Washington Small Business grant!

The application for the new round of Working Washington business grants is now open. Businesses can apply for up to $20,000 to offset costs or expenses due to COVID-19. The grants are targeted primarily for small businesses with $5 million or less in annual revenue that have had to close or significantly curtail operations as […]

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Sister Sky Inc. Provides Suicide Prevention Training for Indian Health Service

Native American-owned Small Business Chosen to Provide Culturally Customized Suicide Prevention Training for 17,000 IHS Employees Spokane, WA: Suicide is an urgent public health concern across the United States, but its severity for American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and for AI/AN young people, is unimaginably devastating. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death […]

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Washington State Department Launches Grant for Disadvantages Community Business Owners

Funding and Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic SPOKANE, WA. (October 6, 2020) – Washington State’s Department of Commerce announced the launch of the Small Business Resiliency grant program! $5 million in grants will be awarded to small business owners in disadvantaged communities across Washington State. Sister Sky Inc. is the preferred contractor […]

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Northwest Native Development Fund Receives $1,083,300 Award From U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund

Native Business Center congratulates the Northwest Native Development Fund (NNDF). This is exciting news for Indian Country!  Good job NNDF! September 25, 2020 Coulee Dam Washington – The Northwest Native Development Fund (NNDF) learned yesterday that they will become the recipient of a $1,083,300 award for the expansion of services and to increase the volume of […]

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State Seeks to Address Economic Inequality by Increasing Culturally and Linguistically Relevant Help for Small Businesses Owners

Commerce partners with 20 community-based organizations statewide to provide technical assistance and other resources to underserved small businesses affected by COVID-19 September 24, 2020 OLYMPIA, WA –Small business owners now have more places to seek culturally and linguistically relevant help for dealing with COVID-19, thanks to expansion of the Small Business Resiliency Assistance program announced today by […]

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Passage of Native American Business Incubators Act is an Important Step for Native Entrepreneurship

This is what Indian Country has been waiting for! Native Business Center is very ecstatic for this news we received, stay tuned for updates! Bill now headed to President’s desk for signature into law  September 23, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (The National Center) cheered House passage of S. 294, the ‘Native […]

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Washington State Small Business Grant Program

Funding and Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID Pandemic SPOKANE, WA. (September 11th, 2020) – The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched a second round of available funds in your county for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through the Working Washington Small Business emergency grant program. Sister Sky Inc. has been contracted by […]

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