At a recent economic development meeting, I heard a site selector say that he had conducted a research project for an Arizona Native American tribe to compare its competitive advantages to off-reservation locations. Even though the research showed that the benefits of locating a business on the reservation — better lease rates, better utility rates, better tax benefits — far surpassed the off-reservation locations, the perception remained that the development and/or leasing process was “too much of a hassle.”

This misperception may come from yet another fallacy: that all Native American tribes operate the same way. The reality is every tribe has its own unique governmental structure, sets its own tax policies, and has its own development process. Depending on a tribe’s political environment, commitment to outside economic development, and the procedures and policies it has in place, this process can be no longer than any neighboring county’s or municipality’s, or it can be long and arduous. If you look at track records with other reservation projects or tenants, you can get a good idea of how your project may be handled on a specific reservation.

For example, the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s Industrial Park Board shows case studies which detail how long previous projects have taken in planning and design. Moreover, it details a step-by-step leasing and development process that conveys the various steps that must be taken for lease approval. Tribal nations that have put such processes in place can typically streamline responses and approvals more quickly than even some cities and counties.

The successful location of any business depends on due diligence and when proper research and planning have not been undertaken eventual conflicts between landlords and tenants can arise, whether Native or non-Native. Businesses without sound ownership or business plans that are underfunded and that do not invest in marketing will eventually fail, whether on or off-reservation. Just because a tribal community may have a casino does not mean they have money to invest in your business. For most tribes, tribal gaming simply gives them the ability to build houses, schools, roads and sewer and water systems; fund health care and education of their people; and develop a strong, diverse economic base for future generations. If your business does not pencil out as a sound business venture in an off-reservation location, a tribe does not have the extra funds to shore up a company’s deficits. Blaming a tribal location in such cases simply fans stereotypes, but doesn’t excuse a lessee’s lack of investment in his or her own success.

To ensure that you are choosing wisely, there are a number of resources that you can consult when you are considering a tribal location. For example, there are attorneys and financial advisors who specialize in tribal law and taxes. You can contact the IRS or your own tax consultant. You can also review TPR-95-11, an Arizona sales tax law that governs tribal taxes. If you are a small or start-up business, you can reach out to the Small Business Administration (SBA) or a business incubator like the Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship in the City of Maricopa for help in developing accounting and management skills as well as business and marketing plans. In addition, there are organizations like the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona and the Center for American Indian Economic Development (CAIED), located at Northern Arizona University, that can provide information on opportunities in Indian Country.

For the most part, tribal communities welcome responsible economic development projects and tenants because we know this is our path to self-sufficiency. However, tribes also want to work with businesses who are willing to do their part to establish responsible company leadership that respects a tribe’s environmental concerns and cultural practices; understands a tribes’ sovereignty and economic self-sufficiency helps reduce any dependence on government assistance; and values tribes’ economic contributions to the overall health of the economy in the surrounding regions.

As American Indian people, we know that perception can be very hard to change even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. We also know that when we work together and each side is treated fairly, we can make mutual success a reality. And in my opinion, it doesn’t have to be that hard.